The purpose of the day is to celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures around the world and to promote awareness of the importance of preserving and protecting linguistic diversity. It also aims to promote the use of mother languages in education and everyday life, as well as to encourage people to learn and use other languages. On International Mother Language Day, people around the world celebrate their mother tongues, organize cultural events, and participate in language-related activities to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) funded by the World Bank and implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture uses mother languages to achieve project development objectives in areas where the CSIAP is being implemented in the following way.
1. Effective communication: It is the most natural way of communication for individuals, and using it in agriculture ensures clear and precise communication. In rural areas, farmers may not have a strong grasp of the official language or other languages used in agriculture, and communicating with them in their mother language can help them understand technical information better.
2. Transfer
of knowledge and traditional practices: It is often closely tied to the
cultural and traditional practices of a community. Using it in agriculture can
facilitate the transfer of knowledge and traditional practices from one
generation to the next. This is especially important in agriculture, where
traditional practices and knowledge can play an important role in sustainable
farming and the conservation of natural resources.
3. Engagement
and empowerment: Using the mother language in agriculture can help engage and
empower farmers who may feel excluded or marginalized due to their limited
knowledge of the official language or other languages used in agriculture. This
can help create a sense of belonging and community, which can motivate farmers
to take an active interest in their work and participate in decision-making
processes.
4. Promotion
of local products and culture: It is often closely linked to the culture,
identity, and values of a community. Using it in agriculture can help promote
local products and culture, which can be beneficial for local economies and the
preservation of cultural heritage.
Mother language plays an important role in agriculture by
facilitating communication, access to resources, building relationships, and
sharing knowledge and best practices. Overall, using the mother language in
agriculture can have significant benefits for effective communication,
knowledge transfer, empowerment, and the promotion of local products and
culture and it can also help create a more inclusive and sustainable
agricultural sector to reach the CSIAP’s objectives.
Image: Curtsey of the UN.
