Collective actions crucial as Ethiopia races to defeat hunger by 2030
Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, and WFP
JOINT WORLD FOOD DAY, 2021 PRESS RELEASE
Addis Ababa – During World Food Day 2021 commemoration today, Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP) called for renewed collective action as Ethiopia races to defeat hunger by 2030.
H.E. Ato Omer Hussein, Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture said, “Ethiopia has developed an ambitious vision to guide the transformation of national food systems and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger, by 2030. The vision puts multi-stakeholder collaboration at the center of its implementation and success. We need everybody on board; from government agencies, development partners, private sector, research, and educational institutions, the media, farmers, and every individual”.
Multiple challenges in the food and agriculture sector
Ethiopia is commemorating World Food Day during extraordinary times. The country is dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and desert locust invasion. Scores of people continue to be affected by frequent climate-related disasters, conflict, displacement, and pests and diseases. All these disasters have a direct effect on the food security, nutrition, and livelihoods of the population as well as the environment and natural resources. Even when food is produced, some of it is wasted or lost due to poor post-harvest management and suboptimal market linkages. According to a 2017 study conducted by FAO in Ethiopia, post-harvest loss of maize, wheat, haricot bean, and sorghum ranges from 14 to 27percent. Wasting food is also a waste of the precious resources used to produce it.
Currently, one in four (24.8 percent) households in Ethiopia fall below the food poverty line, and 25.5 percent of individuals are food insecure. In addition, one in every four children under five is stunted, which has an implication on their potential as productive adults. Only one out of four households (26%) would potentially have access to a nutritious diet.
Currently, 13.4 million people rely on food assistance in Ethiopia, which underscores how urgently we need to collectively work towards building a food system to deliver to all.
Time for a shift
“It is clear that if we carry on with business as usual, we shall not achieve the targets of ‘Zero Hunger’ as stated in SDG – 2. We might miss other related SDGs as well. We need to shift the way we think, and the way we produce, handle and consume food,” said Ms. Fatouma Seid, the FAO Representative in Ethiopia.
Ms. Seid added that every institution and individual in their different capacities has a role to play in building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems.
“At a practical level, we can start by consuming nutritious food, and reducing food waste. The private sector can commit to nutrition and food standards by limiting levels of saturated fats, transfats, sugars, and salt in products and ensuring clear labeling while improving food safety and quality. Education institutions can provide or scale-up nutrition education. Governments can help smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods by increasing access to training, finance, digital technologies, extension services, social protection, early warning systems, and crop varieties or animal breeds that are resistant to climate change” she added.
Ethiopia envisions food systems transformation to defeat hunger
Last month, Ethiopia launched a vision to transform the country’s agri-food systems from nature-positive production to sustainable consumption patterns that promote enhanced food safety, nutrition, and healthy diets. It also seeks to improve equitable livelihoods, land preservation, as well as resilience to shocks and stress.
H.E. Ato Omer Hussein presented Ethiopia’s vision at the historic United Nations Food Systems Summit that was held in New York alongside the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2021. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, called for the Summit as a part of the Decade of Action for delivery on the SDGs by 2030.
“While Ethiopia is making strong strides towards middle-income status, progress is impeded by humanitarian crises driven by combinations of natural and man-made hazards: drought, flooding, pest invasions, conflict leading to population displacement, infectious diseases, and, perhaps most damaging and difficult to address, chronic poverty and food insecurity. This World Food Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on the collective action we all must take to tackle the root causes of hunger and build a sustainable and equitable food system for everyone in Ethiopia,” said Mr. Steven Were Omamo, WFP Ethiopia’s Representative and Country Director.
About World Food Day
World Food Day is one of the most celebrated days of the United Nations’ calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, the media, the UN, and the public. They promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all.
This year’s theme is - “Our actions are our future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.”
The theme recognizes the need for a sustainable agri-food system that ensures the availability and affordability of a variety of sufficient, nutritious, and safe foods for all to combat hunger and malnutrition. It calls for a shift in the way food is produced, marketed, and consumed.
More resources
About World Food Day - http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/en
For more information, please contact:
Federal Ministry of Agriculture
Abera Lemma
Public Relations Director, Ministry of Agriculture
E-mail: [email protected]
FAO
Rachel Nandelenga
Communications Consultant
Tamiru Legesse
National Communication Officer
WFP
Melese Awoke
National Communication Officer
World Food Programme
E-mail: [email protected]