Crunching the numbers

Friday, 16 October 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE right to food is one of the basic of human rights, and today, as we celebrate World Food Day, it is important to take a look at how much is being done to eradicate hunger.

According to the Food and Agriculture (FA) Organisation of the United Nations, roughly 805 million people live in chronic hunger – 60% of whom are women. There are nearly five million children under the age of 15 who lose their lives due to malnutrition-related causes each year. Four in 10 children in poor countries suffer from malnutrition are in danger of damaging their bodies and brains.

However, according to the 2015 Global Food Security Index (GFSI), during the past year, food security has improved in almost every region of the world. ‘The 109-country average score rose 1.2 points, with two-thirds of countries making progress from a year earlier. Driving the gains were sustained economic expansion in most regions and rapid growth in developing countries (especially in Sub-Saharan Africa—SSA), combined with lower global food prices. Government investments in agriculture and infrastructure—begun in the wake of the food price shocks of 2007-08—have also been crucial to improving food security,’ states the report.

Common elements observed among countries that have made the most amount of progress include decreased dependence on food safety-net programs, expanded crop storage capacity, lower levels of post-harvest/pre-consumer food loss, greater diet diversity and better access to high-quality protein sources. The report notes that political stability risk also decreased in a number of low-income and lower-middle-income countries, allowing them to focus on developing and sustaining structures that support food security.

The GFSI for this year has ranked Sri Lanka at no. 63 out of 109 countries (we were 62 in 2012 out of 105 countries), with an overall score of 53.7. In contrast, neighbouring India is ranked 68 with an overall score of 50.9. It is also worth noting, Sri Lanka has fared better than India in affordability (66 vs. 72), availability (=49 vs. 58) and quality and safety (78 vs. 79).

According to the Index, our strengths include an urban absorption capacity and nutritional standards, each with a perfect score of 100.0. We have also done well in terms of volatility of agricultural production (92.5), food loss (90.4) and food safety (83.2). Sri Lanka has scored modestly in areas of agricultural infrastructure (69.4) and access to financing for farmers (a mere 50.0). Our weaknesses include the quality of protein in our food (just 12.9), gross domestic product per capita (scored 11.7) and a big 0 for public expenditure on agriculture R&D.

Considering Sri Lanka is still licking its wounds from a 30-year war and a series of natural disasters, this is really not an unenviable position to be in. In addition, food security in Sri Lanka is heavily threatened by the cost of food with the main complaint against successive governments being that they have been incapable of keeping prices moderate. An inconsistent and expensive transport network also makes food expensive with post-harvest losses regularly hitting the 40% mark.

Unless food security issues are addressed in a meaningful and sustainable manner, Sri Lanka’s placement on indexes will remain limited to a pointless number.