EATING HEALTHY IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF WE PLANT ENOUGH CROPS: PS VAISEKAVEA

Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Mr. Lottie Vaisekavea in his final remarks during the closing ceremony of the 2022 World Food and Agriculture Show yesterday said eating and having access to healthy balanced food is only possible if “we plant enough crops”.

PS Vaisekavea also reminded everyone that every garden should have all different varieties of crops required to have a balance and healthy meal.

“In the Solomon Islands, we know that Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) [And other food and lifestyle related illnesses] are high and we don’t want to follow that road, we want to follow the road where everyone eats healthy and remain healthy”, PS Vaisekavea said.

The PS also reminded everyone the importance of eating healthy and balanced diet in the family and how to ensure that each meal is healthy and balanced.

“We must also look after our livestocks and we want the areas where we keep our livestocks to have enough products to help us eat healthy food”, he added.

The three (3) day event was hosted by MAL in collaboration with The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other Stakeholders and Partners to mark the World Food Day (WFD) which was celebrated around the world on the 16th of October annually.

The program which began on Wednesday was filled with entertainments and stalls from the various Departments within MAL and also other stakeholders, partners as well as farming groups and associations with the theme; “Leave No One Behind. Better production, Better nutrition, Better environment .”

The final day was concluded with prize giving of the various activities and also  a Agriculture Pageant Show contested by the various MAL Departments that saw the Agriculture Research Department queen retaining their crown.

Meanwhile MAL is looking forward to again host next year’s show which will be a two weeks long event and fall in with the 2023 Pacific Games, MAL has also urged everyone to start preparing for November next year.