Speaking at the World Environment Day commemorations held under the theme “Think. Eat. Save- promoting sustainable practices” Nhema said Zimbabwe produces 150,000 tonnes of domestic waste annually – most of it food.
“Food waste constitutes 70 percent of the total amount of waste that we produce annually. It is sad to note that while a lot of people in Zimbabwe do not have adequate food, the bulk of waste on our dumpsites is organic,” he said. This is draining natural resources and Nhema urged citizens to form a critical mass to minimise the environmental impact of food production and consumption.
“The growing population has put so much pressure on the natural environment that our natural resources are no longer as abundant as they used to be,” he added. “How we use and dispose of non-renewable resources is radically altering the country’s ecosystem. We have reached a point where the quality of air and water needs to be improved and the level of production needs to be balanced with our consumption needs to reduce the amount of waste we produce,” said Nhema.
“We are responsible for the environment for the next generation and there is need to change our current living standards and adopt creative and innovative solutions on the way we use and dispose of the products we produce and consume,” he said.
The United Nation Development Programme Resident Coordinator Alain NoudÄ“hou said there was need to harness indigenous and local knowledge systems to inform wider and more affordable applications. “There is a lot that we can learn from traditional communities about food preservation and storage. We should strengthen the supply chain through supporting farmers. Investing in infrastructure, the transport sector as well as expanding the food and packaging industries could also help us reduce the amount of food loss and waste,” he said.
Post published in: News