Voice of America
25 Jan 2023, 07:05 GMT+10
Lusaka, Zambia - On the final day of her visit to Zambia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen discussed climate-resilient food production and the global fallout from Russia's war on Ukraine.
On her second day in Zambia, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said hunger and food insecurity are exerting a heavy toll on communities around the world.
Secretary Yellen said it is for this reason the United States is taking strong and immediate actions to alleviate hunger.
Yellen spoke Tuesday in Chongwe, east of the Zambian capital, Lusaka, where she met with several female farmers through the green climate fund, which the U.S. is supporting through the United Nations.
The project - Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-Ecological Regions in Zambia - is aimed at helping small-scale farmers better manage the impacts of climate change and alleviate hunger.
"The number of people facing acute food insecurity has risen to 345 million across 80 countries. In Zambia, about 2 million people face acute food insecurity and nearly half the population is unable to meet the daily caloric intake," she said.
Secretary Yellen also mentioned that Russia's war on Ukraine has caused major food supply disruptions across the world.
US Treasury Secretary Yellen Kicks Off Africa Tour in Senegal
She said the U.S. will work closely with African countries like Zambia to develop its infrastructure and logistics capabilities.
She underscored the African continent needs a robust capacity not only to grow food, but to ensure it can be cultivated, stored and efficiently transported.
"And this difficult situation has been exacerbated by Russia's illegal war on Ukraine, which has further stressed fuel and fertilizer prices across the world," she said.
Secretary Yellen was accompanied to Chongwe by Zambia's acting agricultural minister, Gary Nkombo, who expressed gratitude for the U.S. support to Zambia. Nkombo said about 150 families have benefited from the U.N.-led program in Chongwe, which focuses on conservation farming.
Last month, more than 40 African leaders met with members of the U.S. administration in Washington, which pledged to strengthen investments between Africa and the U.S.
Get a daily dose of Africa Leader news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Africa Leader.
More InformationLONG BEACH, California: Long Beach, California-based Rocket Lab has launched its first mission from the United States, as part of ...
Israel was behind Sunday morning's drone strike on an Iranian munitions facility; the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing American ...
LONDON, England: Of the 14 main battle tanks and additional artillery support it will send to Ukraine, Britain hopes its ...
LONDON, England: Insurance broker Aon has estimated that natural disasters caused global economic losses worth $313 billion in 2022.It added ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: After being convicted of stealing more than $900,000 from the company, Rosita Joseph, former executive ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US State Department has said that in the latest fiscal year, US military equipment exported to foreign ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks closed sharply lower Monday as investors fretted over which way the Federal Reserve ...
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], January 30 (ANI/Big News Network): The Adani group, in a sharp and focused response to Hindenburg Research's ...
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean officials have said that the government will double energy vouchers and provide discounts on gas ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Wall Street Journal has reported that e-cigarette maker Juul and three tobacco giants are negotiating potential sale, ...
AUSTIN, Texas: Tesla gas announced an investment of more than $3.6 billion to expand its Nevada Gigafactory complex with the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Joe Manchin has introduced legislation that imposes battery sourcing requirements ...