Plans underway to celebrate World Food Day in October

‘World Food Security; the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy’ is the theme for the 2008 World Food Day to be observed next month.

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock, in an official statement, advised all stakeholders, government and agricultural agencies, provinces, non-government organisations and the public to make preparations to celebrate the event on October 16.

The statement said that a collaborative effort was required by all stakeholders to join the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in organising various activities to promote and create awareness on WFD and the theme.

The activities can include agricultural field days, farmer displays, agricultural shows, cultural and sporting events, workshops, poster and art exhibitions and others.

The annual observance of WFD by PNG is part of the global commitment to increase public awareness and understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty and emerging global issues such as climate change and bioenergy that will impact on food security.

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 850 million people worldwide suffer from hunger and malnutrition and global initiatives have been launched to reduce this figure.

The WFD is an opportunity for everyone to come together and reaffirm their commitment to address food insecurity and other associated problems in a collaborative and participatory manner with national, international, local communities and NGOs.

 The 2008 theme highlights the importance of climate change and energy situation on agriculture and food security and the need for proper management of natural resource base and the environment to sustain agricultural productivity for food production and income generation to ensure food security for a growing world population.

DAL has urged government departments, agricultural agencies, NGOs, provinces, business houses and the public to join hands and celebrate WFD in their local communities on October 16 or thereafter.

Preparations are also underway for the official WFD celebrations to be held in conjunction with an agriculture road show at Bogia in the Madang Province on October 30-31.

The local community is all geared up and is working hard to organise the two-day event to celebrate World Food Day, Rural Women’s Day and promote agriculture potential and opportunities all at the same time.