"Around other 35 countries will receive awards after they have succeeded in increasing food production," said FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will confer an award on Indonesia in Rome, Italy, in mid June 2013 for its success in reducing poverty and starvation in addition to increasing food production, official says.

"Around other 35 countries will receive awards after they have succeeded in increasing food production," said FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva here, Monday.

Silva in the company of Indonesian Agricultural Minister Suswono and several FAO officials had a meeting with Vice President Boediono to submit the invitation for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to attend the award ceremony on June 15-22, 2013.

"Indonesia along with G20 member countries is seen as being able to give a positive contribution to food production by lowering the poverty rate and starvation," Silva said.

According to him, Indonesia is an excellent precedence to other countries to increase its food production as what this world largest archipelagic countries in improving the welfare of its people by increasing food supply.

"FAO selected Indonesia as the country which had an important role on lowering poverty thus increasing food production," Silva said.

Minister Suswono said the FAO also asked Indonesia to gain more efforts in increasing South to South cooperation, in order to raise food production particularly the rice commodity.

Suswono said Indonesia has trained several farmers from Africa and Asia Pacific region to learn on how to increase food productivity.

"We have trained not only the farmers but also several food security experts of Africa and Asia Pacific to learn on food productivity," Suswono said.

Minister added the FAO also assisted Indonesia by giving fund to handle avian influenza in the region.

Several countries that also received awards from FAO are Brazil, Granada, Guinea, Nicaragua, Chile, Vietnam, Ghana and Ethiopia.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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