FAO: 'Food for all'

Date: Fri 15-Oct-1993
Paper Page: 6
Publication: Weekend Nation

WORLD FOOD DAY is observed on October 16 each year in more than 150 countries.

It was established by members of the United Nations at the 20th session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) conference in November 1979. The day serves as a reminder of FAO's continuing search for a lasting solution to the problems of hunger and poverty in the world. The founders created the day with the goal that "food for all" should become a human right for present and future generations. The objectives of World Food Day are:

To heighten public awareness of hunger in the world.
To focus attention on agriculture and food production.
To stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end.
To promote the transfer of technologies to the Third World.
To strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggles against hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and to draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.
To encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the under-privileged, in decisions and activities that influence their lives.
To encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.