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). [
199092 200002 200507 200810 201113* 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 SecurityCountry 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 regions 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 199092.
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