Published on 8 June 2015 by www.venezuelanalysis.com

 

On 8 June, Venezuela was recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for meeting the UN millennium goal of halving malnutrition. 

 

The recognition was awarded during the 39th FAO conference in Rome which will last until June 13. It counts among its attendees representatives of 190 countries, including 130 ministers and 12 heads of state. 

 

Attending on behalf of Venezuela, Bolivarian Vice-President Jorge Arreaza highlighted his nation's achievements in eradicating hunger under the socialist governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. 

 

"Under the Revolution, children are now served breakfast, lunch, and snacks in schools [...] We've seen a miracle in school nutrition, whereas in the past [children were served] only one glass of milk a day," stated the socialist vice-president in reference his country's School Food Program. 

 

According to Arreaza, Venezuela has over the last decade invested $142 billion in food programs that have distributed over 25 million tons of food items to 65% of the population. Today, 95.4% of Venezuelans eat three meals a day. 

 

Venezuela was also recognized for its role in providing technical assistance to other nations striving to similarly meet millennium targets for eradicating hunger. 

 

"Venezuela can be considered one of the countries, like Brazil and China, that has contributed to South-South cooperation in the world," noted Laurent Thomas, FAO Director for Technical Cooperation. 

 

The South American nation was recognized by the FAO first in 2012 for slashing extreme hunger and poverty by 50% and subsequently in 2013 for reducing hunger from almost 14% in 1992 to 5% in 2012. 

 

Arreaza accepted the UN body's recognition on behalf of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was compelled to cancel both his appearance at the conference as well as his much-anticipated meeting with the Pope for health reasons.