The World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16th. This year’s day aims to raise people’s awareness of the need to facilitate the transition to more efficient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems in order to improve production, nutrition quality, environmental conditions and quality of life adhering to the “leave no one behind” principle.
On October 15th 2021 on the occasion of World Food Day Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly with the “Zamin” International Public Foundation in Uzbekistan organized a large-scale Campaign on Proper Nutrition and Rational Use of Soil at specialized school No.102 of Tashkent. Activities in such format were held similarly in schools in all other regions of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The event also hosted the official launch of the new project “Young Farmer” of the “Zamin Eco-Education” program initiated by the “Zamin” International Public Foundation, FAO, the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan and the Agency of Presidential Educational Institutions. Project participants will be able to gain practical skills on biodiversity and proper nutrition.
This way, by the end of October, all schools in the country where the “Zamin Eco-Education” program is being implemented will have greenhouses installed . Moreover, the children will be provided with the necessary equipment for practical activities including more than 15 thousand children involved in activities on the rational use of soils. Such interactive seminars are planned to be held on a regular basis.
«Environmental education is an important factor in ensuring sustainable development and increasing everyone’s responsibility in the rational use of natural resources. Ultimately it forms the environmental awareness of the society. At the same time, nutrition education from an early age allows to make a choice in favor of healthy food in the pathway to strengthening the population’s health, eradicating hunger and improving food security. In this regard, the implementation of this project is very important and fully complies with the Sustainable Development Goals», — Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative said.
In the scope of an FAO project on Integrated natural resources management in drought-prone and salt affected agricultural production landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey (CACILM-2), there were 22 greenhouses built and transferred to specialized and eco- schools of the country on a grant basis. In these greenhouses, students will attend classes designed to improve their knowledge and skills in the field of environmental protection, agriculture, ecology and rational use of resources.
One of these greenhouses was granted to the specialized school No.102. Opening of the greenhouse became a part of a festive event dedicated to the World Food Day, where children were shown presentations on proper nutrition and rational use of soil. They also engaged in master classes on the use of greenhouses and preparation of healthy food. The event was concluded with an entertainment program.