FAO boss urges academia to join fight against hunger

da Silva, FAO DG

The Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), José Graziano da Silva has called on the academia to be involved in the essential and politically important research into rural poverty.

According to José, one of the great challenges man faces today is to make use of academic knowledge to comprehend and improve the life of rural populations all over the world. “We need to look at the reality outside of university walls,” he said.

José in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet affirmed that food insecurity, nutrient deficiencies and unsafe food top the list of most pressing issues in the fight against hunger and rural development.

Unequal competition between small-scale and large scale food producers, NaijaAgroNet gathered also contributes to hunger, yet small-scale farmers account for a larger percentage of food produce and any unequal competition will drive them out of operation.

“Academics should look into the issue of governance of the food and agriculture sector, both at global and local levels, and how to achieve a fair distribution of benefits,” José recommended that there is the need to reduce transportation and storage cost as well as food waste and loss if we want more people to be eating healthy diets, based on fresh foods.

The FAO boss also recommended a better conceptual clarification and practical proposals from academics and policy makers.

Yinka Awosanya
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Burkina Faso loses N24.9b to food deficiencies - World Bank

Compaoré, Burkina Faso President

Global financial apex institution, the World Bank has discovered lose of $158 million, about N24.979 billion by Burkina Faso, to vitamin and mineral deficiencies annually.

According to World Bank, micronutrient deficiencies are widespread in Burkina Faso which contributes greatly to loss of lives as well as diminished productivity.

Further NaijaAgroNet learnt that improving core micronutrient interventions amounts to $10 million, about 1.58 billion per year.

Highlighting other challenges facing the West African country, the international bank revealed that more than one-third of child deaths are attributable to under-nutrition and increased severity of disease, and that 36 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted, 19 per cent are wasted, and 32 per cent are underweight.

Part of the recommendations proffered by World Bank for Burkina Faso includes involving multiple sectors to ensure that diverse and nutritious diets are available, and accessible to all household members.

The recommended sectors to be involved include agriculture, education, transport, gender, the food industry, health and other sectors.

Steps taken by the international financial institution include the recent support to Burkina Faso with $40 million, about N6.31billion Agricultural Productivity and Food Security Project.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

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