Shahid Hussain RajaIndependent Consultant-Public Policy

www.sanoconsultants.co.ukwww.shahidhussainraja.com

September 28,2014

Introduction What is food security Evolution of concept Global profile Major challenges Global response Conclusion

Food is the first basic human need and fundamental right of every human being, having constitutional guarantees in almost all countries

The United Nations (UN) recognized the Right to food in the Declaration of Human Rights in 1948,and has since noted that it is vital for the enjoyment of all other rights.

While food riots can create legitimacy crises for any regime, they can pose existential threats to weak states

Although food security has always been a crucial issue, there is increasing global concern in it after 2007/8 food crises which is reinforced whenever food prices start rising

Food Security is an evolving concept, getting refined after new developments and greater awareness about its necessity

During 1970s,food crises created awareness for food security and led to formal institutional response globally. However food availability through buffer stocks was considered enough for ensuring food security

During 1980s,concern with increased poverty added access to food as essential as food availability for food security

During 1990s,interest in human development led to absorption of food also as an essential component of food security

During 2000s,recurring food crises necessitated to include stability as one of the main components of food security

During 2010s,evidence of increasing malnutrition among the children/females led to inclusion of nutrition also as an essential element of food security

Now food security invariably means five things; A. Food is available in the country B. It is accessible to people physically and financially C. People are healthy to absorb it D. Food supplies /prices are stable over period E. It is nutritious enough to sustain a human body

“when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”.

Food and Agriculture Organisation,UN

Food insecurity is a situation of limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways“

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).[

1990–92 2000–02 2005–07 2008–10 2011–13*

World 1 015.3 957.3 906.6 878.2 842.3

Developed Regions

19.8 18.4 13.6 15.2 15.7

Developing Regions

995.5 938.9 892.9 863.0 826.6

Africa 177.6 214.3 217.6 226.0 226.4

Asia 751.3 662.3 619.6 585.5 552.0

Latina America & Caribbean

65.7 61.0 54.6 50.3 47.0

Oceania 0.8 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.2

Undernourished Population

Source: State of Food Insecurity 2013 (FAO)

Millions

Despite substantial progress made since the MDGs were launched in 2000, the number of people chronically undernourished are more than 870 million, bulk of whom are in Africa and Asia; almost 15 percent of their population is undernourished

Most of the progress made was before 2007/8 food crises. It means any food crises wipes out a significant proportion of progress made

Even the methodology used by FAO needs to be improved to truly capture the incidence of mal/undernourishment

failed agriculture market regulations lack of anti-dumping mechanisms export restrictions and panic buying, US Dollar Depreciation increased farming for use in biofuels world oil prices at more than $100 a barrel global population growth climate change loss of agricultural land to residential and industrial

development growing consumer demand in China and India

Wikipedia

Although growth is essential for poverty alleviation which is a crucial condition for food and nutrition security, yet this growth must be inclusive, ensuring the participation of poor in growth effort process for substantial improvement in food security

Within this framework, contents of growth must target the food and nutrition aspects to ensure food security---safe drinking water, health services, targeted food fortification

In the broader perspective, it is the agricultural development which makes the biggest dent in poverty reduction and hence food and nutrition security

Despite the highest growth rates which can be achieved, there will always remain a significant section of society which could not reap the benefits of growth for any reason. State must create an effective, efficient anf transparent system of Social safety nets for the

Growth must ultimately accompanied by social and political structural changes such as people empowerment, gender balance, good governance, private sector participation etc

Global Food Security-Major Challenges

Production-slow rate of growth of food production is

adversely affecting the supply of food grains

Consumption-increasing consumption and wastages

are putting pressures on food grains stocks

Distribution -bottlenecks pose threats to its availability

even in normal times

Politics-political Issues also affecting food chains

Decrease in cultivated area-urbanization, industrialization and infrastructural projects on lands used for agriculture

