FAO Tanzania Newsletter November 2020 Issue #9 Special Edition on the World Food Day 2020
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FAO Tanzania Newsletter November 2020 Issue #9 Special edition on the World Food Day 2020 ©FAO/Vincent Nalwendela Photo: FAO/Vincent Nalwendela FAO Tanzania Country Representative a.i , Stephen Kargbo (3rd left) and UNHCR Country Representative, Antonio Canhandula (3rd right) listening to one of the food heroes in Njombe at the Ikuna Village, during Health Nutrition Day on 15 October. The event was organized to promote healthy diets during celebrations of the World Food Day week. Inside this issue: Village Health & Nutrition event, and visit to Avocado OpEd by Ass. FAO Rep – Programmes – Pg. 2 farms in Njombe – Pg 8 & 9 2020 World Food Day celebrations highlights – Pg. 3 WFD celebrations climax event– Pg 10. High Level Panel discussion – Pg. 4 WFD media coverage – Pg 11—13 Field Visits in Dodoma and Iringa – Pg. 5—7 WFD celebrations in pictures – Pg 14—15 Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, House H Sida, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Rd, Ada Estate P.O Box 2, Dar es Salaam, Tel: +255 221 2664557-9 Fax: +255 22 2667286 Celebrating World Food Day 2020 in Tanzania Ending malnutrition is within our us, and rainfall decreased by 6.4 mm. very significant impact on reducing malnu- hands These changes have tended to under- trition. mine food production and aggravate pest Dear esteemed partners and readers, To this end, awareness-raising cam- incidences such as the Fall Army Worm paigns on the importance of dietary diver- Welcome, and warm Greetings from the (FAW), in some areas of the country. sity would help consumers make healthier Food and Agriculture Organization of the choices and send the right signals to United Nations (FAO). farmers, marketers, and other actors in Malnutrition remains a serious burden to the food value chains to adopt practices many countries, including Tanzania. that better link agriculture and nutrition. Available information indicates that about Secondly, enhanced training programs one third of children under five in Tanza- around nutrition and agriculture to both nia are suffering from stunting. One third nutrition and agriculture personnel, and of women aged 15- 49 years are over- strengthening coordination between the weight or obese, and one third affected by health and agriculture sectors would anaemia. However, Food production is strengthen the fight against malnutrition. thriving in the country, with regions such Charles Tulahi as Mbeya, Rukwa, and Ruvuma produc- Lastly, little can be done without re- ing over 40 percent more food than what sources. Despite its importance, agricul- their populations need. The report calls for enhanced investments ture needs enhanced investments for nu- in systems that will reduce the fragility of trition-sensitive interventions. Earmarking Paradoxically most high food-producing farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk and investments for the agriculture sector regions are those with the highest rates of support them to adapt to a changing cli- (especially for research on how agricul- stunting. Economic growth has also mate, the report insists. It also calls for ture can help prevent NCDs or adapt to caused new forms of malnutrition, such as enhanced interventions that focus on climate threats), tracking commitments, overweight and obesity, which are on the building climate resilience and enabling and mobilizing additional resources are rise, together with diet-related non- environment that attracts private sector effective policy options. Given that Tan- communicable diseases (NCDs). (from smallholders to big farming indus- zania has entered the Middle-income These two apparent paradoxes teach us a tries) investments. Developing and pro- economy status, deliberate enhanced in- lesson that population growth calls for moting the adoption of appropriate climate vestments have to be made in human even greater concerted efforts if we want -smart agriculture technologies in all resource development to reverse prevail- to end hunger and all forms of malnutri- agroecological zones is one of many ing stunting levels that impair the physical tion by 2030. They remind us that produc- promising and viable options. and cognitive abilities of a significant pro- ing more food does not automatically re- portion of children under five years of age. Through qualitative and quantitative anal- duce undernourishment or stunting. And ysis and extensive consultations with key With so many competing priorities, along they highlight the need for sustained inter- stakeholders in the food, and nutrition with Post Covid-19 responses, public ventions to address multiple dimensions sectors, the report has identified three funds will never be enough. Development of food security and nutrition. major avenues that could accelerate pro- partners, Civil