World Food Day: Hunger remains a significant threat to Governments due to climate change – Min Mustapha

The Government of Guyana, through the Agriculture Ministry, on Wednesday joined in the observance of World Food Day as part of the Ministry’s Agriculture Month celebrations.
Scores of individuals gathered at the Bourda Cricket Ground in Georgetown for the annual World Food Day exhibition, and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted that the scourge of hunger remains a significant threat to governments, due to several issues, such as climate change.
“Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, hunger and food insecurity remain persistent challenges through climate change, conflict, poverty and inequality, (and) continue to threaten food security, particularly in vulnerable regions around the world,” he declared.

In this regard, amid these challenges, the minister noted, Guyana has significantly bolstered its food security through several policies and interventions.
“Guyana is making significant strides to ensure that every citizen has access to nutritious food, while contributing to food security across the Caribbean,” he posited. “Undernourishment in Guyana has fallen below 2.5 per cent, a figure well below the regional average of 6.6 per cent, and the global average of 9.1 per cent. In the area of food insecurity, we have also made tremendous progress, the prevalence of moderate or severe insecurity stands at 25.5 per cent lower than the regional average of 31 per cent.”
Also present at the event was Deputy Programme Manager, Agriculture and Agro-Industries, Caricom Secretariat, Milagro Matus, who highlighted the importance of developing resilient food systems.

“As we face increasing impacts of climate change, it is imperative that we develop food systems that are not only productive, but also resilient to environmental shocks. This year’s theme also aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture which we held last week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the banner of climate-smart agriculture for a sustainable future.”
Matus reaffirmed Caricom’s commitment to ensuring all Caricom member states achieve food security through increased collaboration, among other initiatives.
“The world today provides us with a unique opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every person in the Caribbean region has the right food. By embracing sustainable agriculture practices and fostering regional cooperation, we can create a better life and a brighter future for all,” Matus has said.
Additionally, Matus lauded Government for its commendable contributions when she said: “I would like to take this moment to commend the Government of Guyana for its outstanding leadership in advancing food and nutrition security across the region through its chairmanship, Minister Mustapha, of the Caricom Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Nutrition Security.”
This year, the theme for World Food Day is “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future.” It’s a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate food.