Food security is conducive to security around the globe, Turkish Minister of Agriculture Mehdi Eker said.
"We believe that food security is one of the most important problems worldwide," Eker said at a conference hosted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. "If we don't have food security, the world will not be a safe place."
Eker said his country wants to see 2015 as the year of pulses.
"We would like to have the year 2015 declared as the World Pulse Year by UN organizations," Eker said. Pulses are very important food crops for the world and Turkey, and Turkey is for the most part their homeland."
Turkey and FAO enjoy a partnership programme since mid-2006. The country's membership to the organization dates back to 1948.
"As you know, before 2007, Turkey was a country that received technical aid from FAO. Following our two year work in 2005-2007, we have reached a point where we are providing aid," Eker said.
Turkey supports FAO projects with a $10 million fund reserve.
