World food day: Edo holds food exhibition

To commemorate this year’s World Food Day, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Edo State on Monday, held a food exhibition, with participants drawn from the various Local Government Areas of the state.

The World Food Day is celebrated annually on October 16 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 of this year’s celebration is “Our Actions Are Our Future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and better life.”

Farmers from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state converged on the premises of the state ministry of Agriculture to display their farm produce.

The exhibition had in attendance farmers from diverse food value chains such as Plantain, Yam, Rice, Cocoa, Garri, Oil palm, pineapple, poultry products, fish, honey among others.

Speaking during the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Peter Aikhuomobhogbe, said the event was organised to focus attention on agriculture and food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, and non-governmental efforts.

Aikhuomobhogbe stated that the event was also to encourage the participation of the rural people, particularly women and the underprivileged in decisions and activities that influenced their lives.

“The amount and quality of food produced in a food system, the availability of that food, and its price affect the types and qualities of food people eat, as well as the variety and nutritional quality of their diets.

“If food systems worked well in providing consumers with diverse, nutritious, and affordable diets, people could procure their food in the market, regardless of their own agricultural productivity.

“But among poor household in Edo State and Nigeria at large, this is not the case, the rate of food insecurity and malnutrition in these areas is severe,” he said.

According to him, the state government had put in place an agricultural entrepreneurship (Agripreneur) Programme that is expected to create 30,000 jobs.

The Chairperson of the National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN), Ambassador, Tracy Agol, commended the ministry for the event.

Agol said that “the food exhibition held today is commendable. It brought together agricultural producers and Products from the 18 local areas of the state.

“If we continue like this, it means that food will be sufficient for the people.

She, however, called on the government at all levels to help to tackle insecurity in the state to enable the farmers to access their farms without fear of being killed or kidnapped.

According to her, “We do not have food in abundance like it used to be because of insecurity. The few farm produce that is available is very expensive.”

Alhaji, Momodu Oshiobughie, the coordinator of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Edo North, thanked the state government for the various agricultural interventions in the state.

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World food day: Edo holds food exhibition