Following the World Food Day which was celebrated on October 16, the Dominican government is intensifying efforts to boost food production and ensure healthy meals for all citizens. PM Roosevelt Skerrit said his administration will increase financial and technical assistance to farmers as well as increase funding for DEXIA for the purchase of agricultural products across the country.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Fidel Grant, stated that the prolonged Russian-Ukrainian war is causing a spike in the prices of food and other services around the world. He blamed the war for the high import costs experienced by many OECS nations, and cited instances of the prohibitive costs of materials used by farmers and even hucksters.
The subregional coordinator for FAO, Dr. Renata Clarke, said governments should be focused on boost food security and making food accessible to all within their domain. She decried a situation where people are relying more on imported processed food, saying ultra-processed foods are not healthy and should be discouraged.
The lead pharmacist at Fresh Market Pharmacy, Israel Fontaine, blames unhealthy foods as responsible for the rise of obesity among children in the country. While noting that genetics play a significant role in childhood obesity, Fontaine said consuming high-calorie meals and ultra-processed fast foods can worsen the situation in children and adolescents prone to obesity. He identified Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pains, and cardiovascular diseases as some of the results of obesity.
The technical officer in the Division of Agriculture, Ryan Anselm, also agrees with Fontaine. He said children are the future of the nation and should be protected from unhealthy diets or unhealthy eating habits that can imperil their overall health. Speaking at a local radio programme under the theme “Leave No One Behind,” Anselm tasked parents to improve the quality of food they feed their children and to favour organic farm produce more for family meals.
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