Our actions are our future - healthy diets for all: FAO, WFP and SIFI mark World Food Day in Tajikistan

This year’s World Food Day event took place in the historic town of Hisor, in western Tajikistan under the theme “Our actions are our future – Healthy diets for all!”. It was attended by government counterparts, ambassadors, donors, non-governmental partners and media representatives along with university students and schoolchildren.

World Food Day is a day calling for action to tackle global hunger. Held annually on 16 October, people around the world come together to show their commitment to eradicate worldwide hunger in our lifetime.

The event included a healthy diets fair, open talk with students, theatrical performance, interactive games and master classes under the theme. Local producers, family farmers and other interested stakeholders came together to exhibit nutritious food they’ve produced. Traditional cuisine from all over the country featured nutritious and healthy meals.

During the national event in Hisor, the Government of Tajikistan, FAO, and WFP stressed the global community’s shared responsibility to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition to ensure healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for all.

“Success in achieving the world's sustainable development goals and becoming the Zero Hunger generation depends on everyone and not just governments,” said FAO Representative in Tajikistan Oleg Guchgeldiyev. “Good nutrition is one of the best sources of economic growth and it contributes to peace and stability,” “Only joint action can assure food security as well as healthy and nutritious diets for all. Unilateral action does not lead to success. Individuals can celebrate this day by making personal commitments, for instance to eat healthily, cut food waste and help others”.

“A well-nourished nation is a prosperous nation – the right nutrition at the right times can change lives and allow the country and the people to reach their full potential.” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Alberto Correia Mendes. “Healthy diets are dependent on functional and equitable food systems, and achieving food security and access to quality nutrition is possible through concerted actions by all stakeholders – the government, private sector, civil society and development partners to nurture sustainable food systems”,

In a world of more than 7 billion, over 820 million people worldwide are suffering from chronic undernourishment, among them 60 percent are women. Almost five million children under the age of five die of malnutrition-related causes every day. It is also important to note that while millions go hungry, 672 million people suffer from obesity, and a further 1.3 billion are overweight worldwide.

Undernutrition and obesity are the two sides of malnutrition, and together they negatively impact economies as a result of losses in productivity caused by this burden. As the study “The Cost of the Double Burden of Malnutrition”, released jointly by WFP and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, recommends governments should promote policies to guarantee the production, availability and accessibility of healthier food products and support community-based nutrition education programmes to mitigate this burden.

The Government of Tajikistan is also addressing the issues related to healthy diets and implements its National Programme on Prevention of Obesity and Development of Healthy Eating in Tajikistan through 2024. Studies show that in recent years, low nutritious diets and increased consumption of unhealthy food have contributed to the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases in the country.