Education Minister Hon. Douglas Syakalima says the education system is crucial for finding home-grown food solutions in Zambia and the World in general.
Hon. Syakalima says the learning process is the starting point of all solutions in the area of nutrition and Agriculture.
The Minister was speaking at the ongoing 2023 UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment Summit at the Food Agriculture Organisation Headquarters, in Rome, Italy.
“The learning process is the starting point of what we are discussing here. We need to inculcate in the children the importance of nutrition and the negative effects of climate change.” Hon. Syakalima said.
He added that through the school feeding programme under his Ministry, about 1, Million children are being fed and they are at the same time being encouraged to plant a tree every year to mitigate climate change.
The Minister emphasised that all these solutions are home grown and that they are the best solutions to counter nutrition challenges and climate change.
Hon. Syakalima is leading a high powered delegation at the 2023 UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment Summit that was officially opened yesterday at the Food Agriculture Organisation Headquarters, in Rome, Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni officially opened the summit that is also being attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterress, FAO Director Dr Qu Dongyu among other notable dignitaries.
20 Heads of State, Civil Society Organisations, academia and relevant stakeholders are also in attendance.
Zambia is among countries which shall present a progress report and food systems transformation pathways ahead of the UN summit to be held in September 2023 today.
The three-day summit is hosted by Italy in collaboration with Rome Based UN Agencies (WFP,FAO and IFAD) the Un Food Systems Coordination Hub and the wider UN system among others. (MoE Communications)