LUPANE - MATABELELAND NORTH —
International food aid agencies say they will continue providing assistance to communities facing food shortages, but urge Zimbabwe to do more to produce enough food for all its people.
Addressing a World Food Day commemoration at Tshongokwe Irrigation Scheme in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province, Tomson Phiri of the World Food Programme said Lupane is a good example of how rural communities can run sustainable food programmes.
Mr. Phiri said the irrigation scheme is a good example of a well-managed agricultural project in the country, which produces a lot of food for the local community and surrounding areas.
At the same event, David Phiri of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said Zimbabwe also needs to provide food that is more healthful in order to combat malnutrition, noting that malnutrition is devastating some communities and comes in many different forms.
The FAO says almost 842 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished, adding that unsustainable models of development are degrading the natural environment, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity that will be needed for our future food supply.
Tshongogwe Irrigation Scheme farmers also attended the World Food Day commemorations. One of them, Micah Tshuma, said he is doing well, despite a number of challenges, such as bad roads that make it difficult to access markets.
The commemoration ran under the theme “Healthy People Depend on Healthy Food Systems.”
The United Nations and the Zimbabwe government say at least 2.2 million people will need food aid in the country by March 2014.
Addressing a World Food Day commemoration at Tshongokwe Irrigation Scheme in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province, Tomson Phiri of the World Food Programme said Lupane is a good example of how rural communities can run sustainable food programmes.
Mr. Phiri said the irrigation scheme is a good example of a well-managed agricultural project in the country, which produces a lot of food for the local community and surrounding areas.
At the same event, David Phiri of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said Zimbabwe also needs to provide food that is more healthful in order to combat malnutrition, noting that malnutrition is devastating some communities and comes in many different forms.
The FAO says almost 842 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished, adding that unsustainable models of development are degrading the natural environment, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity that will be needed for our future food supply.
Tshongogwe Irrigation Scheme farmers also attended the World Food Day commemorations. One of them, Micah Tshuma, said he is doing well, despite a number of challenges, such as bad roads that make it difficult to access markets.
The commemoration ran under the theme “Healthy People Depend on Healthy Food Systems.”
The United Nations and the Zimbabwe government say at least 2.2 million people will need food aid in the country by March 2014.
