Representatives from various governments across the world converged in Rome last week not only to mark the 30th World Food Day Ceremony, but also to discuss how to eliminate the hunger that is claiming lives.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the number of chronically hungry people in developing countries has been increasing at the rate of approximately 4 million people a year since 1990.
In Rwanda, various initiatives have been put in place to ensure food security. While these are producing remarkable results, there is still a lot more to do in terms of land management.
To ensure sustainability of the progress being registered, it is important that appropriate land management systems are put in place. Being among the most densely populated countries, Rwanda is experiencing increased pressure on land as its population grows. Furthermore, as land is a constant resource it must be managed appropriately to ensure that it caters for the growing population.
Poor farming methods, deforestation and over-cropping are some of the practices that exhaust the earth’s facility, spreading the roots of hunger. We also face challenges stemming from soil erosion, which washes away fertile land. These must be addressed from the top – policy makers – right down to the farmers who manage the land.
It is to everyone’s benefit that appropriate land management practices are adopted.