News archive 2009

A pilot farmer field school for orphans whose parents have died of AIDS has been so successful in Kenya that 20 other schools in the district are trying it. Across Africa, over 17 000 orphans and other vulnerable children have graduated from the schools.

Italy's Directorate of Development Cooperation is to donate €10 million through FAO to finance agricultural and rural development programmes and improve food security in 2009. The new donation, raising Italy's voluntary, extra-budgetary contributions to a total of some €60 million, confirms the country as one of FAO's leading donors.

A high-level delegation of European football officials and former star players representing the Professional Football Against Hunger awareness and fundraising campaign will be in Cairo on 14 January to visit FAO TeleFood projects. The visit is the group's first initiative since its official launch in October 2008.

The food security situation in Eastern Africa continues to worsen as a result of crop failures, high food prices and conflict. Millions of food insecure people are in need of assistance. Mafa Chipeta, Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and FAO Representative in Ethiopia, calls for more investment in rural areas with high potential for agricultural production.

The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies and FAO will strengthen their cooperation under an agreement signed at FAO's Rome headquarters. Both organizations agreed to intensify their partnership in the areas of traditional foods, protection of forests, modernization of irrigation techniques and management of plant diseases and quarantine.