The global report food crises 2019 recently released jointly by FAO, world food program and European Union, focuses on natural and anthropogenic factors leading to food crises.
The key highlight of the report:
- Approximate 113 million people in 53 countries experienced a high level of food in securing last year. It is mainly due to instability in the conflicted region and the adverse impact of climate.
- Nearly 2/3rd of those facing acute hunger come from 8 countries i.e. Afghanistan, Demo of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
- Climate and Natural disaster pushed another 29 million towards acute food insecurity.
For eg :
- Cyclone Idai in Madagascar
- Kerala floods in India in 2018
- Food crisis scenario in India
- India was ranked at a 103rd position out of 119 countries in global Hunger Index scheduled in 2010.
- Its position slipped by 3 places from 2017.
- This shows India Is among 45 countries that faced a various level of hunger i.e. still far away to reach zero hunger target.
- Despite having the second-largest arable land and 75% population in agriculture, the nation still deals with hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
Factors responsible for the food crisis in India and the World :
- Rate of the population is increasing rapidly than the rate of production o0f food.
- Wars in conflicted regions which violates humanitarian law by denying access to food to population like in Afghanistan.
- Indian agriculture largely depends on yearly monsoon. But due to advance impact of climate, farmers are either forced to take loans to irrigate lands or deals with crop failure.
- Due to the relentless movement of this social cycle
- Higher population
- Unemployment
- Poverty
- Hunger
What needs to be done ahead.
Since, Hunger in both, a cause and a consequence of the rise in the displacement of people, the actions need to be taken together by the international, community, national Government of civil society. For eg:
- UNSC adoption of a resolution in May 2019 to provide humanitarian assistance in conflicted regions.
- National food security act by the Indian Government.
- NGO’s can take leading and steps.
To conclude, the global food crisis could be dealt with balanced approaches of all nations.
For Eg:
Equal support needed from member nations committed towards sustainable development. Goals or one can say ‘Global Goals ‘ by 2030.