As the World Food Day is being celebrated, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Imo state chapter has called on all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable food system for better nutritious foods.
Speaking at the workshop held at Benchmark hotel, Owerri last Thursday, one of the resource persons, Professor Afam-Anene noted that food system is about ensuring that nutritious foods are affordable, accessible and available, adding that there is need for government and non state actors to provide economic, social and friendly environment needed to generate food security and nutrition for the generation to come. She posited that food system is considered in the context of rapid population growth, urbanization, growing wealth, changing consumption pattern, globalization, climate change, depletion of nature resources, among other factors.
In his contribution, the chairman of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Imo State chapter, Too-Chukwu Obinna Okere noted that the world Food Day comes up on the 16th of October every year. He said that this year’s theme was ‘Our actions are our future-better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life. He hinted that what one does today determines the outcome of ones tomorrow in terms of food production and better environment and life, stressing that food system covers the value chain from the farmers (production) to consumption and waste generated afterwards.
Okere noted that the essence of the food mapping workshop was to understand what each local government produces in Imo state with the aim of encouraging large production for intake and commercial purposes, especially that insurgency and insecurity have affected the transportation and prices of foods, which invariably affect the consumption of nutritious foods. He called on the government of Imo State to provide necessary support for the local farmers for maximum food production. He also hinted that there’s need for bumper harvest in Imo State.
He extolled the national body of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Engaging Nutrition Academia in Nigeria (ENAN), Imo state for the support provided for the workshop, adding that there has been week long activities that marked the event, ranging from radio programs, nutrition walk, awareness and sensitization.
In his comments, the Project Manager, Project ENAN, Adetotun Owolabi hinted that food system talks about quality of food one eats and environment upon which they are provided, adding that there’s need to ensure that the food system is enhanced to provide nutritious foods for Nigerians.
Owolabi posited that the movement of production of foods was a huge challenge as insecurity has affected the transportation of foods from one end to another, stressing that the farmers are afraid to go to their farms, the roads are bad and the consumers cannot find the food to buy, adding that at the end of the day, it is affecting the intake of nutritious foods one takes.
