RECENTLY, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Food Day. The theme for this year’s celebration of the World Food Day was: “Our Actions Are Our Future-Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life”.
IN a remark in Abuja to mark the occasion, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Fred Kafeero disclosed the disturbing fact that over four million Nigerians are hungry and malnourished.
IN the same vein, the Executive Director of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, told journalists recently that the recent hike in food prices has made access to good nutrition and a better life more challenging.
HE pointed out that the world is facing two major problems: The issues of having a healthy diet, and of fighting hunger.
UNHEALTHY food is said to be capable of causing such problems as obesity and diabetes. On the other hand, hunger leads to malnutrition, abnormal growth in children, and death.
IT is therefore, obvious from the facts stated above that the intake of good food is essential in ensuring healthy living and preventing health problems like obesity, diabetes, kwashiorkor, among others. It is also important to eat food in adequate quantities in order to wade off the ravages of starvation on human health.
THERE is therefore, the need for food to be produced in sufficient quantities for the Nigerian population and for it to be accessible at affordable prices. This can be achieved through a collaborative effort between government and farmers.
APART from government assisting farmers to boost food production, government should also help enlighten the populace against indulging in what is popularly referred to as “junk food” since such foods are inimical to good health.