Days related to Agriculture
Here is a glimpse of the days that are of significance to everybody related, directly or indirectly, to crop farming, animal husbandry, poultry, milk production, agriculture processing, environment, and other aspects of agriculture, even saving the planet.
February 10: World Pulses Day
In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly designated February 10 to be celebrated as World Pulses Day from 2019 onwards. The idea is to make people aware of the significance and health benefits of pulses viz; dry peas and beans, chickpeas, lentils, lupins, and others. The event aims to make pulses Global Food. Pulses are sustainable food, can be stored for longer, and can contribute to increasing food security.
World Pulses Day 2021 theme: “Nutritious Seeds for a Sustainable Future”
March 21: International Day of Forests
On November 28, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 21 to be celebrated as International Day of Forests. The day aims to spread awareness on the various types of forests and their importance to humanity.
International Day of Forests 2021 theme: “Forest Restoration: A Path to Recovery and Well-being.”
March 22: World Water Day
The United Nations declared March 22 to be celebrated as World Water Day every year since 1993. The day aims to highlight the importance of freshwater and to raise awareness about the fact that, even today, about 2.2 billion people live without having safe drinking water.
World Water Day 2021 theme: “Valuing Water.”
April 4: International Carrot Day
The initiator of International Carrot Day is unknown. The day is celebrated on April 4 every year since 2003. It is the day to eat carrots, make carrot juices, carrot cake, and other delicacies from this wonderful vegetable rich in beta-carotene.
Our parents and grandparents always advised us to eat carrots because it is good for the eyes. Our liver converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A and is absorbed by the retina.
The day aims to spread awareness about the incredible nutrition benefits of carrot.
Although there isn’t any particular theme for the day, every year people celebrate this day by eating carrots, dressing in bright orange, or organizing a carrot party. Be creative and celebrate the day as you like – make “gajar sabzi,” “gajar halwa,” or eat a carrot raw. Learn a new carrot cake recipe or dress in orange. You can also decorate your space with colors and things related to the carrot.
April 22: World Earth Day
World Earth Day was organized by Earth Day Network (EDN) in 1970. EDN is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, diversifying, and activating worldwide environmental movement. Since then, the day is celebrated to remind us that we live on planet Earth and this is our only home. We need to respect it and care for it.
World Earth Day 2021 theme: “Restore Our Earth.”
April 26: International Seeds Day
International Seeds Day was initiated by farmers, organizations, activists, and organic food advocates worldwide as a gesture to promote biodiversity, patent-free and GMO-free seeds, rights of farmers, and to challenge Order 81, which was a “declaration of war against farmers” passed on April 26, 2004.
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
The United Nations declared International Day for Biological Diversity to be celebrated on May 22 since 2001. The idea is to promote biodiversity issues across the world.
June 1: World Milk Day
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) initiated World Milk Day from 2001. It is celebrated every year on June 1 to recognize milk as Global Food.
As such there is no fixed theme for this day. The idea is to encourage drinking milk as it is full of calcium. Doctors regard milk as ‘complete food.’ Either drinks buffalo milk or cow milk.
World Milk Day 2021: The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is planning to host “Raise a Glass,” which is a virtual event at the Global Dairy Platform.
June 5: World Environment Day
The first World Environment Day was observed in 1974 in Spokane city of USA. The theme was “Only One Earth.”
From 1987, it was decided to rotate the hosting of the event by different countries.
June 27: World Microbiome Day
A research Institute named APC Microbiome Ireland present at the University College Cork of Ireland initiated World Microbiome Day in 2018.
The idea is to make people aware about the world of friendly bacteria, gut bacteria, and the role of bacteria in our health. It is important to let people know about foods like pre-biotics, probiotics, and fermented foods that help to promote gut-friendly bacteria.
July 1: International Fruit Day
International Fruit Day was first observed in 2007 at the Wall Park, Berlin. The idea is to share fruits with love and joy and to share them to the needy.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021 as “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables.”
WHO and FAO suggests that people should take a minimum of 400 gm fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and other such diseases. It is important to increase daily consumption of fruits and vegetables for overall health.
July 7: World Chocolate Day
World Chocolate Day is celebrated worldwide since 2009. Some people believe that the day commemorates the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550.
The idea is to let people enjoy chocolates without guilt on this day.
