Entsimini

World Food Day 2022

Siyabulela Mqikela|Published

According to the World Food Forum (WFF), the 17th - 21st of October is set aside to recognise the contribution of food to global public health.

Almost all agricultural products provide food for many households worldwide while also contributing to job creation. This month has been used by a number of world leaders to emphasise the importance of global food production.

According to the United Nations, there is concern that the world's population is increasing while food production is not increasing. Disease, changing climate, and wars caused by unstable politics in some countries are the major issues affecting global food production.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations established this campaign in 1945 with the goal of educating the world about the importance of food produced by farmers around the world.

The Eastern Cape government, led by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, took part in this program at the ICC in East London.

Mabuyane said at the event that the Eastern Cape plays an important role in food production, but that there are some areas that need to be improved.

“The Eastern Cape is leading in the production of clothes, orange products, but these products that come from here are processed in other places and come back to us already sold at a price,” said Mabuyane.

Every year the Eastern Cape sends more than 50 000 sheep to the Middle East, Kuwait and other parts of the world.

“We must participate in the effort to fight hunger that causes children and women to sleep with empty stomachs,” said Mabuyane.

He stated that producing enough food can boost economic growth in the Eastern Cape and South Africa.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza was with the Minister of Agriculture in Gauteng encouraging the production of food in the province. This year's theme was to include everyone in global agricultural production.

“Everyone should be included, better production, better food, better society, better life for everyone,” said Didiza.

Didiza said the government will support food production in Sedibeng District Municipality in Gauteng through the programs of the Department of Agriculture.

“This day gives the people of the world an opportunity to consider the role that agriculture plays in the daily health of the people, that is why we encourage the public to plant vegetable gardens in their homes,” said Didiza.