Sunday, October 16, 2011 – Afghan government officials on the occasion of World Food Day on Sunday announced that more than 30% of the Afghan population live under the line of poverty.
16 October has been named as the World Food Day by United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization on 1945, which is also equivalent to United Nations establishment.
The United Nations assigned a new slogan “Investment in agriculture to improve food security” for the World Food Day.
Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Afghan Agriculure Minister said, Afghanistan require at least $1 billion investment budget on Afghan agriculture sector on annual basis to prevent the poverty and hunger crisis in the country.
According to statics by Afghan government, more than 90% of the annual income of Afghans are spent on food commodities.
Afghan Agriculture Minister, Mr. Rahimi also expressed concerns over the reduction of agriculturural products in Afghanistan due to drought and Afghanistan’s dependency in global economy.
He also said, more than 30% of the Afghan population are poor and are living under the line of poverty and require urgent assistance.
Mohammad Asif Rahimi, Afghan Agriculture Minister said, based on the central statistics of Rural Development Ministry, more than 30% of the Afghan population are living with the poverty specifically during the winter times.
This comes as Mohammad Karim Khalili, second deputy vice president urged the International Community to step up actions to prevent poverty and hunger in the country.
Afghan government announced that more than 2 million Afghans are facing serious food shortages and require at least $142 million funds to fight drought in the country.
