Addis Ababa, 08 October 2015 (WIC) – Ethiopia has planned to launch urban safety net program along with the commencement of the second Growth and Transformation Plan, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) announced.
In a press conference held today in connection to the celebration of the International Food Day, Wondirad Mandefro, State Minister at MoA, said that part of the program includes school feeding.
Ethiopia reduced the number of people living in extreme poverty from 44 percent to less than 22 percent at present, the State Minister noted, adding that safety net program has significant role in this regard.
The safety net program, which helped millions of citizens to pull themselves out of poverty, has been implemented in Ethiopia for the fourth round, he said.
This year, International Food Day will be celebrated under the theme ‘Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle for Rural Poverty’, he emphasized.
The day will be celebrated on October 16, 2015 in Bahir Dar through field visit and panel discussion in order to share best experiences among regional states and partners working on food security, he said.
Amadou Allahoury, FAO Representative in Ethiopia, on his part said that Ethiopia has made a big stride in achieving the first United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“We have to witness this achievement. Ethiopia is one of those few countries that could achieve the goal,” Allahoury said.
He also said that Food and Agriculture Organization promotes this achievement to other African countries and the rest of the world.