Because chocolates are made from milk and also contain fruits and nuts at time, this day holds significance for the farming community.
September 1-7: National Nutrition Week
Since 1982, National Nutrition Week is observed from September 1 to 7 in India by the Food Nutrition Board by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. The idea is to spread awareness of good health and nutrition.
Theme of National Nutrition Week 2020 was “Eat Right, Bite by Bite.”
September 2: World Coconut Day
The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) initiated World Coconut Day to encourage eating coconut daily and to make people aware of its amazing health benefits.
World Coconut Day 2020 theme was “Invest in Coconut to Save the World.”
There are many benefits of coconut water. This refreshing drink is relished across the world.
October 1: International Coffee Day
International Coffee Organization (ICO) launched International Coffee day on October 1, 2015, in Milan.
The idea was to celebrate this hot beverage by drinking coffee, which is widely loved across the globe. The day is also dedicated to promote fair trade coffee, along with spreading awareness regarding coffee growers.
International Coffee Day 2020 theme was to recognize the efforts of millions of coffee growers.
October 1: World Vegetarian Day
World Vegetarian Day is also observed on October 1 every year. It was founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) and in 1978 was endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union.
2nd Thursday of October: World Chicken Day
World Chicken Day is celebrated in honor of the delicious and nutritious chicken and its various recipes. There is no specific story or reason behind the origin of this day, however, the day is celebrated with fervor.
World Chicken Day 2021 falls on October 7, 2021.
2nd Friday of October: World Egg Day
World Egg Day is an initiative of the International Egg Commission (IEC). It was started in the 1996 IEC conference in Vienna. The idea is to celebrate eggs, which play an important health role in our lives thanks to its rich nutritive value.
Do you know egg is the only food to provide Vitamin D in the natural form?
So, be an “egg-tarian” and not just a vegetarian. People who do not eat meat can also eat eggs because you aren’t killing a live animal here.
On World Egg Day 2020, ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research in Hyderabad held a webinar named “Egg: A Natural Immunity Booster.” According to Director Dr. R. N. Chatterjee, egg is a relatively affordable source of nutrition for children, elderly, and pregnant women. He emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding egg consumption, busting of myths related to eggs, and India’s poultry industry.
World Egg Day 2021 falls on October 8.
October 15: International Day of Rural Women
International Day of Rural Women was initiated by the Civil Society Organizations in 1995 at the 4th World Conference on Women that was held in Beijing.
The day aims to recognize the valuable contribution of women not only in farming and managing household, but also in the economy at large.
October 16: World Food Day
Food and Agriculture Organization commenced World Food Day from October 16, 1981. The idea is to celebrate food that we have everyday on our plates. Millions of people don’t have this privilege. For many, eating a balanced meal is a luxury.
The day aims to spread awareness about people who die of hunger and are malnourished, and to divert attention to one of the fundamental rights of humans – food.
World Food Day 2020 theme was: “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our actions are our future.” Theme for 2021 is not revealed yet.
November 26: National Milk Day
National Milk Day is celebrated on the birthday of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of India’s White Revolution. It is a gesture to honor his work and to remember his life. The day was started from 2014.
December 3: Agricultural Education Day
To commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of Independent India and Union Minister of Agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has declared December 3rd as "Agricultural Education Day."
December 5: World Soil Day
World Soil Day is celebrated on December 5 to highlight how essential healthy soil is to sustainably maintain soil resources. The day was initiated in 2002 by International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS).
December 15: International Tea Day
International Tea Day was initiated in 2004 by the World Social Forum. The first International Tea Day was held in New Delhi, India.
The day is aimed to bring to light the importance of this popular hot beverage in our lives, reasons to drink black tea, etc. It also aims to spread awareness about the health benefits of teas like green tea, white tea, herbal tea, black tea, oolong tea, and others.
Know about India’s rarest and most expensive tea!
December 23: National Farmers’ Day/Kisan Diwas
The government initiated the celebration of Kisan Diwas in 2001 to recognize the contribution of Choudhary Charan Singh, who is the most reputable farmers’ leaders in India. It also served as the country’s Prime Minister for a brief period between 1979-80.
The day aims to spread awareness on the role and the contribution of farmers to the country’s economy and how they are indirectly related to our lives.
Kisan Diwas 2020 was celebrated amidst farmers protest.
