Liberia Joins other Countries around the World to Celebrate World Food Day

The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with its development partners, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Food Programme (WFP), on October 16, joined the world over to celebrate World Food Day. The program took place at the Ministry of Agriculture. World Food Day’s message with its theme “Our Actions are our Future-Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger” was delivered on behalf of FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva by Madam Mariatu Njie, FAO Liberia Country Representative.

Madam Njie indicated that World Food Day 2019 calls for actions to make healthy and sustainable diets accessible and affordable. She went on to say, Farmers, governments, researchers, private sector and consumers all have pivotal role to play.

The FAO Country Rep further maintained that farmers need better incentives to increase and diversify the production of high quality food.

She also reminded the gathering that government needs to adopt standards food policies and regulations that prioritize the availability and affordability of safe nutritious foods.

Speaking on behalf of Government, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Development, Mr. Robert K. Fagans, disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture through the implementation of the second generation of the Liberia Agriculture Sector Investment plan components 1 & 2 food and nutrition security and competitive value chains development and market linkages are aligned to thepriorities of government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, has outlined various strategies to increase agriculture production and productivity and improve forest utilization through competitive value chain and market linkages.