National Food Security Policy 2018-2027.

The National Food Security Policy is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 10 years between 2018 and 2027. This Policy aims at strengthening national food security to sustainably improve the wellbeing and quality of lives in both the rural and urban areas of the country. The strategic actions of this Policy are: (I) productivity and farm output growth of the main food staples, horticulture, small livestock and fish farming and increasing efficiencies along the entire food value chain, (II) building stability and resilience into food production and supply systems, (III) enhanced nutrient content and balance of food products consumed by nutritionally vulnerable households and individuals, (IV) empowerment of women in agriculture, and (V) strengthened governance, coordination, monitoring and communication.
This Policy lays down strategies to improve the lives of the majority of the citizens, enhance their productivity and participation in the sustainable development through growing agriculture for food security, good nutrition and health. The production and productivity in the agriculture, crop, livestock, dairy and fisheries sectors will be increased focusing on maintaining continuity in supply of a range of quality products to improve nutritional health status. The capacities of rural communities, landowners and farmers will be enhanced to use natural resources in a sustainable manner to support an adequate and stable supply of domestically produced nutritious food. Information systems will be developed to effectively collect, integrate, analyze and report credible (gender disaggregated) food and nutrition statistics in a timely way. Vulnerability assessments and mapping will be carried out to identify the lack of food and water security and good nutrition in all communities and make appropriate interventions for these targeted groups. Research will be conducted for nutrient rich crops and improved livestock breeds. The availability of food of animal origin, including fish and fish products will be increased. Vocational trainings will be provided on nutrition knowledge and practices. In order to ensure a healthy balanced nutritious diet for all, increased consumption of diverse diets will be promoted, particularly among pregnant women, adolescent girls, and young children. School feeding programs will be conducted which incorporates locally produced nutritious foods.
Extension services will be provided to smallholder farmers and food value chain participants. The partnerships will be supported for a whole of value chain approach to facilitate the establishment of efficient viable competitive food production, distribution and marketing from input supplies, through farm production, distribution and processing to end markets and consumers. The establishment of small- and medium-scale enterprises will be encouraged and affordable credit facilities, business skills development and training will be provided to small farmers, fishers and SMEs in the food sector, including women. Moreover, women’s access to income- generating opportunities will be increased to enhance economic access to nutritious food for children and families.
Research and development studies will be strengthened taking into account local knowledge and agro-biodiversity to increase overall domestic food production, related value chain development and support for competitive smallholder agricultural enterprises. Irrigation technologies will be applied to conserve water resources while strengthening the management of soil and water. Biosecurity services will be improved for effective management and control of spread of endemically occurring pests and diseases and protection of plant and animal health status from establishment and spread of introduced exotic pests and diseases. The management of coastal and inland fisheries will be developed for the development of sustainable aquaculture and the value chains for their outputs. Sustainable development of the small-scale fisheries sector will be ensured by developing viable distribution, value addition and marketing chains. The participation of private sector to the decision-making processes will be encouraged for the development of food value chains and the food economy.
Climate-smart traditional and science-based agricultural technologies and practices will be developed to conserve traditional crop biodiversity and introduce new crop varieties tolerant to the impacts of climate change, such as drought, salinity and higher temperatures. Small-scale food processing, preservation and storage will be strengthened at household and community levels in order to maintain adequate strategic food reserves. Furthermore, the coordination of humanitarian food distribution to vulnerable households and communities in times of disasters and extreme need will be improved.