By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Representative of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to Sierra Leone, Nyabemji Tito Tipo, has expressed optimism about the prospect of attaining food sufficiency in Sierra Leone before 2030.
Ms Tipo made the statement during this year’s celebration of World Food Day, where she said Sierra Leone had a “huge” potential for food sufficiency, noting that it could make it beyond the target if it worked with everybody.
“I believe that if all the stakeholders who have come here to run today can transform the pace into ending hunger, they can achieve it. It shows that if the right policies are there, the correct input and farmers have access to finances, the right tools and implements, Sierra Leone can make it,” she said.
This year’s celebration of the World Food Day was climaxed with a marathon dubbed: “Zero Hunger Run”, organized by the UN agency.
Participants in the marathon were drawn from other UN agencies, the government and parliament. Children also took part in the race, some with their bicycles; all of them sweating profusely in showing their commitment to the race and the effort to end hunger in the world.
Nyabenyi told Politico that the occasion meant so much to the FAO as they continued to showcase their commitment to ending hunger in Sierra Leone by 2030 through working with the government and other stakeholders.
“The run today is a call to action. It is done every year to remind everybody that something needs to be done in unity. I know that we are all doing our bit but we need to come together to show that commitment, and together Sierra Leone will be food sufficient. And this call to action involves everybody,” she explained.
Avril Pratt, representative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Sierra Leone, came first in the race in the female category. She ran for 15 minutes 35 seconds, from Family Kingdom to Gigibonta, along the Lumley-Aberdeen beach road.
After her race, Ms Pratt explained to Politico how much the win meant to her.
“Whenever I look at this medal, I know that this is not just another competition, it’s a cause towards fighting hunger,” she said.
“The commitment is very important to me because it’s not just about me running, but it’s about me going into other activities that will help to support the fight.”
Two years ago Sierra Leone was ranked third in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). The country has come a long way since then. A 2019 GHI report shows that Sierra Leone ranks 103 out of 117 countries that were rated in the study, in terms of the fight against hunger.
The situation is still desperate.
“With a score of 30.4, Sierra Leone suffers from a level of hunger that is serious,” the report states.
© 2019 Politico Online
