Cambodian Agriculture Minister Ouk Rabun (1st L) visits a vegetable farm in Kandal province, Cambodia, Oct. 16, 2015. Cambodia celebrated World Food Day here on Friday, stressing the importance of social protection and agriculture in eradicating hunger and poverty, according to a joint press statement by the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). (Xinhua/Sovannara)
KANDAL, Cambodia, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia celebrated World Food Day here on Friday, stressing the importance of social protection and agriculture in eradicating hunger and poverty, according to a joint press statement.
The event was jointly organized by the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
"The celebration aims to draw global attention to the role that social protection plays in eradicating hunger and poverty when it is prioritized in national development agenda," said the statement.
Cambodian Agriculture Minister Ouk Rabun said the event was to mark the 35th observation of World Food Day and also to celebrate the 70th anniversary of FAO.
"As the world's population and food demand are on the rise, Cambodia sees agriculture as a top priority that contributes to sustainable economic growth, ensuring food security and boosting rural economic growth," he said.
Gianpietro Bordignon, WFP Representative to Cambodia, said Cambodia has achieved an impressive economic development in the past decades, which had significantly contributed to a steep decline in poverty from 47 percent in 2007 to well below 20 percent today.
"However, a large proportion of Cambodian population still lives just above the poverty line and remains highly vulnerable to shocks, such as climate change, natural disasters, protracted illness and rising food prices," he said.
He added that WFP is currently assisting Cambodia in implementing some of the largest social protection programs, namely the school feeding program and rural development projects that reach nearly 500,000 most food insecure and vulnerable people in rural communities.
Nina Brandstrup, FAO Representative to Cambodia, estimated that eighty percent of the poor live in Cambodia's rural areas, relying mainly on agriculture for their income and food security.
"Social protection is considered a crucial instrument to lift poor communities out of poverty," she said.
Cambodia developed the National Social Protection Strategy in 2011. Nina said the strategy has set a framework for sustainable and comprehensive social protection for all Cambodians over a long term.
