On October 31, 2019, Rwanda joined the rest of the World to celebrate World Food Day (WFD) in line with promoting awareness and action meant to achieve Zero Hunger. Celebration event for the day took place in Rwantozi village, Terimbere Cell, Nyabirasi Sector, Rutsiro District/Western Province.
The day is an opportunity to enhance coordination of various efforts for food security and nutrition. WFD is usually celebrated on 16th October every year, but each country is free to opt for a convenient date between 16th and 31st October.
The annual event is observed to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to achieve Zero Hunger, ensuring food security and nutritious diets for all.
This year’s World Food Day was held under the theme: “Our actions are our future. Healthy diets for a Zero Hunger World”. This theme calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and available for everyone.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, noted that Rwanda has made commendable progress in food security as it improved from 48% in 2006 and reached to 81.3% in 2018.
The improving food security in the country is largely attributed to the growth of the agriculture sector as a result of different policies and initiatives undertaken by the government. They include Land Use Consolidation, Improved use of Agricultural inputs, protection of land against soil erosion, irrigation, reduced post-harvest losses of both dried and fresh produce, One Cow per Poor Family (Girinka), small livestock, and high value crops promotion among others.
“The Government of Rwanda, in collaboration with its partners, remains highly committed to ensure food security and nutrition in the country through continuous cooperation and support in the on-going process to achieve full food security and healthy diets as the theme for today’s World Food Day reminds us,” said the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, at the event in Rutsiro District.
A number of activities were carried out to mark this year’s WFD. Among others, they include community work of planting fruit trees to launch the three tree campaign to mobilise Rwandan families to grow nutritious foods, providing children with nutritious diets, and giving cows to needy families through Girinka programme.