For 10 years, the Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP) has been working tirelessly to advocate for food security issues and uphold the right to food of every Filipino through its various programs and services. The Sustainable Agriculture Community-Level Appropriate Technology (SACLAT) has helped ensure food sufficiency at the household level facilitating the establishment of communal farms, bio-intensive backyard gardens in the rural areas and urban vegetable gardening. Community Level Appropriate Technology innovations were also replicated by the network members to bolster their food security projects, such as micro-irrigation, rainwater catchment jar, lorena stove, small and medium scale - mechanical dryer, mechanical grains lifter.
Meanwhile, the Campaign, Advocacy, and Networking (CAN) desk serves as the network’s mouthpiece in bringing to the fore the different issues involving food security to the national and international arena. Fora on issues such as GMOs, quantitative restrictions on rice, climate change, agricultural research and development, indigenous rights, and sustainable agriculture were also organized and co-sponsored by PNFSP. Its reach in social media has spread to countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and across the various sectors of society, resulting to linkages and networking with more organizations, in the local as well as International level.
Hence, the 10th year of PNFSP is indeed a milestone. And how best to celebrate its 10th year anniversary but through propagating and reaching out to more advocates to show to them and let them know of the viability of community initiatives mentioned above to address hunger and food insecurity issues in the country. The theme of this activity is “Food for the Body, Food for the Mind, Food for the Soul” which is an organic food fair and festival of best practices on sustainable agriculture and appropriate technology. The Fair will have tents, for the Body, Tents for the Mind, and Tents for the Soul. Each tent will have different activities specific for the theme.
The Tents for Food for the Body involves activities such as selling of organic products and organic foods which the network members will bring and showcase . PNFSP will network with small businesses of organic food and products as well as reach out to all NGO’s in the National Capital region which are into organic food promotion . Not only will they be able to profit in the fair, but they will also be part of PNFSP’s Food Security Advocates. PNFSP members are also encouraged to bring indigenous food from their region to showcase.
The Tents for Food for the Mind will have lectures on the benefits of organic agriculture on health and the environment, different sustainable agricultural practices and herbal medicines. There will also be lecture on solid waste management. Actual demonstrations s will also be held to make the teaching interactive with the participants.
The Tents for Food for the Soul will relive the various traditional cultures and practices such as cultural arts through actual performance and film shows as well as wellness practices that includes yoga, meditative exercises, fellowships and prayers. The PNFSP’s members focusing on indigenous people will spearhead this activity. This is to show the spirituality that has guided the Filipinos in preserving nature, human relationships and health in their interaction with the environment, with each other and with one self.
The tri-media outfits will be invited to cover the event.
There will also be photo – exhibits on the issues that affect food security concerns especially on mining and massive land grabbing in the different regions in the country. Through this concept of the celebration, which will be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle at the heart of the city where many people of all walks of life are visiting and whiling away their times, we can reach out to the broadest sectors of society.