International World Food Day, 2014
Today is the day (October 16th 2014, that is!)You may eat what you like, but keep in mind that the fodder you take in should be sustainable, as well as healthy for your body. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN decided this year to focus on the families who provide us with nearly all of our food, utilising, for example, 500 million family farms. Our farming interests are very varied. This is our selection of agricultural and other related topics we currently have in our archives as: ”Earth Times Agrics.”.
Food security in any nation depends on people. These people are often farmers, whether crop growers or herders. Some have managed their land for as much as 1000 years, using good practice, high productivity and sustainable methods to feed us. The local ecology is precious ton farmers, although some misuse, or have misused it. In modern times, the service they provide to the community includes wildlife conservation as well as many other “ecosystem services.” Communities depend on them for employment, especially in developing countries, while housing, education, and local clothing can depend on the farmers’ economy.
In Asia, a massive 85% of farming takes place on family farms, with the lowest percentage occurring in South America, with only 18%. Further north, in Central and North America, that percentage is again huge, at 83%! European and African agriculturalists have around 62-68% of family farms. Fortunately, the 3.5 billion people who depend on rice for at least 20% of their calories live in Asia, where all those families live. Fish production there, in collaboration with rice paddies, results in the traditional rice/fish diet of many Asians. Less fertilizers on these rice-fields also means the regions here are biodiverse, with less pollution of rivers, lakes and land.
The diversity of family farms means that many agricultural or other practices are supported by work from both sexes in the family. Social policies have helped maintain these farm owners, who also consist of both men and women of course. Modern genetics, new machinery, technologies yet to be developed fully and forecasting possibilities have all changed the traditions. He strongest tradition-that of the family and its farming heritage, is however totally intact in many situations, despite political strife or market forces.
This year is therefore a real celebration, of wonderful food, new discoveries of ancient traditions and great agro-biodiversity for us all. To sustain this admirable set of systems is the prime aim for the FAO this year! Here is their page on - World Food Day 2014.
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