Cambodia, UN agencies call for more investment to ensure food security

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Sunday called for greater investment in the transformation of food systems to ensure food and nutrition security and to cope with shocks and crises, according to a joint statement.

The appeal was made on World Food Day, the statement said, adding that Cambodia has put in place the National Roadmap for Food Systems for Sustainable Development 2030.

"As a nation, we need to transform food supply chains to ensure the system can deliver quality and nutritious food for all Cambodians through investment in innovation, technology and digital system," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry's Secretary of State Om Kimsir said.

Antonio Schiavone, officer in charge of FAO Representation in Cambodia, said because agrifood systems are interlinked to so many different areas of lives and economy, ranging from agriculture to natural resources to energy to health, they hold great potential as vehicles for a more equitable and prosperous future.

"Sustainable food systems will benefit everyone, including the most vulnerable," he said. "Most vulnerable and small-scale producers need to be empowered, because they can be at the center of food systems transformation and become active and equal agents of sustainable development."

According to WFP's recent market update, the price of rice, the staple of the Cambodian diet, has remained relatively stable so far. However, there have been considerable increases in the prices of imported foods. The price of vegetable oil rose by 39.7 percent in May this year compared to May 2021.

The production of paddy is expected to remain at an above-average level, which means that Cambodia will not face a critical food shortage; however, the current "5F" crises of food, feed, fuel, fertilizer and lack of finance pose new threats to food systems, the statement said.