Uzbekistan receives award for having reached the MDG target

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) handed over the award to Uzbekistan for success in improving food situation in the country. The awarding ceremony was held in Rome, Italy.

Uzbekistan became one of 14 countries, which received awards for achievement of the MDG in the area of ensuring food security this year.

A majority - 72 out of 129 - of the countries monitored by FAO have achieved the MDG target, with developing regions as a whole missing it by a small margin. Out of the total 72 countries, 29 have also met the more stringent goal to halve the number of hungry people as laid out by governments when they met in Rome at the World Food Summit (WFS) in 1996. And another 12 of the total 72 countries have maintained their hunger rates below 5 percent dating back to at least 1990.

The UN State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015 (SOFI 2015) report released last month noted that countries that have made progress in fighting hunger have enjoyed stable political conditions promoted inclusive economic growth and the development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

Many also had policies in place aimed at promoting and protecting access to food.

The report noted how enhancing the productivity of small-scale family farmers -- including women and young people -- and strengthening social protection mechanisms are key factors for promoting inclusive growth, along with well-functioning markets.

In contrast, conflict, political instability or natural disasters - including those stemming from climate change - often result in protracted crises that add to vulnerability and food insecurity, the report said.

Strong political commitment, respect for basic human rights and the integration of humanitarian and development assistance are necessary to address such crises, it stressed.