The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations observe World Food Day each year on October 16, the day on which the Organisation was founded in 1945. The theme for this year WFD is "Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis.'
The objectives of World Food Day are to: Draw attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end; Encourage economic and technical co-operation among developing countries; Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the marginalised groups, in decision making and activities influencing their living conditions; Increase public awareness about the problem of hunger in the world; Promote the transfer of technology to the developing world; and Strengthen International and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.
In Pakistan, main function of WFD would be organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfa) in Islamabad in active collaboration with FAO Pakistan office. In this regard a committee has been setup in Minfa to organise the event. The committee is headed by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food and Agriculture. After detailed discussion in a number of meetings the following activities for World Food Day have been finalised:
The main World Food Day 2009 event will be held at the NARC Auditorium in Islamabad on October 16, 2009. Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture will chair the event. Messages from the President, Prime minister of Pakistan and FAO Director General will be read out. Speeches will be made by the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture and the Secretary, Minfa.
Norman Borlaug award will be given to one of the most outstanding national agriculture scientist. This award will carry a cash prize of Rs 75,000. Essay competition was held among the students of the secondary and higher secondary schools highlighting the importance of the WFD theme and its relevance to Pakistan. Certificates along with cash prizes will be given to the first five winners of the competition.
Various stakeholders including relevant diplomats, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN System Organisations, research institutions within the NARC, Minfa among others will be invited to the function. With an estimated increase of 105 million hungry people in 2009, there are now 1.02 billion malnourished people in the world, meaning that almost one sixth of all humanity is suffering from hunger. We together will have to fight hunger and poverty to bail out poor people of Pakistan.-PR
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