afrol News, 23 November - Libya and the Food and Agricultural organisation (FAO) have signed a US$ 71 million deal to work closely together over the next five years to strengthen food security and sustainable development in the country.

A cooperation agreement, amounting to $71 million and provided by Libya, was signed in Rome recently by the Secretary of the General's People Committee for Agriculture, Animal Wealth and Marine Resources, Abu Baker al Mabrouk Al-Mansouri and FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf.

FAO will provide technical assistance and support for 18 projects covering areas such as: pesticides management and the protection of natural resources; integrated pest management; phytosanitary measures; seed development; prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases; veterinary services and animal vaccine assessment; genetic improvement of local animal and poultry breeds; poultry production; sustainable water resource management; biotechnology; assessment of fish stocks and coastal area pollution.

"FAO is proud to become Libya's counterpart in implementing a number of strategic projects that will contribute to national sustainable agricultural development," Mr Diouf said.

A Programme Management Unit will be established to ensure the proper implementation, monitoring, coordination and evaluation of the programme starting in 2010 and closing in 2014.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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