In observance of World Food Day, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), has confirmed that the planet produces enough food to adequately feed its entire population.

Paradoxically, the UN body indicates that yet over 854 million women, men and children still go to sleep on an empty stomach.

This was disclosed, last   Monday, during a ceremony held at the Buffer Zone field in Latrikunda as The Gambia joined the rest of the world in observance of World Food Day.

David Walter Bowen, FAO Country Representative in The Gambia, on behalf of Jacques Diouf,   Director-General, said the right to food has been chosen to be the theme of this year’s World Food Day so that the voice of the disadvantaged may be heard.

According to him, the theme reflects on the international community’s growing awareness of the crucial role of human rights in eradicating hunger and poverty.“The right to food has been strengthened by further international measures.   By ratifying the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights, 156 states accepted the right to food as a legal obligation,” he said.

He added that freedom from hunger is one of the fundamental goals set out in FAO’s constitution and Heads of Sate and governments reaffirmed “the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, that’s consistent with the right to adequate food and fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger.’’

For his part, Kanja Sanneh, Secretary of State for Agriculture pointed out that the right to food is fundamentally inherent to human rights.

According to him, the choice of the right to food as the theme for 2007 World Food Day and Tele-food demonstrates increasing recognition, by the international community of the important role of human rights in not only eradicating hunger, poverty, but also hastening and deepening sustainable development.

“Hunger is not an unescapable destiny, but can be eliminated by wise policies.   This requires that our government and other development countries’ governments to make food security a priority.   All people have a right to healthy food,” he hinted.

He went on to say that the reports, issued by FAO, have indicated that 40,000 children die everyday throughout the world, due to malnutrition and related diseases.   These are the people who are being denied the right to food.

Speaking earlier, acting Lord Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Yankuba Colley said, the theme is indeed very meaningful especially to countries in the developing world.

He said that the KMC attaches great importance to issues relating to food self-sufficiency and indeed poverty reduction within the framework of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, PRSP.

“The Gambia government under the abled leadership of President Jammeh believes in practicality and genuine commitment to national development, our international partners should therefore provide the necessary support and funding to implement our poverty reduction programmes at the grassroot level,” he said.

The programme was attended by Secretaries of State and other senior government officials. It was also attended by school children and entertainment provided by Mam Tamsir Njie