Food Security: Challenges and Solutions

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” - (World
Food Summit– 1996)
The world population has reached 8 billion and it is expected to keep climbing at a rate of about 1% every decade
until at least 2050. A growing number of people means having more mouths to feed. The number of people
battling acute hunger and suffering from malnutrition is alarming, highest in the last seven years. The global
economic shocks set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine, together with
weather extremes and armed conflicts in some countries, are driving millions of people into acute food insecurity
and malnutrition.
Food Security:
The United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) describes ‘food security’ as a situation in which
“all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food
that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life”.
Global food security situation: Chronic food insecurity:
According to World Bank latest Data-
 Domestic food price inflation remains high around the world. Information from the latest month between
February 2023 and May 2023 for which food price inflation data are available shows high inflation in
most low- and middle-income countries, with inflation higher than 5% in in 63.2% of low-income
countries, 79.5% of lower-middle-income countries, and 67% of upper-middle-income countries, with
many experiencing double-digit inflation.
 In addition, 78.9% of high-income countries are experiencing high food price inflation. The most-affected
countries are in Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. In real
terms, food price inflation exceeded overall inflation in 80.1% of the 166 countries.
 Maize, wheat, and rice prices are 8%, 11%, and 3% higher, respectively, than in January 2021.
 On July 17, 2023, Russia announced that it would not renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). The
markets had anticipated Russia's move because of ongoing geopolitical tensions, so grain markets
exhibited minimal immediate response to Russia's withdrawal, with future prices for key grains and
oilseeds increasing.
 India’s rice export ban comes at a time of heightened global concerns about international global food
prices following Russia’s exit from the BSGI. India is the world's dominant rice exporter (accounting for
nearly 40% of the global rice market), it could cause considerable increases in world prices and induce
price volatility.
 Approximately 9.2% of the world’s population faced hunger in 2022, compared with 7.9% in 2019.
Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 29.6% of the global population (2.4 billion people) in 2022,
with 11.3% being severely food insecure. Food insecurity disproportionately affects women and people
in rural areas. More than 3.1 billion people worldwide (42%) were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021
(134 million more than in 2019).
Challenges of food security:
 The 2022 GRFC identified conflict and insecurity as the primary driver of acute food insecurity.
 Climate variability and weather extremes.
 Economic shocks initiate economic slowdowns or downturns with broad food security impacts.

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  The war in Ukraine continues to be a source of uncertainty for global agricultural markets. Considering
the leading role of both countries, it is clear that the war has resulted in a number of new risks to food and
agricultural markets and trade.
 Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, trade-related policies imposed by countries have surged. The
global food crisis has been partially made worse by the growing number of food trade restrictions put in
place by countries with a goal of increasing domestic supply and reducing prices.
 As of June 5, 2023, twenty countries have implemented 27 food export bans, and 10 have implemented
14 export-limiting measures.
 Urbanization is driving changes in agrifood systems, presenting challenges and opportunities.
World Bank Action to reduce food insecurity:
As part of a comprehensive, global response to the food security crisis, in April 2022 the World Bank announced
that it is making up to $30 billion available over a period of 15 months, including $12 billion in new projects.
The financing is to scale up short- and long-term responses along four themes to boost food and nutrition security,
reduce risks, and strengthen food systems: (i) support producers and consumers, (ii) facilitate increased trade in
food and trade inputs, (iii) support vulnerable households, and (iv) invest in sustainable food and nutrition
security.
Food security situation in Bangladesh:
According to Bangladesh IPC Chronic Food Insecurity Report (June 2022)-
 Bangladesh has made significant progress in food security in recent years compared to many of its Asian
counterparts, with over 58.5 million people, representing 36% of the total population, facing Mild Chronic
Food Insecurity.
 Nearly 35 million people, representing 21% of the total population of Bangladesh, face Moderate and
Severe Chronic Food Insecurity, of which 11.7 million people, or 7% of the total population face Severe
Chronic Food Insecurity and 23.1 million people, or 14% of the total population, face Moderate Chronic
Food Insecurity.
Bangladesh is suffering from severe localised food insecurity owing to economic constraints, refugee influx,
floods and high prices of important food items, said Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Government’s action to ensure food security in Bangladesh:

Source: The Business Standard

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Recommendations:
 Urgent action is required to implement safety net programmes to improve the quality and quantity of food
consumed by households.
 Strong institutional safeguard for proper monitoring of food market.
 In the short term, countries in crises need to be supported with urgent humanitarian assistance and be able
to provide effective social protection measures to improve food security and nutrition for their populations
and protect livelihoods.
 Over the longer term, investments in agriculture, rural development, trade systems, information and
communication technologies, health and education in order to reduce vulnerabilities and build
households’ resilience to withstand shocks are critically needed.
 Uncertainty, associated with increased climate variability, calls for the adoption of sustainable agricultural
practices and other innovative approaches, including climate-smart and conservation agriculture, and
strategies and investment plans to boost their adoption by farmers and enhance the productivity, income
and resilience of smallholder farmers in a sustainable way.
 Although there is no “one size fits all” solution, a range of workable options exists. However, any
transformation will only succeed if accompanied by a conducive enabling environment, sound policies
and inclusive
It is heartening to see that the Bangladesh government has taken strong steps to protect the economy from the
adverse effects of Covid-19, offering recovery packages worth more than a trillion Taka to different sectors.
However, more attention is required for the agriculture sector in order to ensure food security for all in post-
pandemic Bangladesh. Ensuring food safety including other foods does need lot of hard work from the part of
duty holder. Governments, dealers, traders and food minister have to ensure the quality and nutrition of food.
“Bangladesh is among 45 countries that require external assistance for food as they lack the resources to
deal with reported critical problems of food insecurity.”- FAO.

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