By Mama A. Touray
The Ministry of Agriculture Friday, 23rd July, 2021 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Center validated the draft food system pathway to sustainable food and nutrition report.
Speaking at the validation ceremony, Honourable Minister of Agriculture Amie Fabureh said
It was “Precisely on May 19th, 2021 we officially launched the national food system dialogue and since then we have completed seven regional, four thematic working groups and one independent dialogue.”
She disclosed that “The National pathway consists of several milestones which contribute to the achievement of the sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030)”.
More so, “Let me remind you that from today the 20th of July the pathway will become a National document, if you don’t give it the due diligence it deserves the outcome will be poor,” she reminded them as she wanted the document to come out better.
However, Minister Fabureh thanked the RCO, WFP, FAO, UNDP, The office of the president, the Curator, the steering committee, staff of the Ministry and everyone, in one way or the other, that have contributed to the success of the dialogues and the development of the pathway.
Meanwhile, Her Excellency Saraphine Wakana UN Resident Coordinator expressed delight in joining the culmination of the National Food Systems Summit process launched back in May, which the final report now validated after a 2-month long process.
She stated that the UN has supported the entire process thus far working closely with the Government of The Gambia at every step to ensure all the relevant stakeholders were engaged and consulted as stated by UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres who will be convening the food summit in September a ‘people’s Summit.’
She added that the voices and ideas of women, men, the most vulnerable and the youth are crucial to the reshaping and future our food systems.
The Resident Coordinator however lamented on the impact of Covid-19 saying “The covid-19 we are currently grappling with has taught us a lot, it has provided a taste of a future at the limits of existence, where people are suffering and governments and economies are struggling to stay afloat.”
She quickly reiterated the UN system’s commitment to continue this support well beyond the pre-summit and the summit.