Minister of Agriculture represents President at IFAD Governing Council in Rome

Minister of Agriculture Hon. Reuben Mtolo Phiri represented President Hakainde Hichilema at the 49th session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome. The visit, coordinated by the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Italy, underscored the importance Zambia attaches to its partnerships with Rome-based food and agriculture institutions.

Addressing the Council, Minister Mtolo called for continued global cooperation to strengthen agriculture and rural economies, urging that the needs of developing countries be kept in focus when resources are allocated. The session highlighted the transformative potential of youth and rural enterprise in building resilient food systems.

The engagement reinforced Zambia's determination to strengthen food security and climate resilience by leveraging Italian expertise and the technical support of IFAD, FAO and the World Food Programme. The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Zambia is effectively represented in the key international forums hosted in Rome.