Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs at the OIC Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo
Doha, Qatar: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is intensifying efforts to strengthen food security across its 57 member states, with Doha hosting a critical discussion on strategic agricultural programmes.
Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs at the OIC Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, highlighted the objectives of the gathering. “We are here in the beautiful city of Doha to discuss different strategic programmes of the OIC. One of them is setting up food reserves in all member states to ensure food security,” Dr. Sengendo said.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of a meeting for three regional consultation groups of OIC to discuss the strategic plan for food security in Doha, he emphasised the focus on three key crops — rice, wheat, and cassava — to promote self-sufficiency across OIC countries.
“These are critical food crops. Wheat and rice are widely consumed in Asia and the Arab world, while cassava is primarily grown in Africa, with Nigeria being the top producer,” he explained.
Dr. Sengendo said, “The OIC states remain net food importers, even though we have sufficient resources — land, money, and technology — to grow our own food and potentially become net food exporters.”
The meetings in Doha aim to foster cooperation among member states to achieve this goal. “These gatherings are designed to discuss strategies for collaboration in food security so that we can work together to ensure sufficient food for all our populations,” he said.
Highlighting Qatar’s role, Dr. Sengendo praised the country’s hospitality and contributions to OIC initiatives. “Qatar is a critical member. It hosted the Agriculture Ministers’ meeting two years ago in Doha, and today’s event is a continuation of those decisions. We are extremely grateful for the government and people of Qatar for their support in agriculture and beyond,” he stated.
He also noted Qatar’s own food security programmes, describing them as “robust and well-developed.” “By hosting these meetings and collaborating with other member states, food security in Qatar will continue to strengthen,” he added.
Dr. Sengendo concluded with a hopeful vision for the future, emphasising that self-sufficiency in rice, wheat, and cassava is achievable with coordinated action. “We are not yet self-sufficient, but by mobilising all members to see the importance of these crops and work together, we can ensure sufficient quantities and quality of food, Inshallah,” he said.
The Doha meeting represents a step forward in the OIC’s long-term strategy to develop resilient and sustainable food systems, ensuring that every member state can meet the nutritional needs of its people while reducing dependency on imports.
