President Maithripala Sirisena, who is in New York attending the UN General Assembly, has sought the assistance of a leading agricultural research institute in Washington to assist Sri Lanka to formulate a national food policy.
The President on Wednesday held a discussion with the Director General of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Shenggen Fan about health and food habits of Sri Lankan people and the possibility of formulating a policy to ensure healthy food intake to minimize malnutrition.
< The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.
Revealing the alarming health issues in Sri Lanka such as 17 percent diabetics and 48 percent women obesity and 20 percent malnutrition, the President asked the IFPRI Chief to advise Sri Lankan experts on solving these issues and formulating a Health Food Policy.
Readily agreeing to the request, Mr Shenggen Fan said his Institute, together with Sri Lankan authorities would prepare a draft for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a program to assist Sri Lanka on these issues.
President Sirisena also pointed out the problem of food crop destruction by animals such as monkeys, wild boar, peacocks and elephants and the need to propagate healthy food habits among the people.
The IFPRI Director General said that his Institute has vast experience in these areas having implemented successful programs in several Asian and African countries and offered to suggest programs to solve Sri Lanka’s issues.
Commending President Sirisena’s commitment to eradicate malnutrition among people, especially among children, the IFPRI Director General invited President Sirisena to visit IFPRI and also attend the IFPRI Conference in Bangkok in November as Chief Guest, if possible.
