Food insecurity is one of the most significant aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting millions of people. Gilbert Houngbo, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, has identified “three major pillars” that will become more important as the world grapples with the effects of the coronavirus crisis on rural communities.
COVID-19: A conversation with Gilbert Houngbo
Watch the full interview with the president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development on YouTube.
In an interview with Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar, Houngbo detailed those areas of focus, including: using precision agriculture, which maximizes the use of technology in rural communities; investing more in resilience to find a long-lasting solution to insurance in these communities; and improving social protection for rural communities so they have a better sense of safety nets.
The leader of the Rome-based United Nations agency said that food shortages and waste due to pandemic lockdowns are accelerating a move to “digital agriculture” that will be centered around these three themes.
For more interviews with humanitarian leaders on COVID-19, watch:
• Bertrand Badré on the pandemic's effect on impact investing
• CEPI CEO on the barriers to COVID-19 vaccine access
• END Fund CEO on pandemic impact on NTDs
• Peter Sands' 'nightmare' coronavirus scenario