The maiden Farmer’s Market event kicked started the UCC`s World Food Day celebration. The World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on 16th of October to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with hunger and food security, including the World Food Program, the World Health Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
A distinguishably recognized theme has been the pull for World Food Day celebrations across the globe. The World Food Day theme for 2014 was Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth. In 2015, Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty.
In Ghana, World Food Day is celebrated to help remind and prompt individuals the need to eat healthy and properly. It was celebrated this year in the Central Region and it was graced with the presence of dignitaries including the Regional Director of Agriculture.
In his address, the Regional Director of Agriculture explained the importance of the day, saying that, the aim of the World Food Day is to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger for the need to ensure healthy diet for all and to inspire actions to help, prevent, detect and manage food- borne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic priorities, market access, tourism and sustainable development. He further elaborated that production and consumption of safe food has a long-term benefit for people in the planet and economy recognizing the systematic connection between the health of people, animals, plant and the environment. The Regional Director of Agriculture also reminded that food safety is a shared responsibility between the government, producers and consumers.
Mr. Samuel Annan, President of the Central Regional Apex Association praised the efforts of the farmers and emphazised their importance to the society as the people who put food on our tables to eat. He revealed that plans have been made to spread information on Farmers’ Market in all the districts within Central Region and also the whole of West Africa and Africa entirely.
Dr. Selorm, Coordinator of the Farmers Market in his address stated that, as far as UCC, MOFA and the Central Region Apex Association are concerned, consumers are going to get fresh produce straight from the farmers for fresh and reliable food source. He hinted that, plans are already being set to establish a platform where farmers would be able to sell their produce to consumers directly.
Prof. De- Graft Acquaah stood in the place of the Vice- Chancellor of the University and the Provost of the College of Agriculture to officially open the ceremony of the World Food Market.