UVI School of Agriculture to Observe World Food Day on October 17

Virgin Islands farmer selling produce. (File photo)

On Sunday, Oct. 17, the University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension Service will observe World Food Day from 1-6 p.m. This event is open to the public. Join the second virtual experience of this event. The program will include a formal opening ceremony, workshops, demonstrations, entertainment and free vegetable seedlings.

This year’s World Food Day theme, selected by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is “Our actions are our future — Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.”

Each year, three agricultural products are highlighted, and this year’s selections are pepper, papaya and goat. The seedlings distribution will start at 1 p.m. and end at 3 p.m. on the grounds of the V.I. Department of Agriculture.

The opening ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. followed by educational workshops on pepper, papaya and goat until 6 p.m. via Zoom.

The Zoom ID is 993 3904 8458.

Persons who attend the educational workshops will be eligible to receive additional seedlings. World Food Day, which is officially celebrated on Oct. 16, but is observed worldwide during October, brings attention to the plight of the hungry and undernourished in the territory and the world.

“You don’t want to miss this family fun event—World Food Day, Sunday, Oct. 17,” said Usman Adamu, Ph.D., dean and director of the School of Agriculture. “World Food Day is a time when we assess food production and nutritional value, distribution and sustainability. We hope that you will join us as we all recommit to doing something to eradicate hunger worldwide, especially in the Virgin Islands.”

“Come out and participate in the programs and activities designed to promote awareness and actions to feed the less fortunate among us in the territory,” Adamu said.

World Food Day is sponsored by the UVI School of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, UVI SOA Agricultural Experiment Station and the V.I. Department of Agriculture.

For more information, call Marthious Clavier at 692-4090. The UVI School of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape and American Sign Language) should contact the UVI School of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service at 692-4090.