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#WorldFoodDay: 7 simple ways to end hunger and create wealth through Agriculture

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Chronic hunger currently affects a staggering 821 million people around the world, according to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Since its creation 1945, the FAO has been working toward its goal of freeing humanity from hunger and malnutrition.

A thorough market research to know what agricultural products are selling fast across Nigeria, will help you make a lot of money before that segment gets populated. Agricultural produce are products that the world needs. Without them, many industries can’t function, some governments can’t grow, and people can’t feed. Identifying a niche agricultural segment to drive high revenues would make a lot of people millionaires before others realise it’s already happening.

WHAT IS WORLD FOOD DAY?

Oct. 16 is World Food Day 2018, a day designated to bring attention to how governments and individuals can help combat world hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.

 

Strengthening the School Feeding Program in the framework of the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative 2025

On Oct. 16, 1945, representatives from 42 countries gathered in Quebec, Canada, to create the FAO. World Food Day commemorates the group’s founding, celebrates the progress that has been made and highlights the need to do much more to fight hunger-related issues including malnutrition and food insecurity.

Strengthening the School Feeding Program in the framework of the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative 2025
This photo shows another school food initiative in Aldea el Horizonte, Guatemala.  (C)Pep Bonet/NOOR for FAO

The U.N. has set a goal of achieving zero hunger worldwide by 2030, and on World Food Day the FAO asks governments, farmers, organizations and individuals to get involved in working toward a world where everyone has reliable access to enough nutritious food — i.e. food security. With that goal in mind, the World Food Day slogan is “Our actions are our future.”

Strengthening the School Feeding Program in the framework of the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative 2025
This photo shows the FAO’s Strengthening the School Feeding program in action in Los Vados, Guatemala.(C)Pep Bonet/NOOR for FAO

There are World Food Day events around the world, including a ceremony and panel at the FAO headquarters in Rome. Many local, national and global anti-hunger groups are holding events as well.

For example, to celebrate World Food Day this year, the group Rise Against Hunger will attempt to break the Guinness World Record of the most people assembling hunger relief packages simultaneously at multiple locations, and they’re asking for individuals to help.

The anti-hunger organization Rise Against Hunger is holding a worldwide food packing event on World Food Day.
The anti-hunger organization Rise Against Hunger is holding a worldwide food packing event on World Food Day. Rise Against Hunger

Even those who can’t make it to an official World Food Day event can still help support the cause of ending world hunger. Here are five ways simple ways to help.

1. Donate food.

Individuals and businesses can help their local communities by donating food to food banks and community organizations. The anti-hunger organization Feeding America allows people to search by zip code for local food banks.

2. Volunteer time.

According to Feeding America, 51 percent of all food programs rely entirely on volunteers, so giving time is a great way to help bolster food security.

Children in Haiti receive meals provided by Rise Against Hunger.
Children in Haiti receive meals provided by Rise Against Hunger. Rise Against Hunger

3. Waste less food.

Wasting less food is one of the keys to creating a world without hunger, according to the FAO. Only buying what is needed, eating leftovers and using scraps are three possible ways to waste less.

4. Better income Looking at the state of the economy, any legitimate means of a better income should be seized with both  hands, and this is obviously what these young ones are doing. They see in farming an opportunity of better income than slaving away at a white collar job that does not pay enough to take care of their personal needs.

5. Job security. A common fear that comes with most jobs  is the obvious lack of security, especially in a country where you could be sacked at any time, without any other reason but recession. Many youths have decided instead to go into farming so they can have their future in their own hands and not constantly have to dread the day the sack could come. READ ALSO: 7 interesting facts you need to know about rice

6. Personal freedom For some, it is the need to be their own boss, to know that even if they are working late into the night or own weekends it is for something personal. Many youths need that sense of freedom and independence that come with running your own business and they find it most times on the farm.

7. Access Loan Opportunities. Many banks and corporate bodies no longer turn their noses up at the sound of agricultural loans like in the past. This windfall of available loan opportunities for farming, has made farming and other agricultural practices more attractive to the young and coming up.

8. Availability of grants. Several programmes to aid farming by giving grants now exist. The Youth Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (YISA), the African Development Bank loans and other programs like ‘Youwin’ have made it easier to access loans for startup. These are avenues being explored by young Nigerians to get a steady flow of income from farming.

9. Health For many young ones, it is the fear of cancer-causing processed and canned food, that drive them to farming. Many people now appreciate food, fruits and vegetables that are fresh from the farm, creating a higher demand for famers and their resulting produce.

10. Give money.

While donating food and time are great way to help on the local level, giving money is probably the most efficient way to help fight hunger globally. The UN’s World Food Programme and Action Against Hunger are two large organizations fighting world hunger.

11. Unlimited Food & Land Appreciation.

Owning a large or small diversified farm will always ensure you never worry about what to eat even if you have little cash at hand or in the bank. Apart from satisfying your personal food needs, there’s a population of 0ver 190 million Nigerians who eat everyday.

The mere fact that the market will forever be hungry guarantees this revenue stream will never dry up. When you buy a plot, two plots, or several acres of land for your agricultural business, years later, the value of your farm lands would be several times the initial value. In the end, you don’t just make only revenue from your products, but your net worth also rises as the years pass by.

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