Liberian president honoured by UN for effort to boost food security, development

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has bestowed this year's Ceres Medal to Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson for her work in promoting food security and agricultural development.

At the 6 December ceremony in the northern Liberian town of Voinjama, Jacques Diouf, FAO Director-General, the West African nation has prioritized bolstering agriculture as part of its development efforts, despite the degradation of the farming sector following two wars.

Mr. Diouf lauded the Liberian leader, the first elected female president in Africa, for continuing to invest in agriculture amid the international financial crisis.

The Ceres Medal is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture.

Liberia is rebuilding after 14 years of brutal war that ended in 1996. In 2003, more than half of the country''s 3 million-strong population was estimated to be undernourished.