BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – “LET us look seriously at what causes swings in food prices and do what needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest members of global society.”
This was the cautionary statement recently issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations as the world observed World Food Day.
Sound advice, especially with an expected three billion-increase of the human population by 2015, and especially with the need for food production to increase by 70 percent in order for food security needs to be met at that point.
World Food Day was observed yesterday (Oct. 16) under the theme “Food Prices…from crisis to stability”, and on a local level, a week of activities was launched in commemoration of the day and promotion of its theme.
Dubbed a “Commemorative Week of Activities in Celebration of 2011 World Food Day”, the week was declared open with a national address by Senior Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, Dr. Timothy Harris.
Making reference to this year’s international theme, Dr. Harris noted that it “acknowledges the volatility of the global food situation, in particular that we are facing a crisis and an inflationary spiral. This food crisis has seen 925 million people suffering from malnutrition which 70 million of these malnourished persons were pulled into the ranks of the hungry over the last year. To stabilise prices we must attend to the demand and supply variables. In the medium term, an increase in food supply is what would be the best panacea to rising food prices”.
Against this backdrop, the Senior Minister encouraged “farmers and the wider public” to support the week of activities.
In his address, Dr. Harris outlined the different activities that are scheduled to take place during the week which runs from October 16-21.
Yesterday, (Oct. 16), members of Cabinet along with the Governor General, members of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps as well as members of the farming community were to have gathered at the Reformation Centre for a Thanksgiving Church Service.
Today, students of various schools across the Federation will be paid visits by agricultural officials who would speak and provide information on agriculture, the importance of food security, how it can be achieved and students’ role in achieving food security.
Tuesday (Oct. 18) is expected to see further promotion of the theme with agricultural officials making an appearance on WINNFM’s “The Breakfast Show”. And on the following day, a donation of agricultural tools will be donated to the Edgar T. Morris Primary School and food hampers donated to the Cardin Home by officials of the Agriculture Department.
One of the main highlights of the week is the display of appreciation for some of the individuals who continue to promote food security within the Federation. These individuals, farmers and fishers, will be rewarded during a prize-giving ceremony that will be held at the Department of Agriculture on October 20.
A panel discussion is expected to be held later that evening on ZIZ Radio.
The culmination of the observance will take the form of a tree-planting activity in Verchilds Village on Friday (Oct. 21).
