Sultanate marks World Food Day

MUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, marked World Food Day, which falls on October 16 every year, on Sunday.

The ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed fundamental changes in the daily life of all peoples of the world. The pandemic has resulted in unprecedented challenges in the health system and a major decline in economic activities, in addition to impact on food production and its supply chains that led to financial losses for food producers and instability in the operations of food processing chains. It also led to scarcity in the provision of some food commodities and price fluctuations in the markets,” the minister said in the speech.

The minister also praised efforts made by the United Nations World Food Program in combating hunger, its distinguished contribution to peace and conflict resolution between peoples, and its pioneering role in preventing the use of hunger as a weapon in conflicts and wars, which culminated in the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Nora Ourabah Haddad, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in the Sultanate gave a speech in which she stated that FAO marks the World Food Day every year on October 16 since the establishment of the organisation in 1945. “The World Food Day coincides this year with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and FAO. It is celebrated under the theme ‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together’.”

It is worth noting that the celebration of World Food Day 2020 aims to raise awareness of the theme ‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together’. It also aims directly at highlighting food options that improve health and the food system and maintain habits that support them and appreciate food and its producers.