Degradation of arable lands due to bad agricultural and

irrigation practices

Stagnant yields due to less than adequate resource allocation for agricultural R&D

Climate change and environmental threats

Increased cultivation of Biofuels crops on areas previously used for food crops cultivation

Land grabbing by corporate firms in food insecure countries for cultivation of food grains and their export to rich countries

Increasing population- sheer number of people demanding food is increasing

Growing prosperity-more meat items in the domestic menu which needs more food grains

Changing food habits-urbanization needs more processed food which consumes more food

Wastages-over eating, throwing away of food

cooked more than the needs and food getting expired in the domestic fridges/chain stores

Access to food-financial constraints due to persistent poverty, inequality and lack of sufficient job opportunities

Access to food-physical constraints, due to bad governance, infrastructural inadequacies or wrong policy framework

Food Denial to people and communities due to militancy, civil war or proxy wars

Poor commitment of the ruling elite to ensure this fundamental right through proper legislation

Not providing good governance whereby people have freedom to get food grains without any hassle

Not improving overall law and order and security situation in the country for peaceful movement of the food grains and its convenient availability

Not making special arrangements for the provision of food grains in conflict/disaster prone areas

Food Security–Country Responses

Increase production through horizontal expansion-increase areas under cultivation through technological interventions, greater water availability and using it efficiently

Saving arable lands from property development and

infrastructural use, more reliance on intercropping and agro forestry etc

Increase production through vertical expansion-increase the total factors productivity by greater awareness and use of good agricultural practices, availability of quality inputs at affordable prices

Reduce production and post production losses and wastages by encouraging judicious use of chemicals and improved processing facilities

Establish food godowns at convenient places to respond to the needs of vulnerable groups as and when needed

Establish adequate system to forecast shortages and timely import of food grains

Improve financial access of the people to food through employment creation, skill development and job clearance information networks

Provide income support to the extremely poor by creating social safety nets

Improve physical access of the people to food by facilitating free movement of food grains throughout the country

Improve general health care by allocating more resources to promotive and preventive healthcare which is more cost effective and helpful in the developing countries than the curative

Population planning for arresting its rapid growth with particular attention to mother and child healthcare

Pay special attention to water borne diseases which are widespread but can be controlled with dedicated efforts

Food fortification to make it healthy and absorption friendly

Each country to have sufficient buffer stocks available for emergency in different parts to ensure their easy availability in emergency situation

Code of conduct at UNO level not to impose restrictions on the exports of food by the food exporting countries in times of crises which aggravate the situation more than the actual crises

Timely information about the global trends in stocks and production and early warning in case of looming food shortages must be available

In time import of food grains whenever a country or a region’s stocks appear to fall below the danger threshold

Creation of regional buffer stocks of food grains at neutral places under the supervision of WFP

Food Security-Global Response

Renewed commitment at global and state level to reduce poverty by dedicating sufficient resources for job creation, skill formation ,social safety nets and ensuring good governance

All countries to allocate more resources for agricultural Research and Development and to share the findings of research at institutional and private level.

Global collaboration to carry out healthcare reforms to improve absorption and nutrition

Putting in place an efficient and reliable forecasting and early warning systems for food grains production and stocks position

Early agreement on global warming, environmental sustainability and climate change

Creation of regional buffer stocks for timely response to emergent threats of food shortages

Devising fair rules of the game for international trade for equitable share in the increase in global trade and development

Universal policy framework for corporate farming to restrain land grabbing

Ban on cultivation of crops for biofuels on lands already used for food production

Developing regions have registered significant progress towards the MDG-1 of reducing poverty / hunger and undernourishment has fallen by 17 percent since 1990–92.

However, still one eighth population of the world is not getting enough food for active living

Growth can raise incomes and reduce hunger, but only sustainable & broad based growth can reduce hunger & poverty

Growth policies must therefore aim at enhancing agricultural productivity targeting smallholders and should specifically target the poor, especially those in rural areas

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