The Gambia celebrates World Food Day and FAO’s 75th anniversary
Stakeholders in food and nutrition sector commit to take action to achieve SDG2 - zero hunger
16 October, 2020, Banjul – Today, The Gambia celebrated World Food Day (WFD) and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in a low key event due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The theme for this year’s WFD and FAO’s 75th birthday is “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our actions are our future.”
The theme calls for global cooperation to help the most vulnerable to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust so they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shocks, deliver affordable and sustainable healthy diets for all, and decent livelihoods for food system workers.
The Honourable Mrs. Amie Fabureh, Minister for Agriculture, Ms. Seraphina Wakana, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Moshibudi Rampedi, FAO Country Representative, Mr. Ussama Osman, World Food Programme Representative and Country Director (a.i) and Mr. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of The Kanifing Municipal Council presided over the national event hosted by The Kanifing Municipal Council at the Bakau Women’s Horticultural Garden at Mile 7.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of an assortment of high quality vegetable seeds and pro-Vitamin A orange fleshed sweet potato vines to farmers (mainly women) from within Banjul and Kanifing Municipality and the display of fresh local produce and products to help boost the production and daily consumption of vitamins and minerals for optimal health and nutrition.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Amie Fabureh, highlighted the significance of the day to the world at large. She noted that day helps to to remind every country of its fundamental political commitment to humanity – the eradication of all forms of malnutrition. She maintained that despite the huge challenges, to achieve a hunger-free world by 2030 is still possible. She informed the gathering that The Gambian Government is committed to achieve national food self-sufficiency and nutrition for sustainable socio-economic growth and development.
She summarized the numerous interventions launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with FAO, WFP and IFAD to give smallholder farmers access to agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizer and farm implements, ploughing services) to boost agricultural production and the productivity. Mrs. Fabureh acknowledged the progress made in the multiplication of provitamin A Cassava and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato and Iron rich cowpea through the European Union (EU) funded projects being implemented by FAO and United Purpose in close partnership with institutions under her ministry. She underscored need to raise awareness even more to boost production and consumption in the country.
In her statement of solidarity, Ms. Seraphina Wakana, United Nations Resident Coordinator, assured The Government and the Gambian people that the UN remains committed to food security for Gambians and peoples of the world. She acknowledged with appreciation, FAO’s lead role in the fight against hunger in the world. She said: “The Food and Agriculture Organization, which is a few days older than the United Nations Organization, has transformed itself over the years to further agricultural knowledge and nutritional wellbeing for the human race”.
“The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has a long history of support to the Government by measuring the prevalence of undernourishment, as a share of the population, which is the main hunger indicator. World over, FAO continues to be the primary, most authoritative source of global food security data. Through its smart, systemic action to get food to those who need it and improve it for those who have it, FAO serves as a beacon of hope”. FAO provides consistent support to governments to formulate and implement policies and programmes that make healthy diets more accessible to its citizens, she added.
Ms. Moshibudi Rampedi, FAO Country Representative, noted that World Food Day 2020 calls for more resilient and robust agri-food systems, and for global solidarity that both are vital for our recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, and for building back better. She said: “More than ever, we need innovative solutions and strong partnerships. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring nutritious food is available for all – from governments, private businesses to individuals.
“This World Food Day also provides an opportunity to thank our Food Heroes – farmers and workers throughout the food supply chain - who, no matter the circumstances, continue to provide food to their communities and beyond”.
Mr. Ussama Osman, World Food Programme Representative and Country Director (a.i) reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to continue collaborating in delivering on our common vision of promoting food security by alleviating hunger through food assistance together with other modalities, while working to eliminate its root causes.
He said: “The theme for this year gives us the opportunity to come together and find sustainable means of making food available to the most vulnerable populations in The Gambia adversely affected by the restrictive measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus. WFP has been actively supporting the Government in its efforts to provide food assistance to the most vulnerable during the pandemic”.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of The Kanifing Municipal Council underscored the importance of the day and the donation of inputs to farmers in the area. He said: “Urban agriculture plays a vital role in promoting sustainable livelihoods and nutritional diets in the lives of our residents. Women’s gardens in the municipality produce healthy vegetables that are vital to the healthy diets of our communities”.
Bensouda also reiterated his council’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and called on development partners to consider supporting urban agriculture and the Women’s Garden Associations in the municipality.