Thursday 15 October 2015

Youth input crucial to feeding world’s hungry

Youth partnership and leadership are crucial to creating a world free from hunger.
These are the words of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, as he urged young people to play their part in ending world hunger by 2030. 

He spoke at “Mobilising Generation Zero Hunger” a high-level side event of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York. 

There are over 800 million hungry people in a world of plenty with high levels of food wastage. Graziano da Silva went on to note: “We can feed all the people in the world and we throw out even one-third of all the food we produce. So the problem is not food, poverty is the reason behind hunger, not lack of food,” he said. 

Zero Hunger by 2030 – new development target Zero Hunger is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formally adopted on 25 by the 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs are hailed as a universal vision for a better world... zero hunger, the second goal, (SDG #2), calls on countries to end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. 

Empower youths, involve citizens, and promote sustainable agriculture However, achieving zero hunger is only possible through collective efforts from governments and citizens alike. 

Youths, including young women, must be empowered to get involved in the agriculture and food sector through integrated training, providing young people with access to land, Internet communication technologies, mentorship for young entrepreneurs and tailored financial products. 

Often the voices of youth are not heard in policy processes that affect them. Effective and inclusive co-operatives and producer organisations, including agricultural co-operatives, can represent youth interests. They can encourage leadership and participation in policy and decision-making processes at national, regional and global levels. 

Reduce Caribbean youth unemployment, increase food security Across the Caribbean there are approximately 260,000 unemployed youth, many of whom are located in rural areas, or have migrated into capital cities from rural areas. Further, Caribbean youth unemployment rates are among the highest in the world – 25 percent, compared to global averages of 10 per cent. 

“Caribbean youth face enormous challenges... 

The agricultural sector can play a significant role in creating decent employment opportunities for youth, which can stimulate a sense of community and pride which contributes to personal and regional development,” said John Ronald Deep Ford, FAO co-ordinator for the Caribbean. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) have joined forces to tackle the growing level of youth unemployment in the Caribbean. A US$2.7 million dollar programme “Strengthening decent rural employment opportunities for young women and men in the Caribbean” will be implemented in collaboration with a number of Caribbean governments and key stakeholders in six countries: Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana and Haiti. Other countries in the region are also expected to benefit from the programme’s regional activities.” Another focus of FAO in the Caribbean is the development of the cassava industry, bringing youth and family producers into commercial relationships. 

Social Protection and agriculture help transition from poverty FAO’s mandate is to ensure that people have sufficient high quality food to lead active and healthy lives, while eradicating poverty, hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; and promoting sustainable management and use of natural resources. 

FAO recognises that the next generation holds the key to the future. 

Children and young people, particularly girls, are among the most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition. 

Joint agriculture and social protection initiatives such as cash transfers and public work programmes help vulnerable rural households who typically face multiple constraints and risks. 
Taken from Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

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