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Are we ready to deal with world food crisis?
Sunday, 24 August 2008 - 11:41 AM SL Time
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Soaring world food prices have become a problem not only to developing countries but also to the superpowers.
High fuel costs have resulted in higher agricultural costs. The drop in food stocks and using land meant for food production to produce biofuels are the other disturbing factors. The international community should help countries which are more prone and ensure some sort of relief for the poor.
Many international organisations feel that the world food crisis is a man-made problem, rather than an issue which has developed with the emerging world trends.
Experts have said that it could take at least a decade to bring down the current food prices to a realistic level. Analysts have attributed two major reasons for the soaring world food prices - billions of people the world over are buying larger quantities of food. Several countries have either ceased or reduced growing their own food as they have the cash to buy much more. This has been one of the main causes for the world food crisis with the booming economies of China and India demanding more food.
For example, the increasing meat consumption has stepped up the demand for grain, and correspondingly the price.
Apart from the main issue, several other factors too have contributed to the sky-rocketing world food prices as never before. The hike in oil prices, which hit around $150 per barrel in recent months, has pushed up fertiliser prices, as well as transport costs.
Another factor which has a direct impact on high world food prices is climate change. Freak weather conditions, including the prolonged droughts in Australia and in the southern parts of Africa, coupled with floods in West Africa, last winter s deep frost in China and unusual warmth in northern Europe too have adversely affected harvests.
The US-led drive to produce bio fuel as an alternative source to hydrocarbons is straining food supplies further. Generous subsidies for ethanol in the US have lured thousands of farmers away from growing food crops. As a result, the area used for bio fuel is increasing rapidly.
Due to these unexpected trends, Asia recently experienced a severe shortage of rice, raising prices of the widely sought-after commodity in the continent to an all-time high.
We in Sri Lanka too felt the impact of those world trends during the first six months of the year but could meet the challenge, if we gear ourselves properly.
Unlike in Europe where the four-season weather pattern does not permit cultivation throughout the year, we in this part of the globe are fortunate to have the ideal conditions for cultivation. Compared to most Asian countries, Sri Lanka has rich soil and the ideal weather conditions for cultivation at any time of the year.
This indeed is a distinct advantage for a small country such as Sri Lanka to face the new trends in the world market. If we don t gear ourselves fully, we would not be in a position to face the challenge of soaring world food prices. By this extra effort, we could also market the remaining produce to earn an extra income.
Having understood this well, the Government has embarked on the Api Wawamu, Rata Nagamu, the massive cultivation program. If this program is fully implemented with public support, Sri Lanka could well capitalise on it.
A world food crisis or no crisis - the only way for Sri Lanka to overcome economic hardships is by increasing local production. In the good old days, we had a strong agro-based economy. However, with the introduction of the open economy policy in 1977 by the then J. R. Jayewardene Government, most people gradually abandoned the habit of cultivating even a few crops in their home gardens.
If we could revert to the pre-1977 era and make use of our home gardens to grow fruits and vegetables for the family needs - that alone would be a great achievement in facing the world food crisis.
The Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has always encouraged local farmers. Paddy farmers, especially, have been getting a massive fertiliser subsidy which is a big relief for the rural community. With the increasing demand for fresh milk, local dairy farmers too are reaping handsome returns.
True, the prices of food items and milk have gone up in the local market. However, local farmers in the provinces are the ultimate beneficiaries. This has strengthened Sri Lanka s rural economy, increasing the purchasing power of rural farmers.
If we could focus more on agriculture, dairy and the fishing industries, we would be in an advantageous position to meet the challenge posed by the world food crisis. Increasing local production is the only answer to the global problem. Unlike most other countries in the West, we in the sub continent have an added advantage to overcome this problem.
If we could concentrate more on agriculture and lend a helping hand to the thousands of families engaged in cultivation, we could definitely increase food production. This cannot be gainsaid. If we could be self-sufficient in most essential food items, that would not only be a solution to the problem but would also enable the country to save valuable foreign exchange.
Hence, more stringent measures should be taken to increase local production and we should ready ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead. If we make a determined effort, Sri Lanka could well set an example to the world in dealing with the world food crisis.
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gchula99
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 26 Aug 2008 11:09:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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Yes of cause. We the villagers have tighten our belts and are ready since the beginning of this regime.Only thing is we cannot tighten any more our left over skins to the bone!
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raigamakolla
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 26 Aug 2008 11:43:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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If we could revert to the pre-1977 era
The writer of this article was certainly born in 1980s and now able to write this type of crap.
He/She has not expereinced the hardships of that dark era. Lest you forget, during 1971-77, people spent long hours in front of corperative shops to buy bread (paan), rice, chilli, sugar, sarees, fabric, dry fish ,etc. etc.
A lot of working people had to spend hours in lines from 2 am to 7 am to buy bread, eat and go to work. They missed buses and work. They had no proper cloths to wear.
There were hal polla, miris polla, dry fish polla, etc.
People became 'walking skeletons'. over 80% of population suffered from malnutrition. People dies in thousands without food. It was like a huge famine.
All this happend, while Sirima and her family and ministers enjoyed good food at subsidised prices from the parliamentary canteen.
Anyone who had experienced what it is like 1971-77 would want to punish the writer or this article in the most harsh manner which I cannot even think of. |
Damed
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 26 Aug 2008 11:52:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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Raigamakolla,
long time no see....what's really happening to UNP..?
Edited By - Damed - 26 Aug 2008 11:53:34 GMT |
alwaysalion
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26 Aug 2008 11:59:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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People could ease these hardships if we consentrate more on agriculture.Like growing whatever one could in their garden.There
was a time when Late Dudley Senanayake promoted a Grow more Food
Campaign in the early 70's.We should grown what we can instead of
depending on others.
I can also remember the times that was Raigamakolla posted.It was
terrible as we had to line up for bread for breaffast and then rush to school. |
Damed
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26 Aug 2008 12:08:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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Sri lanka still to come up with a system to preserve food and safe packing for transport and display.
the percentage of losses during transport is 40%.
Capacity of Food Storage is 5% depends on item base.
Recycling of food is 0%. |
samanj
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 29 Aug 2008 04:21:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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Put the crisis in the back burner and focus on ways & means to improve the Agriculture sector and increse of yields and productivity.
Do not speak like idiots that we are ready with quotes of chinthanayas, get down to the nitty gritty things that need to overcome the country's food shortage than being focused on world food crisis.
Don't forget SL had to get down rice from that flood ravaged Burma. They were able to provide as they had their priorities right on growing.
Do not get that foot in the mouth. |
raigamakolla
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29 Aug 2008 04:33:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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Put the crisis in the back burner and focus on ways & means to improve the Agriculture sector and increse of yields and productivity
Very true. |
Vishnu
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29 Aug 2008 10:06:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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I doubt whether Australia is ready for food crisis. The grocery prices are sky rocketing. A loaf has gone up by 50 cents within last two months. (yeah..yeah...50 cents ...big deal...that's 16% increase).
Leave that...Sri Lankans are so lucky. Why? because whenever they feel like bringing food prices down. They can simply change the government to Ranil's. Problemo Solved!! |
Vishnu
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29 Aug 2008 10:14:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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If we could revert to the pre-1977 era and make use of our home gardens to grow fruits and vegetables for the family needs - that alone would be a great achievement in facing the world food crisis.
The point here is that, economically, the 70-77 period was recession-like. During a recession, people with access to arable land are better off.
Then again, as Gomakolla say (I'm in agreement with him for the first time) no one prefers an artificially created recession.
Damed has a point...but what do you mean by food recycling ...Eating Sh...t? |
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