Former Mali Minister to head FAO Agriculture Deptt

New Delhi, Sep 2 (UNI) Mr Modibo Tiemoko Traore, former Minister for Rural Development with the Government of Mali, has taken over as FAO Assistant Director-General of Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department.

Mr Traore, 54, joined FAO in March this year as Regional Representative for Africa after heading the African Union's Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources for three years.

A veterinarian and livestock expert, Mr Traore was also Mali's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China between 2000 and 2005.

The previous Assistant Director-General, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Spain's Jose M Sumpsi, was appointed Assistant Director-General, Technical Cooperation Department on January 1.

Mr Traore, a former National Director of Mali's Livestock and Veterinary Services was his country's Minister for Rural Development (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries) between 1994 and 2000, and also held responsibility for the Environment and Water Resources.

Mr Traore holds an MSc in Veterinary Medicine from the Agricultural Academy of Ukraine and a Doctorat d'Etat es Sciences in Animal Production and Health from the University of Paris XII, an FAO statement from Rome said here today.

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