Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers announced at COP29

The "Launch of Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers: Empowering Farmers for Climate Resilience" has been officially announced at COP29.

Report informs that this important initiative, formed in collaboration with the COP29 Presidency, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aims to promote adaptation to climate change and sustainable development in agriculture, food systems, and water management.

The panel discussion held on Food, Agriculture, and Water Day was moderated by Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO's Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Environment.

Speaking at the event, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev stated that the international climate conference hosted in Baku has formed global initiatives and calls for the world community, as in other COPs.

Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov said that the platform will play an invaluable role in farmers' acquisition of practical knowledge, access to digital tools, familiarization with the world's best practices and innovations, support the transformation of agricultural systems and enable mobilization of investments supporting sustainable agriculture.

FAO's Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Viorel Gutu emphasized that climate change has affected many sectors of the economy in recent years, including agriculture. He highlighted the importance of supporting rural communities, women and youth activities, and paying special attention to climate finance within the framework of mitigation measures.

After the official opening ceremony, a panel session was held on "Why is harmony important? What gaps will this initiative address?"

Speakers at the panel discussions, including World Bank's Global Director for Agriculture and Food Shobha Shetty, UN Women's Economic Empowerment Section Head Jemimah Njuki, World Farmers' Organization Secretary General Andrea Porro, and others, emphasized the importance of global cooperation in combating climate change and expressed their support for the Baku Harmony Climate Initiative for Farmers, which encompasses a comprehensive approach in this regard.

The panel discussions continued in a question-and-answer format.