As the world Celebrates World’s Food Day, a group under the aegis of Farm Development Volunteers Initiative (FADEVOIN) had called on stakeholders in the agricultural sector to scale up actions to strengthen food security in the country.
The Executive Director, FADEVOIN, Comrade ( Engr.) Raphael Fuludu, made this call in Warri during a press briefing to mark #WorldFoodDay2020.
He said every 16th October each year is an international day set aside in honour of the date for founding the United Nations (UN) Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in 1945.
He added that this year’s theme, “Grow, Nourish and Sustain, together” was timely and apt since it has shown how vulnerable we are when we don’t sustain our food growth.
Fuludu further noted that this year’s “World Food Day 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of FAO in an exceptional moment as the world at large is dealing with the widespread effects of the global pandemic.”
While noting that Covid-19 pandemic had provided the opportunity for reflection, Fuludu called on decision makers in government to look into the future in line with the theme of this year’s celebration.
He said, Government should as a matter of urgency accelerate and scale up actions to strengthen food security by supporting farmers and agro processors alike to do better even as we build back and improve our food systems.”
Comrade Fuludu, used the medium to celebrate all “Farm Heroes” who are working so hard to provide food for our nation’s growing population.
He also admonished all critical stake holders in the agricultural value chain, with emphasis on rice producers, to improve on their processing methods stressing that “it is unsafe to eat rice mixed with sand or stones as we have been observing in some of our local products since the ban on importation of rice into the country by President Buhari government.”
