The 6th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) took place from 16th to 18th January 2014 in Berlin. At the sidelines of the Green Week, the most important consumer trade exhibition for food and agricultural products, the forum brought together policy makers from throughout the world to discuss the subject of "Empowering Agriculture: Fostering Resilience: Securing Food and Nutrition". The GFFA is a unique political conference focussing on key issues regarding the future of the global agricultural and food situation. 72 Ministers from around the world and more than 1500 participants attended the Forum.
At the opening of the GFFA, the German Federal Minister of Agriculture of Germany, Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich stated that "There is no other meeting of Agriculture Ministers in the world that is held in such high esteem as the Berlin Agriculture Minister's summit. The keen interest and positive response from many delegations throughout the world shows the huge importance of the agriculture sector for policy makers around the world."
During the Global Forum, the Minister of Agriculture of Sri Lanka, Hon. Mahind Yapa Abeywardena, highlighted the policies and the effort of the Government of Sri Lanka for the promotion of agriculture in the Island country. The Minister further stated that the year 2014 has been declared by the United Nations as the year of family farming in order to promote equitable and balanced development of food production. However, Sri Lanka has already recognized this fact and implemented a National Campaign called "Let us cultivate and uplift the nation" and initiated a special home gardening project named "Divi Neguma" to increase vegetable production.
The Hon. Minister welcomed the Final Communiqué for the GFFA 2014 and assured the support towards its implementation to ensure food and nutrition security of people.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany coordinated the visit of the Hon. Minister to participate at the GFFA 2014. The forum provided the opportunity to the Hon. Minister to meet many colleagues from all around the world and representatives of international NGOs.
During his stay in Berlin, the Hon. Minister visited the exhibition "Landscapes of Sri Lanka" at the Museum of Asian Arts in Berlin-Dahlem showing exquisite examples of 19th century photography of then Ceylon produced by local photographers. The Museum of Asian Arts had assembled the exhibition in cooperation with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Berlin.