Global leaders unite to combat hunger

By Robert Mutasi 

Kenyan President William Ruto sought decisive global cooperation in the race to overcome hunger as he addressed his remarks to the Conference on a World Without Hunger in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

Ruto said that with the increasing populations, governments and international organizations are supposed to go hand in hand with the private sector to conceive workable policies and programs geared toward increasing food production as a sure way of achieving food security.

They were led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, the Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization Gerd Müller, UAE's Minister of State Sheikh Shakbout, and the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission Monique Nsanzabagwana. Ruto's speech hit the chord.

They jointly stated that what was needed was urgent action toward an all-rounded approach that would see farmers equipped with all they needed to produce food successfully.

The president mostly referred to solving hunger as not about the food during the conference speech. 

He insisted on empowering the farmer in terms of inputs, irrigation systems, and the right infrastructure to reduce losses after harvest.

"We must ensure that our farmers are fully supported and that our policies are designed to empower them. Without the right tools and systems in place, scaling up production will be an uphill task," Ruto said.

The Kenyan head of state called for collaboration across different sectors, noting that hunger was not only a local concern but a global challenge that requires action from different angles.

The world stands on the cusp of a food crisis, and the response must be united and strategic, as he asked nations to allocate top priority to agricultural innovation and investment.

Ruto's call was joined by leadership in a chorus declaring the imperative of forging partnerships across borders and sectors to advance sustainable food systems.

The Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, recommitted himself to the initiative, adding that even though Ethiopia has been working on agricultural development, more needs to be done in partnership to overcome the existing challenges.

The Conference of a World Without Hunger offers a momentous opportunity for dialogue on solutions to combat persistent hunger and malnutrition-a message emanating from a consensus building rapidly across the globe that no achievement of food security is possible without a collective action in a world that gets increasingly unpredictable.

As the conference reaches its end, participant leaders are still optimistic about concrete immediate outcomes that will give the green light toward sustainable solutions for zero hunger.