Friday, October 18, 2013
The
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World
Food Programme (WFP) have joined forces with Somali authorities to
encourage Somalis to eat more fish as a way to fight hunger in the Horn
of Africa country. Despite Somalia's enormous marine
resources, the country's fishing industry remains largely underdeveloped
and its fisheries unexploited. This is partly due to decades of
conflict and piracy on the high seas - but also because fish does not
form part of the traditional Somali diet.
"The major
aim of this campaign is to encourage thousands of displaced families
living in and around Dolow to start including fish in their diets," said
Luca Alinovi, the FAO representative in Somalia. "The Gedo region has
two rivers, the Dawa and Jubba, yet the eating of fresh fish is nearly
nonexistent."
Somalia has a 3,300-kilometer coastline -
the longest in Africa - yet the people of Somalia eat very little
seafood. The country's per capita fish consumption is 2.4 kilograms per
year, one of the lowest in the world.
The country is
still emerging from a food security crisis following the drought and
famine of 2011 that left many thousands dead.
‘Sustainable food systems'
Celebrating
this year's World Food Day in the southern Somali town of Dolow, the
two Rome-based food agencies reached out to thousands of displaced
Somalis in the border town, encouraging them to eat fish as part of a
healthy diet.
"Sustainable Food Systems for Food
Security and Nutrition" is the official theme of World Food Day in 2013,
focused on improving understanding of problems and solutions in the
drive to end hunger.
FAO continues to develop Somalia's
fisheries sector with training in sustainable fishing, fishing
equipment, jetties and cold chains to support fish preservation,
distribution and marketing.
"Making use of natural
resources is vital in fighting hunger," said Stefano Porretti, the WFP
representative in Somalia. "WFP works with coastal communities,
providing training in fishing and in preservation of fish
products. Increasing the consumption of fish in Somalia will strengthen
the livelihood of fishermen and provide a more nutrient-rich diet for
Somali households."
The "Fish is Good for You" campaign
The
campaign's messages are directed at female heads of households and
young people with a goal of diversifying dietary habits biased against
seafood. The "Fish is Good for You" campaign also focuses on the
nutritional benefits of fresh fish.
The campaign was first launched in the Puntland coastal town of Bossaso and in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.