Telling you guys about the different types of food across nation or around globe would be exciting. But, will that add any value to this day? Do most of you know the real reason why 16th October is celebrated as World Food Day?
It’s an annual celebration in the honor of the founding date of the Food and Agriculture Organization launched by the United Nations in the year 1945. World Food Day is celebrated widely with great enthusiasm by several other organizations which are concerned with food security such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Food Program, and others.
This year’s theme:
World Food Day: Building A Zero Hunger Generation
More than just a casual series of festivities, World Food Day is organized to bring awareness to how our changing planet affects food production and distribution. Related events explore several topics such as examining how agriculture needs to adapt due to climate change to how migration affects food security. The goal of these sessions is to set goals that will eventually lead to building a Zero Hunger Generation.
Let’s talk about its HISTORY:
World Food Day (WFD) was established by the member countries of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) in November 1979, at the organization’s 20th General Conference. Dr. Pal Romany, the Hungarian Delegation led by the then Minister of Hungary for Agriculture and Food, played a significant role at the 20th General Conference of the FAO and proposed the idea of launching the WFD worldwide. Since then, the WFD is been observed in more than 150 countries every year; raising consciousness and knowledge of the problems and reasons behind hunger and poverty.
How India celebrates this day:
In India, the day marks the significance of agriculture and emphasizes on the fact that the food produced in and consumed by Indians is safe and healthy. The world food day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India; several sincere lovers of food in Delhi joined hands and vowed to keep their food hygienic and safe. They opposed the introduction of GM (genetically modified) crops in India. People in Delhi celebrate the occasion at Craft museum of Dastakar Mela; they make rangoli and perform street plays and acts on the matter of genetic modification.
How other countries celebrate:
Europe
On World Food Day, Spanish television gets active with broadcasting events. Spanish soccer star and the Goodwill Ambassador of FAO, Raul has taken part in many events and has helped in highlighting food-security issues throughout his country. In Germany, Food and Agriculture Ministry, Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, etc get involved through press conferences.
In Italy, various NGOs, international agencies, research institutes, universities, and ministries have organized several conferences, exhibitions and symposia. In 2005, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Policies in Italy organized a meeting that focused on the rights of the women in rural areas.
The United States of America
World Food Day has been a custom in the United States ever since it was established for the first time in the year 1981. In the United States, this great work is sponsored by approximately 450 private, national and voluntary organizations. Various events are organized at these organizations; one such notable examples for the celebration is the World Food Day Sunday Dinners sponsored by Oxfam America in association with several other non-profit organizations.
Africa
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana organized a food security conference and Namibia has run an awareness program through national media.
Angola celebrated World Food Day through the 4th Forum on Rural Women in 2005; in Burundi, the second Vice-President marked the event by planting potatoes to give a symbolic example about the production of food. The President of the Central African Republic inaugurated a bridge at Boda in the honor of the World Food Day; this facilitated the agricultural production area easily reachable.
Tell us, how do you celebrate this day in the comment section below 😀