The World Food Day is marked every 16th October. The day was endorsed by the United Nations in 1980 and marks the date the food and agricultural organization (FAO) was founded in 1945. Food is an essential but limited renewable resource to human beings. In some parts of the world, malnutrition and famine affects many people. Increase in human population has led to introduction of farming activities in marginal areas and environmental degradation. Some hybrid varieties have been selected and promoted without considering their sensitivity and additional needs in terms of water, expensive fertilizer and other agrochemicals. The indigenous food plants have often been ignored.
World Food Day aims at creating awareness for people to consider the social economic and environment costs of food production. People are encouraged to develop healthier and sustainable eating habits. This is aimed at ensuring that there is adequate and quality food for all people.
Suggested activities
- Invite elders from the community to discuss about foods found in the local natural habitats such as fruits and wild vegetables. Also discuss how indigenous people used to get foods.
- Bring different types of foods, cook it and eat together. Make it an indigenous food day for the local area to taste and appreciate food from different homes/ communities.
- Discuss within groups the kinds foods available in most of your meals – whether the food is grown in the local area and whether it is from an indigenous or exotic (plant or animal) variety
- Establish whether there are any malnutrition problems in your locality.
- Discuss what can be done to ensure food security within the locality. Implement feasible suggestions.
- Invite an expert to discuss about food issues in Kenya.
- Write an essay or summary notes on how you celebrated the world food day. Publicise your success on this blog.
For further Information, contact:
Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) (http://www.fao.org)
Kenya from Hunger Council (https://www.facebook.com/KenyaFreedomFromHungerCouncil)
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (http://www.kilimo.go.ke)
Kenya Resource Centre of Indigenous Knowledge (KENRIK) based at the National Museums of Kenya (http://www.museums.or.ke)