Lario, while speaking in New York, the United States, noted that about three billion people who live in the rural areas of developing countries rely, to a significant extent, on small-scale farming for their food and livelihoods, stressing that food and income security are essential for national security.
IFAD President said: “The populations we serve, who produce so much of our food, are not looking for hand-out, they are seeking to overcome limits such as lack of access to finance, technology and connectivity. They deserve our support.” “About 80 per cent of the world’s extremely poor people reside in rural areas. While essential for global food security, smallholder farmers often live in poverty and hunger, making just six cents for every dollar worth of food they produce.”