Remarks at the National Commemoration of World Food Day

The Right Hon. Prime Minister of Uganda 

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

Hon. Members of Parliament

Officials from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies

Colleagues from UN Agencies and other Development Partners

Representatives of Civil Society

Researchers and members of the Academia Representatives from the Private Sector

Farmers and farmers groups (Our Food Heroes) Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it is my honour to address you today as we commemorate the national World Food Day celebrations.

I also take this opportunity to join the previous speakers to thank all of you for making it to this important commemoration and to acknowledge the position that food plays to attain sustainable development of society and nations. In particular, I convey my gratitude and that of my Director General to the Guest of Honour, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, and the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, as we commemorate World Food Day and the launching of the National Food Systems Coordination Committee.

Every year, FAO joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Food Day on 16 October, to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security, better agricultural production and nutritious diets for all. The theme for this year’s World Food Day is “Leave no one behind. Better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life.”

Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and distinguished colleagues,

Food is humanity’s most sought for resource and a fundamental human right. While we have made progress towards building a better world, far too many people have been left behind and continue to suffer hunger and malnutrition.

Today 3.1 billion people around the world still cannot afford a healthy diet. Hunger continues to rise and it affected 828 million people in 2021 – an increase of about 46 million people since 2020, and 150 million since 2019. In just two years, the number of acutely food insecure people has risen from 135 million (2019) to193 million (2021), and 2022 is likely to worsen.

In Uganda, the prolonged drought in many parts of the country has resulted in below-average crop production. In effect, major crop yields such as of maize was below expectation leading to estimated losses of at least 30 percent. In Karamoja, the latest National Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) estimated increasing food insecurity levels affecting with over 400,000 experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse wit about. Of concern is that nearly 56,600 children across the 9 districts are also affected by acute malnutrition and in urgent need of food assistance.

Like in many parts of the world today, Uganda faces food security challenges as result of global conflicts, economic crises, the climate emergency, environmental degradation and the knock-on effects of COVID-19, among others. Food prices have soared to record highs this year. As always, the poorest are hardest hit.

Rt Honourable Prime Minister,

On this World Food Day, we (FAO) joins the government of Uganda and other stakeholders to relaunch a resounding call for action to transform agrifood systems in a bid to foster inclusive economic growth, address inequalities, increase resilience, and achieve sustainable development.

The current cost of living and food crisis highlights challenges of our fragile food system that is under strain on multiple fronts due to the after effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a prolonged drought that led to crop failure, instability in grain and wheat supply due to the war in Ukraine and the rise in fuel prices that is driving up transport costs and food retail prices.

Addressing the root cause of food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition requires dealing building a robust, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food system. A systems approach to food and nutrition is now recognized as the most sustainable approach for building formidable protective measures to safeguard against food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition. In fact, failures  and gaps in food security and Nutrition result from dysfunctional agrifood systems.

We are calling for change makers in the food and agriculture spaces; change makers with whom we shall work hand-in-hand to build a resilient, better and more sustainable world, where no one is left behind.

The commemoration of World Food Day is therefore significant and the theme enormously appropriate. We need, 

Better production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, through efficient and inclusive food and agriculture supply chains at local, regional and global level, ensuring resilient and sustainable agri-food systems in a changing climate and environment.

Better nutrition: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition in all its forms, including promoting nutritious food and increasing access to healthy diets.

Better environment: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and combat climate change (reduce, reuse, recycle, residual management) through more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

Better life: Promote inclusive economic growth by reducing inequalities

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We need urgent actions to transform the food production systems, livestock sector, fisheries, promote climate change adaptation and investment in agriculture.

FAO calls on the Government to integrate the pledge to leave no one behind in SDG strategies, plans and budgets. We should ensure collection of relevant data and apply it to policy design for sustainable development, greater preparedness and resilience to shocks should be paramount.

The private sector must become real partners for development by prioritizing standard development principles, human rights and accountability and by supporting international organizations and local NGOs when engaging in developing countries.

We need researchers to build the capacity to meet today’s challenges, strengthen knowledge and harness innovation. Researchers and academic institutions play a key role in data collection, monitoring and analyses at national level, facilitating evidence-based decision-making.

The adoption of the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan II 2020/21-2024/25 (UNAP II) is also an important milestone in carrying forward the progress registered under UNAP I such as improved access and delivery of nutrition specific and nutrition-sensitive services, and an enabling environment for improving nutrition especially of women and children.

Supporting and strengthening the existing food systems governance structures especially at OPM, NPA, MAAIF, other sectors and local governments, as well as adopting a Food Systems Transformation Plan under the NDP III to enable coherence of the programme approach in the context of food systems.

As FAO, we continue to support national initiatives around food systems such the creation and operationalisation of the National Food Systems Coordination Committee (NFSCC) that is being launched today.

This year, as part of the activities to highlight food issues, FAO in Uganda is collaborating with Faces-Up Uganda, a-youth led NGO, to undertake an art contest for children aged 5-15 years, across the entire country, under the day’s theme. Children, a constituent that is often left behind, have been telling stories of their interaction with food, its production and consumption, through art. The art contest is meant to amplify our strategic focus around the 4Betters and Leaving No One Behind, and act as a call to support sustainable agriculture and agri-food systems. The contest received over 3000 submissions from children countrywide and 120 art works were shortlisted, from which the final 12 winners were selected to receive awards today. From their art pieces, we have learnt that children envision a world where hunger and malnutrition have no place. A world where access to food is honoured human right. This calls for all of us to create an enabling and all-inclusive environment.

FAO remains committed to support the Government’s efforts to transform the country’s agrifood systems, working with the private sector and other partners.

Thank you for listening to me.