The Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security organised, on Sunday, an exhibition in the context of World Food Day 2022 at the Farmers Service Centre in Saint Pierre. Institutions, namely the Small Farmers’ Welfare Fund, the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, the Agricultural Services, the Forestry Services and the Agricultural Marketing Board participated in this fair.
The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, the Senior Chief Executive (SCE) of the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security, Mr Medha Gunputh, and other personalities were present on the occasion.
At the outset, the Vice-Prime Minister commended the special effort put in by the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security to encourage the population cultivate the land and produce food sustainably. Furthermore, she emphasised that it is essential to feed ourselves in a healthy and safe way, and in this context, underpinned the need to encourage and engage the youth and coming generations in farming. “I am pleased to notice through this exhibition the number of young children who are keen to learn how to prepare seeds and plant,” she said.
She further recalled that recently the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security has been promoting the use of bio farming, aligned with the principles of agroecology and requiring no agrochemicals as it relies on natural inputs such as cow dung and urine.
Both Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun and SCE Gunputh appealed to the population, in particular farmers, to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches such as the bio farming, not only in a bid to increase productivity, but also to enhance the quality of life of the population through the provision of safe and health agricultural products.
According to Mr Gunputh, natural farming, the Jeevamrutram, promotes agricultural practices that would protect the health of both planters and consumers, and boost the crop yields through the use of non-synthetic inputs. He also observed that Government has always placed the agro industry sector as its number one priority with the aim of achieving national food security, contributing at the same time to the economic growth and the creation of jobs.
World Food Day
The World Food Day is celebrated globally every year, on 16 October to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and to highlight the need to ensure healthy diets for all.
The theme chosen this year by the Food and Agriculture Organization is “Leave no one behind”. This theme is justified by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and global warming causing rise in prices and international tensions, which is affecting global Food Security. The Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security, for its part, has retained the theme “Safe Food for a Healthy Tomorrow”.
