This year marks the half-way point for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the ambitious set of global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. These 17 goals aim to address today’s most pressing challenges and put the world on the right track. Sustainability goals are to reduce poverty, improve access to health care and education, and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change by 2030. What, however, is the realization of the fundamental goal of eliminating food insecurity [la situación de personas que no saben de dónde vendrá su próxima comida]Many of the advances made over the past decade have been reversed.
When the SDGs were launched, the goal of eliminating food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide within 15 years seemed ambitious but achievable. By then, the hunger rate had been declining for more than two decades, thanks largely to increased agricultural productivity and global economic growth.
More information
However, in recent years the world has been gripped by a series of deepening, intersecting crises, from the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine to extreme weather events caused by climate change. As a result, hunger has skyrocketed worldwide, and the poorest people are suffering the most.
About 735 million people are food insecure, according to a new UN report, an increase of 122 million since 2019. It is alarming that seven countries (Somalia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen) are now suffering from food insecurity Fall is on the brink of famine. Not only will we not be able to achieve zero hunger by 2030, we are even worse off than we were in 2015.
Where do we go from this point? To end hunger, we must first recognize who the majority of the world’s poor are and understand where most of their food comes from. The answer to both questions is surprisingly simple.
Small farmers make up the vast majority of the world’s poorest people and also produce most of the food consumed in many developing countries. These farmers have been hit hard by the crises of the last few years and have also faced systemic challenges that have kept them trapped in poverty and food insecurity. But the current crisis also harbors an opportunity. By supporting small farmers, the international community could take important steps to end world hunger.
Small farmers make up the vast majority of the world’s poorest people and produce most of the food
Governments and international institutions can help small farmers in various ways and eliminate global food insecurity. First, most small farms in developing countries produce crops that are disproportionately low compared to similar crops in developed countries. This is in large part because these farmers lack basic inputs such as improved seeds and organic fertilizers. This situation is particularly evident in sub-Saharan Africa, where staple crop yields are significantly lower compared to the world average. Therefore, improved access to quality agricultural inputs, especially those that help farmers adapt to climate change, could significantly improve food security.
Second, lack of access to credit prevents most small farmers from buying improved agricultural inputs or investing in their farms. It would be helpful to have more global support for the programs they fund.
Third, small farmers typically harvest their produce once or twice a year. This means that food has to be stored for months to ensure supplies until the next harvest. Due to limited access to proper storage technology, staple grains are often subject to damage from insects, mold and other pests, leading to post-harvest losses and household hunger. These smallholders need better access to advanced storage options, including inexpensive, hermetically sealed bags that can preserve produce for longer periods of time, eliminating the need to potentially treat stored grain with insecticides. harmful.
Finally, they need better access to viable markets for their agricultural products that would allow them to go beyond subsistence and build a reliable livelihood. The international community, together with public and private sector actors, must do more to strengthen local capacities and encourage investment in agricultural value chains. This would give a larger number of small farmers the opportunity to develop sustainable productive and commercial activities.
Despite the enormous challenges ahead, the goal of eradicating hunger remains achievable. In September, world leaders will assess progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals at the UN General Assembly. If we are to create a world without hunger, supporting agriculture and small farmers must be high on the agenda.
Jordan Dey He is CEO of GrainPro, a social enterprise that works to ensure that agricultural products are dried, stored and transported in an organic and chemical-free way.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2023.
English translation: Rocío L. Barrientos
you can follow future planet In TwitterFacebook, Instagram and TikTok and subscribe to our “Newsletter” here.