Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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Mr. Sayed M Naim Khalid

Member since
Country: United States of America
Field(s) of expertise:
I am working on:

1. Studying financial cost of unsafe food
2. Documenting Afghan cuisine and food habit
3. Writing extensively about food safety standards (SQF, IFS, FSSC 22000, Global GAP)
4. Doing agribusiness in developing countries (with focus on post conflict era)
5. Conducting training on food safety, HACCP, food quality on my online platform

Sayed M Naim Khalid, MSc a food system and FSQA professional. Interested in agriculture development in the developing countries. Main area of interest is food systems, agribusiness, market development and FSQA. 

This member contributed to:

    • In the context of Afghanistan, I think FAO can help the country in various ways through its Science and Innovation Strategy. Here are few areas that it can focus: 

      1. Agricultural Research and Development: FAO can support Afghanistan in conducting research to develop high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties suitable for local conditions. This includes investing in the development of drought-resistant seeds, pest-resistant crops, and crops with improved nutritional content.
      2. Capacity Building: FAO can facilitate training programs and workshops to build the capacity of Afghan farmers, extension workers, and policymakers in modern agricultural techniques, including sustainable farming practices, water management, and post-harvest handling.
      3. Agriculture higher education: FAO can and should help in building agriculture educational institutions for long term and sustainable results not only in food security but in forest, environment, wildlife, livestock and fishery sector as well. 
      4. Technology Adoption: FAO can assist Afghanistan in adopting innovative technologies such as precision agriculture, drip irrigation systems, and mobile applications for weather forecasting and market information. These technologies can help increase agricultural productivity and improve resource efficiency.
      5. Infrastructure Development: FAO can support the development of agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and transportation networks. Improving infrastructure can help reduce post-harvest losses, increase market access for farmers, and enhance overall food security.
      6. Value Chain Enhancement: FAO can work with Afghan stakeholders to strengthen agricultural value chains, from production to consumption. This includes promoting agro-processing activities, improving market linkages, and facilitating access to credit and market information for smallholder farmers.
      7. Focus on producing less policy documents, act more. FAO and several other UN agencies generated a lot of documents. Most of them under dust and shelves here and there in different countries. I think it is time to work, we have enough evidence of issues in various countries. 

    • Dear Moderators,

      Thank you for reaching out and providing an opportunity to contribute to the call for submissions on enhancing FAO's support in addressing governance of agrifood systems transformation. Drawing upon my experience as a former P-level FAO employee, I would like to present a set of recommendations aimed at optimizing FAO's impact and effectiveness in promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience within agrifood systems.

      1. Cost Optimization for International Staff and Consultants:
        • Consider cost-cutting measures on international staff and consultants to allocate resources more efficiently, redirecting funds towards impactful initiatives.
      2. Strategic Approach to Studies and Reports:
        • Prioritize the creation of reports that add substantial value, ensuring that they contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes rather than generating unnecessary documentation.
      3. Efficient Use of Resources for Meetings and Conferences:
        • Streamline the organization of meetings and conferences to reduce costs while maintaining the essential exchange of knowledge and collaboration.
      4. Long-Term Investments in Agriculture:
        • Advocate for increased investments in agricultural higher education and the development of robust irrigation systems to ensure sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
      5. Harnessing Technology for Agricultural Advancements:
        • Promote the adoption of technology to revolutionize production processes, enhance yield, minimize losses, and improve overall agricultural quality.
      6. Balancing Project Implementation with Core Functions:
        • Emphasize a balanced approach to project implementation, ensuring that FAO remains focused on its core mission as a global leader in agriculture rather than becoming solely a project implementation entity.
      7. Transparent Hiring Processes:
        • Enhance transparency in the recruitment process to maintain FAO's reputation as a technical agency and avoid politicization.
      8. Addressing Language Barriers:
        • Advocate for a more inclusive approach by addressing language barriers in UN recruitment to ensure broader representation and accessibility.
      9. Strategic Spending Priorities:
        • Review spending priorities, redirecting resources towards initiatives directly contributing to food production, availability, and utilization, while maintaining a judicious approach to topics like gender studies and environmental sustainability.
      10. FAO Leadership in Agriculture:
        • Reinforce FAO's role as the preeminent leader in global agriculture, collaborating with other UN agencies to optimize their areas of expertise and allowing FAO to take the lead in agricultural and food security matters.

      These recommendations aim to enhance FAO's efficiency, focus, and impact, ultimately contributing to the organization's mission of promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems globally.

      Thank you for considering these suggestions, and I look forward to the continued success of FAO's initiatives.

      Best regards, 

      Sayed M Naim Khalid Independent Food System/FSQA Consultant