The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Lesole Mokoma says food production and security could guarantee people’s right to food.

He was addressing the public at the International World Food Day celebration held at Hilltop in Qacha’s Nek on Wednesday.

The theme for this year celebrations was ‘The right to Food.’

The minister said food is not a privilege given to people, but it is their fundamental right to have access to food that is well prepared and at all times.

Mr. Mokoma said it is everybody’s responsibility to ensure that they have food to feed themselves, noting that his ministry only assists people to produce food, and that it also assists the needy, ill and those worst hit by unfavorable weather conditions.

He noted that in response to the Prime Minister’s call for food assistance from the United Nations earlier this year, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) donated M26 million to Lesotho, adding that at least 35,000 families of farmers that were worst hit by drought will be assisted during this cropping season, where each family would receive the sum of M500.00.

He appealed to the community to preserve rangelands and thus preventing desertification, as this would promote production of quality livestock and crops.

Speaking on behalf of FAO Director General, Dr Jacques Diouf, the District Agricultural Officer (DAO) for Mokhotlong, Mr. Ntai Lepheane said a large number of the world population still do not have access to food.

Mr. Lepheane, said about 854 million people worldwide struggle to get food, and that in an effort to address the problem, FAO introduced a booklet in 2004 that was among others aimed at sensitising governments and public servants about the communities’ right to food.

He said the sensitisation helps to ensure that such a right becomes a reality, however noted that despite the initiative, implementation of the right to food still remains a challenge to governments and implementers.

The World Food Day celebration aims at reflecting on what has been achieved and what needs to be done to ensure food production and security.

As part of the celebrations, Food and Nutrition Coordinating Office (FNCO) handed over food parcels to 10 vulnerable children aged from six months to five years. Beneficiaries were drawn from the areas of Ha-Makoae, Ha-Rankakala and Thoteng.

Meanwhile, three primary school pupils were also granted chickens and their food for their outstanding performance in writing essays on the theme ‘Right to Food.’

The Minister was accompanied by his Assistant Minister, Mr. Ramootsi Lehata, the Principal Secretary and other Senior Government Officials of the ministry.

The International World Food Day is marked annually on October 16, and last year’s national celebration was held in Mokhotlong.

Source: LENA 18/10/2007