In news–World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16.
About World Food Day
- It is celebrated to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945.
- It was established in November 1979, as suggested by former Hungarian minister of agriculture and food Dr Pal Romany.
- It gradually became a way to raise awareness about hunger, malnutrition, sustainability and food production.
- It is celebrated by organisations like the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agriculture Development.
- This year the day was jointly led by organisations like FAO, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Food Programme (WFP).
- Since 1981, World Food Day has celebrated various themes to highlight the importance of food security, with most of them revolving around agriculture.
- This year’s theme is “Our actions are our future– Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life”.
World Food Programme (WFP)-
- It is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations.
- It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the largest one focused on hunger and food security, and the largest provider of school meals.
- Founded in 1961, it is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries.
- It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
- WFP has been working in India since 1963, with work transitioning from food distribution to technical assistance since the country achieved self-sufficiency in cereal production.
- As per WFP, India is home to a quarter of all undernourished people worldwide, making the country a key focus for tackling hunger on a global scale.
International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD)-
- IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
- It was founded in 1977, Rome Italy.
Source: Indian Express
