For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF) in collaboration with 20 organizations and active engagement of all concerned stakeholders, successfully organized a month-long celebration of 42th World Food Day 2022. The major objective of the program was to create public awareness on the issues of food and agriculture to realize the importance of agriculture for food in the current context of agriculture development in Nepal. Moreover, it was also deliberated to create forums for the general public and to create pressure on policy shapers/makers for formulating effective policy measures pertaining to food and agriculture showing the cases of critical issues as well as best practices at ground.
The celebration events were organized in local, province and federal levels. The program begun with a press meet in Bharatpur, Chitwan on 22 September, 2022 with the aim of informing about the weeklong program. Various interaction programs along with rallies, food festivals and exhibitions were organized in Kathmandu, Surkhet, Dhangadi, Biratnagar, Hetuada and Kalika Municipality of Chitwan. A National dialogue on food and climate justice, and seminar on Agroecology: Rebuilding sustainable food systems were organized in Kathmandu. Where different organizations lead the themes related to Agroecology. All these interactions covered different dimensions of food and agriculture such as food rights, climate justice, policy discussion on right to food, food sovereignty, food security, and landlessness; agriculture of Karnali and Terai Madhesh; roles of rural women farmers; and contribution of agro-biodiversity to food security. Each thematic session consisted of presentations of panelists in the field followed by critical comments and open discussions.
The closing of month-long deliberations was followed by a Raithane Sanjh (local food festival) on 21st October 2022.
During the program period, Factsheet of Food and agriculture was prepared and widely distributed. Likewise, AAF prepared articles and published in national newspapers and online media. Appeals were also prepared and presented to political leaders, policymakers, government officials including local government representatives, public figures, media persons, farmers, activists, and representatives from different organizations. The major collaborators include: ActionAid Nepal, LiBIRD, CSRC, FIAN, NFGF, NLRF, SWI, IM Swedish, ERI, CEPP, CAED, ANAJ, DCA, Digo Bikash Institute, halokhabar, ubjani.com and Provincial and local governments.
