MOGADISHU, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations agencies on Wednesday expressed commitment to helping Somalia increase investments to boost food production as the country marked World Food Day.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), held a joint event in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, to spotlight on how food heroes are transforming the country's agrifood systems in line with the 2024 World Food Day theme "Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future: Leave No One Behind."
Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Somalia country representative, said FAO is committed to supporting the government and people of Somalia in increasing agricultural production, building long-term resilience, and ensuring the right to food for a better future and life for all.
"With the growing impacts of climate change and a rising global population, it's more urgent now than ever to safeguard our planet to ensure sustainable food production," Peterschmitt said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu.
El-Khidir Daloum, WFP's representative and country director in Somalia, said the country is continuously at a crossroads, where communities face climate shocks, risking both lives and livelihoods before beginning the long process of recovery.
"That's why WFP is increasingly focusing on interventions that put resilience and climate-smart food systems at the heart of our work, aiming for a more sustainable, self-reliant, and brighter future for Somalia," he added.
Somalia has experienced a series of recurrent and devastating shocks in recent years, including severe flooding and prolonged drought, which have destroyed livelihoods, according to the UN.
This year's World Food Day was marked amid forecasts of an 80 percent probability of La Nina conditions, which has left the country faced with the looming threat of yet another drought, typically bringing below-average rainfall and soaring temperatures.
The UN agencies have issued a stark warning following the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis which reveals that 4.4 million people will experience crisis levels of hunger (IPC3+) between October and December.
Mohamed Abdi Hayir, Somali minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that all Somalis have access to safe and nutritious food. "We are working relentlessly to strengthen our agricultural systems, promote sustainable farming practices, and support our farmers and communities," he said.
Through national programs and strategic partnerships, the government aims to increase local food production, build resilience against climate shocks, and secure a healthier, food-secure future for every Somali, said the minister.
World Food Day is celebrated every year on Oct. 16 to gather support and share actions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 of zero hunger.
