By JAMES LARAKI of NARI
Food
security is often viewed narrowly as an issue of production.
Many
people when we talk about food security often argue that we have in abundance
of everything: sweet potato, cassava, taro, banana, sago, variety of
vegetables, fruits and nuts, fish, fresh water and so why worry.
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|
Distribution
of improved planting material in the Kokoda area of Northern province as part
of a food security project undertaken in the area |
They
are convinced that we have everything and there is there should be little
concern towards food insecurity.
But
we must ask ourselves ‘why does food insecurity continue to exist’ even when we
have in abundance of everything.
First,
we must note that food insecurity is not about insufficient production and
availability, but a lack of physical, social or economic access to food.
Other
important requirements for food security are stability, and ensuring food
contributes to health.
Food
stability refers to developing resilience to shocks impacting production and
access, such as natural disasters, while health refers to nutritional quality.
For
example, a food-secure outcome has not been reached, if someone is getting an
adequate amount of food but is developing a nutritional disease.
So
food security is achieved when all people at all times have access to
sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.
It
is on this basis that food security remains a key issue globally.
In
Papua New Guinea, food is produced mainly through subsistence agriculture and
fisheries. Traditional food systems are secure and resilient when land is
available and fisheries are abundant.
This
holds true in most rural areas and hunger in such situations remains at low
levels.
However,
with the increase in population and climate change, food security is at risk.
There
is a risk of increased malnutrition and hunger.
Rapid urbanisation is leaving the urban poor
without access to land and income opportunities. And climate change will be
putting pressure on the countries’ rural food producers.
It
is becoming obvious that current food production is insufficient to feed the
increasing population.
The problem of food insecurity is clearly seen
in symptoms of malnutrition and other related diseases, partly due to
consumption of processed and frozen food from supermarkets.
Imported
food is increasingly being consumed in both rural and urban settings due to
changing preferences and a lack of locally produced food in markets.
This
trend is quiet common in the urban and peri-urban areas.
The
urban poor lack direct access to land and fisheries, and with low job
prospects, this group is one of the most foods insecure.
Our
food systems are changing.
People
are moving to urban centres, where food is sourced from the supermarket instead
of the garden.
Imports
are increasing, as preferences are shifting and local production has not kept
pace with the population increases.
Food
crises are biting, resulting in pockets of food insecurity, particularly among
the urban poor.
The
increased availability of imported food is increasing dietary options, but also
has health implications.
The
trade in unhealthy food is a source of controversy, such as the import of fatty
lamb flaps. Poor nutrition has caused rates of non-communicable diseases to
soar.
With
climate change, the health of our people will probably worsen before improving.
For example, malaria is reported to be
spreading in the highlands where it was unheard of before.
Food
security is being pursued at all levels globally, particularly in relations to
threats posed by climate change.
What
is unfolding in the Horn of Africa is evident enough for us to work towards
sustaining food security.
We
need have appropriate policies and investment to for sustained food security.
PNG and other Pacific
island countries face many challenges: land scarcity, water shortages, and crop
vulnerability from climate change.
Achieving productivity
improvements in the face of these pressures certainly is a challenge.
While
we remain relatively food secure, the present situation cannot be used as an
excuse for inaction.
Under
business as usual, food insecurity will increase in all dimensions.
We need to invest now
for long-term food security.
We need to help smallholder farmers to
diversify crops and livestock, create local markets, improve postharvest
skills, better manage their water resources, and improve their nutrition.
We need to develop new
technologies to bolster drought tolerance, pests and disease resistance and
improve crop yield.
Developing countries
have been criticised for turning a blind eye when it comes to investing in
agriculture in general, and particularly in food security.
PNG is no exception.
This has to change.
It is important for us
to invest now for long term food security.
While sustaining food
security remains a challenge, we can work towards it by pooling our resources
and efforts together.
We have to reach more
farmers and communities, and multiply our impact.
We
have the resources.
We
have an advantage because of our huge resource base and
potentials which are yet to be explored.
We are fortunate to
have organisations like NARI has made modest advances on the technology front
in terms of improved varieties and practices for a range of agricultural
commodities and environments.
There is a huge
potential in applying modern biotechnology, processing techniques and value
adding, and linking farmers to markets.
Much of these can be achieved through appropriate
policy, capacity development and adequate investment.
There must
be concerted efforts, by the government and the people to help ourselves.
The primary responsibility naturally
lies on our own hands.
We
certainly know what needs to be done.
We
need to pool our resources together and rededicate ourselves to achieving a
sustained food security.
