About Food and Agriculture Organization
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
- Goal: To achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
- With 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
- It is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the UN, established in October 1945.
- Mandate: To improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations, and contribute to global economic growth.
- The FAO coordinates the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for developing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.
- Other Functions:
- Carries out research;
- Provides technical assistance on projects in individual countries;
- Operates educational programs through seminars and training centres;
- Maintains information and support services, including keeping statistics on world production, trade, and consumption of agricultural commodities;
- Publishes a number of periodicals, yearbooks, and research bulletins.
- Funding: FAO receives 100 percent of its funding from its member countries.
- In case of scarcity or conflict, the FAO usually does not intervene directly with food relief operations. Within the UN system, these activities are generally entrusted to the World Food Program.
- Reports published by the FAO: The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA), The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
- World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16th October. The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of the FAO in 1945.
India and FAO
- India was a founding member of FAO.
- FAO started it’s first operation in India in 1948.
- Indian Civil Service Officer Dr. Binay Ranjan Sen was the Director General of FAO during 1956-1967.
- The World Food Programme, which has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020, was established during his time.
- India’s proposals for the International Year of Pulses in 2016 and the International Year of Millets 2023 have also been endorsed by FAO.
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