HOMEGROWN SOLUTIONS: ENHANCING THE RIGHT TO FOOD THROUGH LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

The Food and Agriculture Organization hosted a food expo to raise awareness on Right to Food

This year’s World Food Day commemorations were held under the theme Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future. This theme shone the spotlight on the basic human right to adequate food.

For Zambia, this theme calls attention to access to the recent drought-induced food crisis in which 5.3 million people were threatened with hunger and malnutrition. The recent drought was declared a disaster after 8 of the country’s 10 provinces experienced severe rainfall deficit and consequently reduced the national crop production.

For farmers in rural communities who depend predominantly on agriculture, their quest for food security begins at home and thus the prolonged drought has implied that ensuring their food nutrition security has been a struggle. Part of this struggle stems from the mind-set that only maize constitutes food. And thus, the nutritional potential of many indigenous foods is overlooked.

One pillar of the right to food requires freedom from hunger in the event of disaster and thus, this was a key message at the recently held World Food Day commemorations that were held in Lusaka.

The event was graced by her Honour, the Republican Vice President – Mrs Mutale Nalumango who echoed the government’s commitment towards ensuring all people had access to adequate and nutritious food.

The commemorations that are annually sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization country office, were this year marked by a food expo at which various nutritious indigenous foods from all the 10 provinces of Zambia were exhibited through traditional and contemporary creative recipes or simple preservation techniques.

Vice President Nalumango said that she observed that though local foods did not perform well as a result of the drought that country recently suffered, there was still need to promote indigenous seed which were usually resilient to harsh climatic conditions.

Republican Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, graced the event and sampling various local foods being exhibited

Indigenous seed are an integral part of local food systems as they are climate resilient, and are a key avenue through which local food systems can be strengthened and consequently, household food and nutrition security can be improved.

Thus, promoting local foods which are easily accessible, available and in most cases affordable can fulfil efforts to ensure the right to adequate foods while preserving traditional cultures.

In this regard, vulnerable communities should be encouraged to take advantage of fresh, seasonal local vegetables and fruits daily while on the production side, farmers need to integrate agroforestry for soil fertility, moisture retention and environmental protection. Furthermore, they should scale up the growing of more legumes such as soya beans, cowpeas, groundnuts and pigeon peas for an assured nutritious and protein-rich diet.

This World Food Day theme calls for action to protect food systems from the challenges that come with climate change. In the case of Zambia, the commemorations echoed the benefits of local food preservation techniques coupled with the nutritive value that can be assured from accessible and affordable indigenous foods.

Environmental activist who also happens to be Miss Earth International, Kena Chibuye, has first-hand experience with access to food having worked as a primary school teach in Luapula – one of the country’s provinces with the highest malnutrition rates in Zambia.

Kena Chibuye(right) has a keen interest in local seed

Kena shared how she observed that because of the school feeding programmes in rural schools, pupils were motivated to go to class because of the assurance of a meal. To her, that motivation was evidence enough that there is a deficiency of food in their homes and they need to go to school to access it.

In recognizing such realities, it is imperative to translate awareness into actions that can support sustainable food production to empower rural communities that are the most affected by hunger.

As the world struggles to produce food amidst climate change, this World Food Day is a reminder to take a collective responsibility towards ensuring that we build a world where access to food is not a privilege but a right.

In so doing, embracing Sustainable Intensification Practices in all agricultural activities for better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life; Leave No One Behind, is the way to go.