NINH THUẬN – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Việt Nam on Friday celebrated the 36th World Food Day in the southern Ninh Thuận Province with a vow to take numerous measure to ensure food secuity.

The event, themed “Climate is changing, food and agriculture must too” stressed the urgent issue of climate change which poses a significant challenge to food security and impacts the livelihoods of millions of people.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the event, MARD Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh said Việt Nam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change and natural disasters.

Climate change and sea level rises were forecast to reduce rice output by 7.2 million tonnes and affect 32.2 per cent of agricultural land in the country by the end of this century, said the official.

Doanh appealed for more efforts from people and authorities at all levels, particularly in agriculture, to co-operate with each other to tackle climate change.

“To scale up the climate smart agriculture models, farming households – the smallest production unit should be empowered to adapt to local conditions; rural women and gender equality in agriculture should be focused on. This will contribute to the sustainable reduction of poverty, food security, political stability and socio-economic development,” said Doanh.
FAO Representative in Việt Nam Jong Ha Bae said the organisation was ready to assist Việt Nam in adapting to climate change.

“We are working to help farmers, pastoralists, fishers and forest dwellers by developing their capacities to adapt to climate change and advising on how to integrate adaptation practices in national policies,” said Jong Ha Bae.

The event also marked the 71st anniversary of FAO. On the occasion, an FAO publication “Farmer Field School Guidance” was launched to showcase FAO’s work to combat climate change impacts and create more sustainable agriculture.

After the ceremony, the FAO and MARD delegations visited the Demonstration on Integrated Crop Management Cultivation for Fresh Cooking Hybrid Maize Crop on Paddy Land in Thuận Bắc District, Ninh Thuận Province. This is a site of a FAO technical assistance project funded by the joint Government - UN programme on integrated nutrition and food security. — VNS