The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) delegation attended the 21st Meeting of the Agriculture Working Group, hosted by The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) on October 12-13, 2023, in Ankara, Turkey. The delegation, comprising Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Advisor at the Coordination & Cooperation Department, and Mr. Emre Yuksek, Humanitarian Affairs Manager, joined representatives from various member countries and organizations to discuss critical issues pertaining to food security in OIC Member States.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the analysis of the Draft COMCEC Research Report findings using the club convergence methodology. This analysis sought to outline subgroups of OIC Member States in relation to agricultural inputs, including seed, feed, energy, fertilizer use, land, water, trade, and productivity capacities. The aim was to formulate policy recommendations that could address the challenges and disparities in these areas. The meeting featured in-depth discussions on selected case studies from Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Turkey, and the Netherlands. These case studies provided valuable insights and lessons learned in addressing food security issues, offering potential policy options for consideration. In addition to these presentation Oman Country Delegation shared their country profile, followed by a presentation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey's General Directorate of the Field Crops Research Institute.
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As the specialized institution of the OIC focusing on food security, IOFS was accorded a distinct and noteworthy presentation during the meeting. Mr. Manafi shared highlights from the 2022 and 2023 IOFS programs and activities, underscoring the tangible and substantial achievements made in these endeavours in OIC geography. He placed a strong emphasis on strategic commodities, with a particular focus on key staples such as wheat, rice, and cassava. He also elucidated the latest advancements of IOFS in leveraging agricultural technology in member countries and emphasized IOFS's proactive stance in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. Finally, he concluded his presentation with a passionate call for recommendations from COMCEC. He urged support and project funding for the development of strategic commodities and emphasized the critical need for regional consultations of IOFS in collaboration with SESRIC and IsDB. The delegation not only shared invaluable insights into the outcomes of the 2nd IOFS High-Level Forum and the Doha Communiqué but also provided essential information about the transition to the New Director General during the 6th General Assembly of IOFS.
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The final part of the meeting addressed the COMCEC project funding facility and application process, with discussions involving participants on the application and evaluation of project funding opportunities. On the sidelines of the meeting, the IOFS Delegation engaged in fruitful discussions on partnership opportunities with delegations from Cote d'Ivoire, Iran, Oman, and Togo, facilitating an exchange of ideas and promoting collaborative efforts in addressing food security challenges. The Agriculture Working Group will continue its work on the following day, focusing on the discussion of Draft Policy Recommendations and a field visit to the Field Crops Research Institute and Turkish Gene Bank.
