On World Food Day (WFD2023), the FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, Saeed A. Bancie, reechoed the importance of water, and called for responsible water management for sustainable agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone.
The FAO Representative remarked that sustainable management of water for agriculture and food production is essential to end hunger, achieve the SDGs, and preserve water for future generations.
This year’s occasion, he said, provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant role of water in ensuring food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and preserving our planet’s resources.
Agriculture, he said, accounts for 72% of global freshwater withdrawals. Another 16% goes to municipalities for households and services, and 12% is used by industries.
“We need to recognize that water is not an infinite resource, and its sustainable use is fundamental to ensure resilience and food security in the face of climate change,” he noted.
FAO in Sierra Leone joined the government of Sierra Leone and the rest of the World in celebrating the 43rd observance of the World Food Day, under the theme: ‘Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.’ This also commemorates the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The event which was held in Pujehun Town, Southern Sierra Leone, on Tuesday 16th October 2023, brought together government ministers, development partners, as well as farmer-based organizations and key stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
The occasion was climaxed with the formal launch of the Government of Sierra Leone’s flagship ‘FeedSalone’ Initiative by President Julius Maada Bio.