Help pass the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act
By Zach Schmidt
I have been passionate about the Global Food Security Act since it was introduced in 2015, but last month I saw its impact firsthand on a trip to Nepal. I saw how lives were transformed because of smart U.S. policy.
The policy will expire this year unless we act. Call (800-826-3688) or email your members of Congress and urge them to co-sponsor the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5129 and S. 2269).
In southwestern Nepal, a women farmers group called Ekata received training through Feed the Future (authorized by the original Global Food Security Act). As a result, their farming operations have grown. In addition to feeding their families more vegetables, they now sell crops to market for profit, strengthening the local economy and generating household income. The group’s chairwoman, Tara Gaywali, told me the training has helped them feel more empowered and has helped them access assistance (such as loans) that had previously been difficult to attain.
The Global Food Security Act supports smallholder farmers, strengthens agricultural businesses, and promotes critical nutrition interventions for mothers and babies in the first 1,000 day window in low-income countries.
Passing the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act will ensure the women of Ekata—and others like them—continue to receive the training and support they need to feed their families and help their communities prosper. Join me in calling on Congress to make sure this work continues.
Zach Schmidt is a senior regional organizer at Bread for the World.
I saw how lives were transformed because of smart U.S. policy.
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