Above, in Manila PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar speaks at the “World Food Day Culminating Program” held Friday 16 October 2020 in the Bureau of Soils & Water Management building adjoining the main headquarters of the Department of Agriculture, DA, in Quezon City.
Also seen above is the theme of World Food Day 2020: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our Actions Are Our Future.”
About food from plants, the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, says[1] (FAO.org):
Today only nine plant species account for 66% of total crop production, despite the fact that there are at least 30 000 edible plants. We need to grow a variety of food to nourish people and sustain the planet.
The world needs to grow more food – more in volume, more in variety; nourish better more people; sustain more meaningful lives. Together, from better actions come common, fuller, sustainable futures.
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, who happens to be the Deputy Country Director of the UN World Food Program Philippines, Mats Persson, was of course in attendance. To me, Mr Persson’s presence signifies that:
Our world actions on the matter of food, since
they are our future, must be done in peace.
And to me, PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar’s presence signifies something of value that is BIG. You see, Mr Dar is not a political appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte – Mr Dar is an all-around guy as national teacher, extensionist, scientist, research manager in the Philippines; and global leader of an august body, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT, based in India, that he served for 15 years, 3 terms, from 2000 to 2014. It was he as Servant Leader who brought ICRISAT from dead last to #1 in achievements (publicly measured in awards) among the 15 international agriculture centers under the CGIAR based in France. It was wonderful observing even from afar. I know all that because I was an international consulting writer for ICRISAT 2007-2014, WFH, based in Manila.
“Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.” Together. Yes, today on his second year as PH Secretary of Agriculture, Mr Dar is emphasizing group efforts in different formats, such as: farm consolidation, farm clusters, cooperatives, DA-initiated food markets in urban areas (“Kadiwa Ni Ani At Kita”), private sector and local government unit direct assistances in food distribution…
In his long culmination speech, after all is said and done, this is Mr Dar’s emphasis:
Foremost, before ensuring food production, we strongly believe our respective governments must first address the growing number of people being pushed into poverty.
The poor we have always had with us. He says rural poverty in the Philippines is at its highest: 30%. “We expect this level to further increase as a result of this (lockdown).” He recommends “to create employment once again, and crank up livelihood activities and stimulate consumption.”
In other words, end the lockdown of any kind: Now!
I say, we must be free to make this country great.
Our Common Actions Today Are Our Common Future!@
No comments:
Post a Comment