MAFRA – Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea

07/30/2024 | Press release | Archived content

WFP Executive Director and Korean Agriculture Minister Shared Opinions towards Food Aid Cooperation and School Feeding

WFP Executive Director and Korean Agriculture Minister Shared Opinions towards Food Aid Cooperation and School Feeding

WFP Executive Director Cindy H. Mccain said: "The rice donated by Korea is providing a hope for overcoming global famine. I would like to thank the Korean government and the people for such contributions."


Sejong, 30 July 2024 - H.E. Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea had a meeting with H.E. Cindy H. Mccain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Seoul on 30 July. At the meeting, both sides discussed ways for cooperation in diverse fields such as rice aid and school feeding.

WFP Executive Director Cindy H. Mccain said: "Global food crisis is being aggravated by war, diseases, climate change, and other challenges. I would like to deeply thank the Korean government and the people for having increased the rice aid twofold in 2024 amid such a situation. The rice donated by Korea is excellent in taste and quality, and therefore very popular in recipient countries."

The expansion of rice aid is a follow-up measure for the announcement made by H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, at the G7 summit held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 2023. Since 2018, the Republic of Korea has provided 50,000 tonnes of rice to countries in food crisis through the WFP. This year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) has expanded its food aid from 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes while having increased the number of recipient countries from 6 to 11.

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Madagascar, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Republic of Mozambique, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Yemen, the Republic of Uganda, and the Republic of Kenya.

Minister Song Miryung and WFP Executive Director Cindy H. Mccain shared opinions towards cooperation for the success of the school meal programme being carried out in the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the Republic of Guinea. In particular, the MAFRA and the WFP used the rice produced in Guinea through the K-Ricebelt project to feeding children at school, which has received high praise from people in Guinea and its neighbouring countries.

Minister Song also said that South Korea will share its achievements and experiences in school feeding and expand exchanges with the members of the School Meals Coalition.

WFP Executive Director Cindy H. Mccain said: "South Korea received help from the WFP in the past but now is a major donor country. The rice donated by Korean people is providing a hope for overcoming famine and serves as a symbol for human dignity."

In reply, Minister Song said: "President Yoon Suk Yeol said that South Korea should actively contribute to addressing global food crisis, as the nation received help from the international community in the past. As the president said, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will firmly cooperate with the World Food Programme."