The below is attributable to Spokesperson Rebecca Chalif:
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with Kenya Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Harry Kimtai, Tanzania Minister of Agriculture Hussein Mohamed Bashe, and Zambia Ministry of Agriculture Director of Policy and Planning Peggy Mulewa, to discuss the food security impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine in their countries, plans to address these new shocks, and ways in which USAID and the international community can help.
The Ministers detailed how Russia’s war is increasing the cost of food, fertilizer, and fuel in their countries and the resulting impacts on their agricultural sectors. Administrator Power expressed the U.S. Government’s concern about these challenges, which are aggravating an already precarious food security situation caused by COVID-19, recurrent weather shocks, and climate change. The group discussed potential solutions to mitigate the impacts in the near and long term, and Administrator Power reiterated USAID’s continued commitment to addressing food security, nutrition, and strengthening resilience through Feed the Future.