Society Organisations A recent report by the Food and Nutrition gress in ending hunger and malnutrition; (CSO), the private sector, and other inter- Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability ested parties need to engage and get in- First, the blooming Tanzanian agriculture and Transformation (FIRST) Programme - volved in the nutrition agenda if we are to offers excellent potential for contributing a partnership between the Government of leave no one behind by the year 2030. towards ending malnutrition through a Tanzania, the Food and Agriculture Or- Nutrition and health is everybody's busi- more nutrition-sensitive approach. Be- ganization of the United Nations (FAO), ness. Everybody should come on board; sides food availability, deliberate interven- and the European Union (EU) reinforces especially the youth and women, as they tions that focus on dietary diversity and the importance of investing in healthy di- hold the keys to success. Grow. Nourish. food safety for all will have a lasting posi- ets. Sustain. Together. Our Actions are our tive impact on human resource develop- future. Climate change and other shocks seem ment. Increasing the production and con- to have an adverse impact on food & nu- sumption of nutrition-dense commodities Charles Tulahi trition security as well. Between 1961 and such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and FAO Tanzania Assistant Country Rep 2016, the country’s average monthly tem- nuts, fish, and livestock products has a (Programmes) perature increased by 0.6 degrees Celsi- 2 Celebrating World Food Day 2020 in Tanzania World Food Day 2020 celebrations highlights Platform sufficiently used to promote healthy diets, lifestyles In the run up to the World Food Day on 16 October in Njombe, prior to the climax event for the WFD. Col- 2020, FAO in Tanzania organized a series of events lectively, the activities had reinforced the need to in different parts of the country as part of promoting eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. awareness and a call to action to specifically eliminate Throughout the week-long WFD activities, FAO in malnutrition – by way of adopting to healthy diets, and Tanzania enjoyed a robust collaboration with the Min- lifestyles. istry of Agriculture, and a record participation from World Food Day (WFD) is celebrated each year on other UN agencies, including WFP, IFAD, UNHCR, October 16 to promote worldwide awareness and ac- UNICEF, and UN WOMEN. The key message put to- tion to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutri- gether observed the need to support the food heroes - tion. farmers and workers throughout the food system - who are making sure that food makes its way from “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. Our Actions Are farm to table. Our Future,” was heralded as the theme for this year’s WFD. Activities conducted during the week included a This year’s WFD had also seen FAO celebrating its High level panel discussion at the University of Dodo- 75th anniversary. Along with the planned activities dur- ma, projects’ field visits in Dodoma, Iringa and ing the WFD week, it was indeed a moment to reignite Njombe. There was also another activity in the promo- FAO’s ambitions towards the attainment of the broad- er strategic objectives. tion of healthy diets - the Village Health Nutrition Day Photo: FAO/Vincent Nalwendela Towards end of the High Level Panel Discussion in Dodoma, the University of Dodoma (UDOM) community led by Ag. UDOM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William Mwegoha (2nd left) presented a cake to FAO Tanzania Assistant Country Rep. (Programmes) Charles Tulahi to mark 75th Anniversary of the FAO. 3 Celebrating World Food Day 2020 in Tanzania On 12 October – High Level Panel discussion in Dodoma Former PM challenges scientists to research, zania to successfully fight malnutrition, especially advise on ending malnutrition stunting for under-fives. Researchers, policymakers, private sector, farmers, Speaking at the event FAO Rep. i.a, Stephen Kargbo academicians, students, media, and members of the said, even with Tanzania entering the middle-income general public, among others had on 12 October con- economy status, deliberate investments have to be made in human resource to reverse prevailing stunt- vened for the High Level panel discussion at the Uni- ing levels. versity of Dodoma (UDOM). “FAO, other UN agencies and the European Union During the event, the guest speaker and former Prime (EU) are in support of efforts taken by the government Minister, Mizengo Pinda, challenged researchers to of Tanzania towards ending malnutrition through the come up with new breeds of crops that can help Tan- nutrition-sensitive approach,” he said. Former Tanzania Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda making his remarks during the event, on his right the FAO Rep. i.a Stephen Kargbo exchanging notes