DUSHANBE, September 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Turkey have signed a partnership agreement, under which they will also fund agricultural programs in Central Asia, including Tajikistan, according to turtsia.ru.

Under this agreement, the United Nations will provide more than 4 million U.S. dollars for implementation of nine national and regional projects in Turkey and Central Asia’s countries, turtsia.ru said.

In 2007-2009, Turkey, on the territory of which the FAO regional office in charge of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Syria and Uzbekistan is headquartered, transferred 5 million U.S. dollars to FAO’s budget as its membership fee, according to turtsia.ru.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. We help developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since our founding in 1945, we have focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world''s poor and hungry people.