FOOD SECURITY
One of the biggest dilemmas in
Uganda is the sight of children who are malnourished and often emaciated due to
adequate foods and sick from lack of safe drinking water. Putting the challenge
of safe and adequate water aside, this article posits that the problem of food
shortage in Uganda is a matter of negligence which should be addressed.
One worrying situation of all
Ugandans is food. Families and friends are often alienated from each other
because the thought of food required to feed guests does not encourage frequent
re-unions. People in urban areas don’t like impromptu visitors from their rural
roots because of food costs. Food – whether its availability or scarcity,
remains the number one determinant of social relations; it defines and shapes human
character and offers deeper implication in the socio-cultural evolution of
society.
Principally, the foods that we
eat define our culture and identity; it may also define one’s social class and
caliber. The way we acquire food and the way we consume it also determines our
degree of dignity as human beings. If we are forced to beg, steal or negotiate
for a compromised food value, we suffer indignation and constant sense of
insecurity. Food scarcity is a major source of insecurity worldwide and this
concern is at the core of global health.
Our ability to afford the foods
that we want and when we want it also validates our dignity and sense of
purpose in life. Ability to afford adequate and nutritious food on timely basis
also gives us a liberating mindset – the confidence attributable to successful life
beyond mere existence. This liberating potential also defines our social status
and relations. It follows that people, who can afford food, can also afford
other amenities of life, including healthy children rearing.
It is almost impossible to believe
that in Uganda food is scarce. Our annual budget reflects that subsistence
agricultural is still employing 85% of Ugandans. This means that 15% of the
population is not participating directly in farming. Uganda is a country of nearly
35 million people. That means less than 6 million people are not directly
participating in subsistence farming. Unfortunately, the national budget
allocation to agriculture which is critical to our economy is still very low,
leading to low food production and food insecurity.
A key factor which perpetuates
food insecurity is the wasteful nature of our interaction with the foods that
we produce. The difference between food loss and food waste can be found along
the chain of events that precede food production to consumption. Food loss
occurs constantly starting from the way gardens are prepared, crops are planted
or catered for; during the use of fertilizers, harvesting, storage,
preservation, transportation, and at the market.
For instance, research in Kenya and India are increasingly showing that between 25-30 percent of fruits produced by local farmers are lost during this process. For fruits such as mangoes, oranges, bananas etc the loss is even enormous because 98% are consumed in the domestic market, while only 2% actually find its way to export markets. Of the 98% in domestic market, it is estimated that 40-50% is lost; birds and animals will eat, children will destroy fruits that are not ready, pests, warms, weather conditions and so many other factors leads to loss of agricultural products. These losses could actually be minimized.
For instance, research in Kenya and India are increasingly showing that between 25-30 percent of fruits produced by local farmers are lost during this process. For fruits such as mangoes, oranges, bananas etc the loss is even enormous because 98% are consumed in the domestic market, while only 2% actually find its way to export markets. Of the 98% in domestic market, it is estimated that 40-50% is lost; birds and animals will eat, children will destroy fruits that are not ready, pests, warms, weather conditions and so many other factors leads to loss of agricultural products. These losses could actually be minimized.
Likewise, food waste is when food
arrives at the point of consumption and, because of some reasons; it is
discarded or recycled before it is consumed! Definitely, you must have seen how
farmers of perishable goods always dump consumable foods in trash at the end of
the day. That is waste. Yet, someone in need could have used that food. The
estimate of foods wasted in a day is stunning, but close to half of every food
or crop that leaves the market to households goes to waste.
FAO reports shows that food loss
and food waste actually occur at the early to middle stages of production in
developing countries. This means, by the time food reaches the market; more
than half of the total volume of produce per harvest, in a season will have
been lost or wasted.
Food loss and wastage are a major
concern for FAO and food security fraternity globally. It is important to note that some of the general
challenges which affect developing countries also affect food security. Bad
governance, corruption and institutional failures, for instance, also ensure
that food production distribution and consumption are interrupted. These, lead
to persistent food insecurity that is made worse by persevering conflicts and
natural disasters and yet food insecurity can itself perpetuate societal
conflicts.
For Uganda to minimize food
losses and wastage, it is important to invest in major regional food storage
facilities, improving agricultural practices, skills and human resources;
encouraging farm consolidation and cooperatives for small to medium size
farmers; improving on rural roads and distribution system so that food can
reach storage facilities and markets on time; provide a sustainable shock
prevention mechanisms and tax incentives for farmers who may face adverse conditions,
such as insecurity, bad weather roads and natural calamities, such as droughts.
Otherwise, the foods produced in
Uganda, should be enough to feed the nation and the surplus could still feed
the arteries of the international food markets. But first, we must recognize
the imperative to mitigate the rampant food losses and wasting in our food
chain.
END
