logo
FAO launches initiative to strengthen food security in Afghanistan

FAO launches initiative to strengthen food security in Afghanistan

The Stara day ago
KABUL, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the British government, has launched a new initiative valued at over 13 million U.S. dollars to improve food security, enhance rural livelihoods, and bolster the resilience of Afghan communities, the FAO announced Monday.
"Afghanistan's farmers are extraordinarily resilient, but repeated climate and economic shocks are eroding this strength. This project lays down important pathways to help farmers rebuild that resilience -- leading to better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and ultimately, a better life -- what we in FAO call the 'Four Betters,'" said Richard Trenchard, FAO representative in Afghanistan.
According to the FAO, the initiative will prioritize support for small-scale farmers, livestock keepers, and landless laborers, especially widows and women-headed households.
Key components of the project include improving wheat and dairy production, restoring community irrigation systems, expanding access to high-quality seeds, and protecting livestock through vaccination campaigns and enhanced local animal health services, it said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pfizer reports strong Q2 revenue
Pfizer reports strong Q2 revenue

The Star

time6 hours ago

  • The Star

Pfizer reports strong Q2 revenue

NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, reporting a 10 percent year over year operational growth. The financial results posted by the New York-headquartered company represent revenue of 14.7 billion U.S. dollars or 0.51 dollars of earnings per share. In an upward revision of its full-year guidance, Pfizer said it now expects adjusted earnings per share for 2025 to range between 2.90 dollars and 3.10 dollars, compared to its previous forecast of 2.80 dollars to 3.00 dollars. The company maintained its annual revenue projection of 61 billion to 64 billion dollars, reflecting confidence in its underlying business performance. "Our business is performing well and I'm pleased with the progress we achieved in the second quarter," Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. Pfizer's strong performance came amid mounting policy pressures from the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently sent letters to 17 pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, demanding that they cut prices on all existing medications for Medicaid patients to levels no higher than those in Europe. During Tuesday's earnings call, Bourla acknowledged that the company received the letter from the Trump administration. However, he declined to elaborate on the policy's specific impacts, although he emphasized that discussions with the administration have been "extremely productive." Pfizer's Q2 results were bolstered by rising sales in several key product categories. Its Vyndaqel line of cardiomyopathy treatments showed solid growth, and COVID-19-related products were major contributors.

WHO proposes increased health taxes to bridge financing gap
WHO proposes increased health taxes to bridge financing gap

The Star

time6 hours ago

  • The Star

WHO proposes increased health taxes to bridge financing gap

ACCRA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday proposed an increase in health taxes on some consumer products to raise enough revenue to close global health funding gaps. Speaking during the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, Ghebreyesus also called for more domestic investment and deeper governance reform in health to build resilient health systems in Africa. He said health financing could not be discussed outside the broader economic context, noting that Africa is disadvantaged in the global economic architecture, losing more than it receives in aid, which makes health financing difficult on the continent. He cited the example of 2023, when Africa received 74 billion U.S. dollars in aid but lost 90 billion dollars to illicit financial outflows and 55 billion dollars to corporate tax exemptions. "One practical solution is health taxes. A 50 percent price increase on harmful products like tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks could generate an additional 3.7 trillion dollars globally within five years and save millions of lives. Beyond domestic reforms, global change is essential," said the WHO director-general. Turning to Africa, Ghebreyesus said the continent needs leadership to recognize opportunities in crisis. He lauded Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership in seeking to reimagine the global health governance architecture and bring health issues confronting Africa to the fore. The summit is expected to adopt the Accra Initiative, a bold, action-oriented roadmap that establishes new benchmarks, shared principles, and clear priorities for reforming global health governance.

Ghana hosts summit with call to reimagine global health system
Ghana hosts summit with call to reimagine global health system

The Star

time7 hours ago

  • The Star

Ghana hosts summit with call to reimagine global health system

ACCRA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Health Sovereignty Summit opened in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, on Tuesday with a call to reimagine global health governance amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical and economic landscape. Convened by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the summit seeks to foster a new era of health sovereignty, rooted in national ownership, investment, and leadership. Mahama called for efforts to redesign the architecture that has excluded Africa's voices, needs, and innovations during the opening. The Ghanaian president said Africa needs to develop health systems that not only respond to health crises but also generate resilience, promote equity, and enhance the dignity of its people, calling for a new approach to health financing on the continent. "I extend an open invitation to all nations represented here to join us in building an African health investment ecosystem that is driven by purpose and is powered by equity and anchored in our sovereignty," the president added. Dignitaries, including World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and senior officials from other African countries, also attended the summit.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store