Agriculture ministry secretary of state Yang Saing Koma attends the World Food Day celebrations in Kratie province on October 15. Yang Saing Koma via FB
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the Korean Project for International Agriculture Centre (KOPIA) – celebrated the 43rd anniversary of World Food Day with a special function on October 16 in Kratie province. This year’s event was held under the theme “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind”.
Addressing the event, ministry secretary of state Yang Saing Koma explained that the day focuses on effective water management, as it plays a crucial role in agriculture, the main source of income for many households.
He said the theme of the day aims to inspire people to understand and recognise the indispensable role of water, which is at the core of socio-economic development.
“Water is a driving force for public health, food, environment, employment and social sustainability. It ensures food security and nutrition, in terms of the well-being of both people and the environment,” he added.
He continued that the focus was on prudent water management in the context of population growth, economic development, urbanisation and climate change resilience. Saing Koma also noted that the government’s agricultural policies aim to maintain the growth of production and economic efficiency while ensuring food security, and helping to improve people’s livelihoods.
FAO communications specialist Towela Munthali noted that the occasion coincided with the 78th anniversary of the founding of the FAO.
“Today’s event is celebrated annually in more than 150 countries around the world,” she said.
“This year’s theme is ‘Water is the source of life, water is the source of food. Leave no one behind’. Water is the planet’s most valuable resource, hence its central role in this year’s theme. It is an important resource for life and livelihood. Water helps reduce hunger and poverty, as well as helping to achieve sustainable development goals,” she added.
According to FAO, climate change, population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and socio-economic development are putting increasing pressure on water resources.
Extreme heat, droughts and floods are increasing the pressure on our ecosystem, with serious consequences for global food security. Today, more than a third of the world’s population continues to live without access to clean water. Smallholder farmers, especially women, young people, ethnic minority groups, migrants and refugees, are the most vulnerable.
“We need to capitalise on the power of science, innovation, data and technology to produce more with less water. To make each drop of water worthwhile, we all need to use and manage water more efficiently. Agriculture is a vital sector that consumes about 70 per cent of the world’s fresh water,” said a FAO statement.
