World Food Day Celebrations In Kenema
By Marian Samu

The 16th October of every year marks World Food Day, in commemoration of the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), but more specifically to provide world leaders and the world's peoples an opportunity to reflect on their strides so far, in addressing the problem of hunger and nutrition.

This year's 59th anniversary of the FAO World Food Day, with theme: "Biodiversity for Food Security" was held in Kenema, in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was in Kenema to launch the celebrations, which attracted farmers from all regions of the country

The Chairman of the opening ceremony, Mr. Randolph Sahr Fillie-Faboe, Resident Minister, Eastern Region, said the presence of the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, gave a symbolic importance to the occasion, especially for farmers and farm families at a time when Sierra Leone is pursuing a food security drive.

The President of the National Association of Farmers of Sierra Leone, P.C. Somanoh Kapen, referred to the occasion as recognition of the people's right to food. He said that since President Kabbah's declaration of food security in 2002, there has been a move by all stakeholders to increase production, which has resulted in an increase in the acreage of cultivated land over the last two years. This, he said, is a good sign for our pursuit in the achievement of food security.

As the day was also observed as World Rural Women's Day, P.C. Somanoh Kapen gave a profile of the rural woman's daily chores, which he said begins at 6.00 am and ends at 8.00 pm, and which he described as arduous and tenuous. The NAFSL President appealed to the men folk to change their attitude towards women, and rural women in particular. Recognizing the major role played by women in the production process, the NAFSL President appealed for formulation and implementation of innovative strategies that will lessen the grip on rural women as "hewers of wood and drawers of water". He asked that women be given training and credit to improve on their production and thereby reduce the burden on their daily chares. P.C. Somanoh Kapen pledged their continued support towards the attainment of food security.

Talking on behalf of rural women, the National Women Farmers leader, Mrs. Gladys Hindowa, stated that women account for about 80% of food production in Sierra Leone. She appealed for access to appropriate tools and new farming techniques to help in modernizing women's farm work and the production process as a whole. She also called on the authorities for more training of women farmers on the preservation of biodiversity.

The chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs, Eastern region, P.C. Mohamed Dafie Benya II, lauded government's efforts in promoting food production, noting that the fact that President Kabbah himself is a farmer demonstrates his commitment and determination for the achievement of food security by 2007. He said the farming population is very much encouraged by progress made so far since the end of the war.

The FAO Country Representative, Mr. Mohamed Farah, reiterated FAO's objective in ensuring the provision of food for all peoples of the world. He said the joint celebration of this year's World Food Day and Rural Women's Day is a recognition of women farmers' contribution in feeding the world's population. The theme for this year's celebration: "Biodiversity for food security", reflects the vital role and importance of biodiversity in ensuring access to food security by all. The FAO representative spoke about the effect of biodiversity on food production in Sierra Leone, citing wild bush fires and the cutting-down of trees as examples of biodiversity degradation that is taking a toll on Sierra Leone's forests. He called for an early implementation of recommendations on the national biodiversity strategy so as to reverse the situation.

Mr. Farah observed that only two countries in the whole world, Sierra Leone and Brazil, have committed their governments to a time-bound achievement of food security for their peoples. This pledge, he said, should serve as an example to other countries and a motivation to development agencies and donors.

He said FAO has been supporting government, particularly the Agriculture and Marine Resources Ministries in the policy formulation and implementation of projects, including the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) and the establishment of the Right to Food Secretariat.

The Deputy Country Director of World Food Programme (WFP), Mr. Felix Gomez, said his organization's mission reflects food security for the world and that is why World Food Day is of immense significance to them. He talked about the interventions WFP has made in the country's activities in the areas of food for work, rehabilitation of feeder roads and the construction of fish ponds in the Tonkolili District. Acknowledging the role women farmers are playing in food production, Mr. Gomez said it is imperative on them to see how best they can help the women farmers. He disclosed that the WFP headquarters in Rome have approved twenty-five million dollars to expand on the country programmes for the next three years. He pledged WFP's commitment and continued support for the government's food security drive.

The Minister of Marine Resources, Mr. Okere Adams, stated that Sierra Leone has huge potential of rich marine resources, which needs to be tapped judiciously for the benefit of the people of this country. The marine sector, he said, employs over 30,000 people, with an additional 100,000 in fish marketing and distribution, noting that women constitute over 75% of players in the marketing and distribution of fish.

Mr. Adams stated that in spite of the huge involvement of women in the fishing business, only 4% of women own fishing boats, adding that women's capacity to own fishing gears and productive equipment must be enhanced. He, however, stated that the FAO youth engagement project is directed to redressing this imbalance and that the African Development Bank loan project to fishermen is paying special attention to women.

Minister Adams also spoke of steps his Ministry has undertaken to address fish production. He said about fifty community fishponds have been constructed across the country, and an additional one thousand ponds in the Tonkolili district, with women as an integral part of the management of those fish farms.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Mr. Francis Ngebeh, noted that the food security drive is a national campaign to which he invited everyone to come on board. He said they have been encouraged by what they have seen this year, an indication that the country is making progress.

Minister Ngebeh said his Ministry has adopted five policy pillars, which include increased production, crop diversification, and income security, reduction of post harvest losses and development of markets for farmers. He commended FAO, IFAD and other agencies/donors for their continued support to the Ministry.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Daudi Mwakawago, praised government's efforts and commitment to the achievement of food security, and promised that the UN family in Sierra Leone will ensure that this laudable venture is supported until it is realized. He appealed for an urgent need to mobilize women and the youth, noting that the theme for this year's World Poverty Day: "Youth, a critical factor in the millennium goal", which also coincides with the World Food Day, reflects this reality.

"In spite of the ideals of the founding fathers of FAO to addressing the problem of hunger and nutrition in the world and despite 59 years of its existence, hunger still continues to be a plague in the world," said President Kabbah and further said that "it is disheartening, however, to note that despite all our efforts at the modernization of agriculture, sometimes involving huge investments in this industry, over 540 million people still remain hungry in the world and still more suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Every effort should be made at global and national levels to support the prescriptions of the Millennium Development Goals agreed on by World Leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000, the President continued.

Talking on the main theme of the celebration, President Kabbah noted that the theme 'Biodiversity for Food Security', underscores the challenge we currently face as a nation. He said there is need to broaden our food base, as opposed to our current appreciation and acceptance of very few food types and a heavy reliance on imported food.

President Kabbah observed that it is critical that we achieve household food security as well as national food security. "We must endeavour to use this year to expand our food base and determine to enrich our diets with a variety of food" he said.

The President gave a resume of his government's strides so far in its food security drive, including the provision of rice seeds, oil palm seedlings, cashew seedlings, vegetable and other planting materials, fertilizers, machinery and equipment including 100 tractors, 30 medium level rice mills and 30 cassava graters, all geared towards enhancing farmers' productivity among others.

President Kabbah also noted that the recent commissioning of one rice mill in Makeni and one in Bo with a combined output capacity of one metric tonne per hour has stimulated rice production in areas within close proximity to those machine locations. He also mentioned the installation of five micro palm oil processing mills in Blama, Njala, Daru, Bumpe Taninahun and Sahn Malen aimed at maximizing yield through the elimination of processing losses and also to ensure hygienic palm oil production for local consumption and export.

He acknowledged the German Government's support through GTZ in providing funding for the establishment of a Right to Food Secretariat. The Secretariat, he said, will monitor food security activities throughout the country and will report to the Hon. Vice President for his attention on progress being made towards the achievement of the food security objective.

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