THE United Nations recently came out with an alarming report: Some 34 countries—nearly 80 percent of them in Africa—don’t have enough food for their people because of conflicts, drought and flooding. In other words, millions of people are suffering from hunger pains and starvation partly because of the madness of mankind.
War affects everybody, noncombatants included. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Crop Prospects and Food Situation report said conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and the Central African Republic have taken a heavy toll on agricultural production, worsening the humanitarian crisis in those countries. “And the impact of these conflicts extends to neighboring countries that are hosting refugees, straining food resources in those countries,” it added.
As the world’s population is projected to grow to 9.6 billion people in 2050, from 7 billion in 2012, the problem of global hunger and starvation is expected to worsen. This is ironic, given the 2 billion people currently employed in agriculture. The ball is obviously in the hands of government leaders. It’s time they realize the pressing need to close the food gap in ways that enhance the livelihoods of farmers.
Closer to home, the latest Social Weather Stations survey shows there are millions of Filipinos experiencing hunger all over the country. Government officials may cite figures the current administration is doing well in fighting hunger for our less-privileged countrymen. But no amount of rhetoric can alter the stark reality for millions of poor Filipinos who have nothing to eat.
With the El Niño expected to last until June, the country’s food-supply problem could get worse in the short term, before it gets better. This spells bad news for millions of poor Filipinos. Worse, the agriculture sector stands to lose about P21.8 billion worth of rice and corn crops in the first semester due to El Niño.
We do not question the good intentions of our political leaders and lawmakers seeking solutions to the problem. Latest count shows eight pending measures at the House of Representatives related to school feeding programs. Proponents stressed the need for such a law, since many of the children attending public schools come from poor households and are more vulnerable to undernourishment and malnutrition. As one proponent puts it, “these children come to school with practically no breakfast from home. They cannot be expected to absorb their lessons in school, while suffering hunger pangs.”
Laudable as these proposed measures are, they are just band-aid solutions that do not deal with the cause of the problem. Certainly, no one solution can create a sustainable food future. A menu of production- and distribution-focused strategies can certainly help close the country’s food gap. But leaders in government and the private sector need to put their act together to make the solution work.
The Philippines is an agricultural country that is rich in aquatic resources. We have sufficient food sources to ensure that no Filipino should go hungry. If we can teach our millions of schoolchildren how to produce their own food, nobody will go hungry in this country.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano