Ministry of Agriculture launches of the comprehensive food security and vulnerability analysis 2021
The Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray on Monday presided over the official launch of the comprehensive food security and vulnerability analysis 2021. This is a nationwide and in-depth study of food security and vulnerability in the Gambia.The main objective of the 2021 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) is to update the food security and vulnerability situation in The Gambia. The study provides comparative data to enable trend analysis over the past five years. The CFSVA aims to provide information on the areas and population groups, which are most food insecure and malnourished. It gives reasons for food insecurity, and how food or other assistance can make a difference in reducing hunger.The Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray, who is also the Chairperson of the National Food Security Council, said the report will help track progress made towards achieving the sustainable development goal of zero hunger. She also said that the report will serve as a baseline in the country’s articulation of the National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation in support of the 2030 agenda.Seraphine Wakana, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Gambia, said food and nutrition insecurity leads to reduced health and wellbeing, and subsequent drop in household income.The World food program Representative, and country Director in the Gambia, Yasuhiro Tsumura, reveals that staple food prices in the Gambia have increased by 21% since 2016. She attributed food insecurity in the country to global and regional factors including the Covid-19 pandemic. She said the pandemic severely hit the tourism industry that accounts for 20% of the country’s GDP.Hassan Jallow, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, said the CFSVA 2021 report discovered that 13.4% of the population are food insecure of which under 2% are severely food insecure. Food insecurity in the country he said has increased by 2% in 2016 and 13.4% in 2021. The 2021 analysis was conducted at the height of the Covid-19, resulting in households’ vulnerability. The decline in household incomes, and loss their livelihoods was caused by government’s measures to combat the pandemic.
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