[www.inewsguyana.com] –Guyana can become one of the first countries in the world to achieve nutrition security by 2025.
This sentiment was expressed by Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy as the country joined the rest of the United Nations (UN) States to mark World Food Day 2013 today, Wednesday, October 16.
Ramsammy’s comments comes at a time when the region and the world is focused on eliminating hunger and achieving food security in some of the most poverty stricken countries in the hemisphere.
He said that Guyana has made significant gains as far as achieving nutrition security is concerned and must continue to practice better forms of nutrition intake. “We must ensure we increase our consumption of vegetables and fruits” Ramsammy told an iNews reporter this morning.
He went onto describe as ‘scandalous’ claims being made which seek to suggest that 60% of Guyanese do not consume enough fruits and vegetables.
Yesterday, Ramsammy and FAO Representatives here engaged in activities to underscore the importance of improving Guyana’s performance in the Agriculture Sector, the need to reduce the increasing food import bill as well as the need to focus on the usage of local products.
Guyana has also piloted the regional Jagdeo Initiative which focuses heavily on improving the region’s food security level and the expansion of agriculture.
World Food Day marks the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The World Food Day theme for 2013 is “Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition.”
