The President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar H.E. U Thein Sein awarded the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last 16 October with a plaque for its “significant contribution and continuous support to sustainable agriculture sector development in Myanmar.”
The award was given in a ceremony at Yezin Agriculture University in Nay Pyi Taw marking World Food Day, which was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation; Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development; Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry; and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Mr. Peter Brimble, deputy country director of ADB’s Myanmar Resident Mission, received the award on ADB’s behalf.
ADB has been carrying out various programs in Myanmar, particularly the Core Agriculture Support Program, Phase 2, which implements projects in the Greater Mekong Subregion countries to promote food safety and modernize agricultural trade through climate-friendly agricultural practices.
In his opening speech, the Myanmar President thanked ADB for its continuous assistance, as he noted the significance of the event’s theme of “social protection and agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty.”
He said that governments are required to take measures to create sustainable markets for agricultural products as well as social assistance and protection programs for farmers to help free them from poverty. He cited hindrances to lifting smallholder farmers out of poverty, which include global warming and agricultural labor shortages.
The President also highlighted that Myanmar has already achieved Millennium Development Goal 1.c, which is to halve the number of people who suffer from hunger by 2015.
More than 500 participants came to the high-profile event, including Vice President H.E. U Nyan Tun, union ministers, deputy ministers, presidential advisors, other national and local government officials as well as UN officials and other international organizations.