The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Assan Sallah
10 November 2008
Dr Jacques Diouf, the Director General of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), yesterday morning, arrived in The Gambia to pay a courtesy call on Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, president of the Republic of The Gambia.
The UNFAO director general's two day official visit will be centered on strengthening the bilateral cooperation and programmes, among others, between The Gambia and UNFAO.
Speaking to journalists shortly after his arrival at the Banjul International Airport, Dr. Diouf said he was on an official visit to meet with President Jammeh, to review the situation of Agriculture in The Gambia, in Africa and in the world at large.
He said the visit would give him the opportunity to strengthen their programmes and bilateral cooperation, as well as to strengthen the south-south cooperation.
Dr Diouf noted that his discussion with President Jammeh would also touch key areas on the global food crisis, animal production, fisheries, aquaculture, among others, all in an effort to avert the food crisis. "The global food crisis has affected Africa greatly because we do not have the elasticity supply of food in response to the soaring food prices contrary to developed countries in other parts of the world", he told reporters.
"Africa deserves a special attention and special support to avert the global food crisis.
The prices are still 50% of what they were in 2005", the FAO boss remarked. He commended President Jammeh for his commitment to Agriculture coupled with his vast-experience in farming activities. Dr Diouf described the gambian leader as a "farmer-in-chief" and expressed hope that their discussion would be fruitful.
Dr Diouf was welcomed at the foot of the aircraft by the Permanent Secretary at the department of state for Agriculture, Seedy Jarjue, secretaries of state for Foreign Affairs, and Forestry and the Environment, Dr Omar Touray, and Momodou Kotu Cham respectively, representatives the UNDP and WHO in The Gambia, as well as staff of the department of state for agriculture.
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