NAIROBI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Restoring Africa's indigenous farming systems should be a priority to help the continent tackle a hunger crisis fueled by climate change, shrinking arable land, and habitat degradation, an animal welfare body said Tuesday ahead of World Food Day.
Sally Kahiu, external affairs lead for the Africa Office of the World Animal Protection (WAP), an international animal welfare organization, said a shift to humane and organic food production holds the key to a sustainable future for the continent and its vital ecosystems.
"We must act now to create a food system that is not only environmentally friendly but also sustainable and equitable for those who work within it," Kahiu said at a virtual forum in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
She underscored the interconnectedness of food systems, animal welfare, and the health of the planet, adding that African small-holder farmers, once empowered, will be pivotal in helping the continent produce food without harming nature.
This year's World Food Day will be marked on Wednesday under the theme "Rights to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future," highlighting the importance of diversity, nutritional value, and affordability of staple food consumed globally.
In Africa where nearly 20 percent of the population is undernourished, a restoration of indigenous crops and animal husbandry will boost the continent's food and nutritional security as well as benefit human and ecological health, Kahiu said.
According to Kahiu, governments across Africa should align the quest for climate justice with food systems transformation to enhance the resilience of small-holder farmers.
She called for channeling climate finance to the continent's small-holder farmers in a bid to improve their capacity to produce indigenous food in a manner that is in harmony with nature. ■
