vegetables

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

The Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) wing of the College of Micronesia-FSM at Yap Campus participated in the 2015 World Food Day celebrations in Colonia, Yap.

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Main goal of this special day is to raise public awareness about hunger challenges and encourages people worldwide to take action in the fight against hunger. The theme of 2015 World Food Day was “Social protection and agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty,” which aimed to underline the role of social protection plays in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty by ensuring direct access to food or the means to buy food. Social protection is a viable alternative for stimulating agricultural production and local economic activity. It provides direct income support, with an immediate impact on food security and poverty reduction. Social protection also promotes sustainable food systems, natural resource management and resilient livelihoods.

This year, Yap Interagency Nutrition Education Council organized World Food Day celebrations in Colonia, Yap. As part of the celebrations, Yap CRE participated in the event. Under its NIFA Planned Program ‘Global Food Security and Hunger,’ Yap CRE’s projects and programs are focused on social protection and contribute directly towards the post-2015, new Sustainable Development Goal 1 – End poverty in all its forms everywhere, sub goal 1.3 – Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable. During this event, Yap CRE exhibited various urban vegetable garden models and low-cost food production systems, distributed brochures, fliers and booklets on vegetable gardening and sold a range of vegetables such as Bok Choy, Chinese cabbage, Mesclun, Swiss chard, kale, Kang Kong, spinach, lettuce, tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant and okra raised in our demonstration gardens. Eggs produced locally by our Outreach Project clients were also on display and sale. CRE staff also conducted cooking demonstrations as part of outreach activities under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Healthy dishes from local vegetables such as Kang Kong, bird nest fern, Chili pepper leaves, pumpkin tips with local seasoning like coconut oil, Ambarella leaves, basil leaves and taro starch were on display and tasting.  The event attracted many people including visitors and we are enthused by the overwhelming response shown by the local community.

More pictures of this event can be viewed at:

https://app.box.com/s/hn07xjpsrr39pd5d9ygzk2iu3p71js6z

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

Yap Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) and College of Micronesia-FSM Yap Campus Agriculture students participated in the 2014 World Food Day celebrations in Yap.

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The 2014 World Food Day theme – Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” – has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas. The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.” This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the important contribution of family farmers to world food security.

This year, Yap State observed the World Food Day along with 2014 International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 17, at Colonia Community Center. The event was organized by the International Organization for Migration, Yap Office in association with Yap Interagency Nutrition Education Council.

Yap CRE is an active promoter of integrated family farming for food and nutrition security. Family farming is a way of life with a future and is the best way to ensure islands’ food security. It guarantees food in a sustainable manner while taking care of islands’ environment and respecting traditions and cultures.

As part of the celebrations, Yap CRE participated in the event and exhibited various urban farm models and low-cost food production systems, displayed posters on chicken farming and distributed brochures and pamphlets on family farming and safe food handling procedures, raising awareness of the issues behind successful family farming and their role in ensuring food security. Some of our vertical urban garden models attracted special attention of the public. Ag students exhibited and sold a range of fresh garden produce and plants grown as part of their course work.