BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
As a small and open country, full self-sufficiency in food production is not a realistic policy goal for Georgia, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) told Trend.
"Whilst high food prices matter, they are not the fundamental problem – poverty and inadequate incomes are the principal cause of food insecurity," the OECD said.
According to the OECD, the government should therefore focus on policies and investments to stimulate income growth, whilst developing adequate social safety nets and nutrition programs for the poorest segments of the population.
"Agricultural development can play a key role in generating the incomes needed to improve food security, as well as increased investment in rural areas to support non-farm jobs and more diversified rural economies," the source noted.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organization with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
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