Food Security Policies
Prof. ALI ABDALRAHMAN ALI
President of the International Union for Development, Environment and Investment
It is considered of food security policies one of the most world active, which has an effective role and activist, and in the activation of certain policies, food security, through studies, research and food security projects in the world.
Where" Food security exists when all people at all times to access, both physical and economic adequate food , safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preferences Kate has an active and healthy life."
Implicit in this definition is the recognition that food security is a multi -dimensional, and there have been many formulations of what the components of food security, for example , identified CFS four key dimensions or " pillars":is to ensure the availability of , if not the production of sufficient quantities of materials food and ensures access to all the families and all individuals within those households have enough resources to get the proper foods(through the production , purchase, free). And ensure a nutritious diet. Use when the human body is able to absorb and metabolize food.
Diet nutritious and safe, biological and social environment adequate, and appropriate health care to avoid diseases help to make adequate food. Is to ensure stability is maintained when the three pillars of the other with the passage of time.
It has been noted by many experts on the need for a column on environmental sustainability, where patterns of production and consumption of food does not deplete natural resources or the ability of the agricultural system to provide enough food and supports many of all countries to support the financial year, prices of basic consumer goods, which support was introduced at an earlier stage back until World War II , but he skipped several attempts to fix it, and since then has taken attributes benefits Permanent. The targeted programs are rare.
By increasing financial support for food prices, and the imposition of price controls, and the reduction of exports, lowering import tariffs: for example, has been in some countries lowering tariffs on wheat to about zero, and has also been paying financial support for importers, while allowing others preferential import wheat from different countries. In some countries, have increased wages and salaries to help consumers overcome the effects of rising prices.
The question now is:
Does the rise in food prices to create some opportunities in the long term? Most of the poor are rural, and can rise in food prices when its continuation for years to help increase the income of the poor in rural areas and mobilize the economy.
The supply of food emotive issue, so countries in the region feel a real concern about food security.
The rise in prices could help accelerate the increase of productivity and increase local agricultural production. However, the issue of water is scarce in some areas, which requires governments to take action to help increase the efficiency of water use as well.
This means an increase crop yields by the unit of water. An increase in domestic production to help protect countries from the vagaries and fluctuations in commodity markets. But countries in the region also will need to continue to rely on imports and on global markets in order to ensure the supply of food.
They should strengthen their capacity to use: futures markets, options, futures, and other modern tools in order to help meet the needs of food and hedge against the risk of the supply side.
Governments of developing countries better to encourage small-scale agriculture in the new global environment, and what form of special and differential treatment may be required to allow them to do so?
"In many cases, the reforms have been achieved" successful"is not in isolation, but as a result of the implementation of policies associated with them. In drawing lessons from the reforms that are seen benefiting groups of food insecurity, or which say the least, and you do not have disadvantaged them, so it is important to identify complementary policies that facilitated the process of adaptation to more productive activities, and any countervailing policies that act to mitigate losses transitional groups is safe and has only faced a clearer understanding of the effects that are often obscured from trade reform on food security is therefore vital if the drivers of further reform to lead to changes for the benefit of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in poor countries.
It is acknowledged that reforms in sectors other than agriculture, it could have implications far more important both in terms of poverty reduction, through changes in income levels, and food security. It must focus on the agricultural sector and the impact that could be trade reform in its ability to contribute to the improvement of food security in the context of broader structural changes that result from the reforms.
This focus justified by explaining the multiple ways in which agriculture, which they can identify and promote national food security of households. While any trade agreement that alters the balance between trade liberalization and the protection of the particular good or service in the economy, can affect the levels of food security, reform of the relevant agriculture is particularly important for the following reasons:
(1) Agriculture is one of the central contributors to food security in most developing countries; both through its direct contribution to the availability of food, and indirectly as the main engine of economic development and thus improve access to food.
(2) Agriculture is one of the sectors most heavily distorted in many countries, and it has, as a result, has received considerable attention in recent rounds of trade negotiations.
Recommendation :
Need to be food security policies more dynamic and not static, the increasing global variables such as climate change, and changes in dietary patterns, and human behaviors rapidly, in addition to changes in the compositions crop, which requires change, food security commodities.
Phase that they key issues in food security policies and sustainable development policies.
To be involved in civil society organizations and media awareness programs on food security issues in the various communities, in coordination with international institutions and local government and the private sector.
Attention to some other hubs in addition to the main axes of food security, such as:
1. Coordination and integration with the institutions dealing with food security policies, whether domestic or international, and the involvement of civil society organizations.
B. Emphasized that there should be an infrastructure in order to maintain a sustainable food security.
2. Emphasis on tightening the control and inspection of markets by all means possible.
3.The involvement of community members in the development of alternatives to the goods of food security in line with the changing desires of individuals.
4. Controls critical to the operations of the various monopolies, and the reduction of high food prices, both in the case of goods imported or locally produced food.
5. Giving civil society organizations and a strong role in the control of certain markets food security.
6. Seize opportunities to achieve sustainable food security.
H. Emphasize transparency in the implementation of various food securities.
7. The fight against corruption in all images in the application of food security policies, in order to reduce the effects of poverty, hunger and disease.
Critical review of what is known from existing literature and other resources in order to facilitate better targeted research and analysis of developments in trade and food security at the national level.
To provide a conceptual framework for understanding how trade liberalization and economic reforms relevant could affect the national food security at household level.
Provide a practical framework for evaluating the results of previous policies, and to predict the outcome of future initiatives, at both the national and the food security of households.
Prevent unhealthy foods, or rationalization of consumption, or imposition tax them, or provide cash support for more nutritious foods, put laws regulating the work of the manufacturers, awareness to individuals about these foods .
Address the problem of food waste, which is now one of the problems most prevalent in the community, the depletion of natural resources scarce , and environmental costs and the serious economic and social, and there are many effective ways to reduce food waste, which can result in cost savings and environmental benefits in order to create sustainable food system .
Prof. Ali Abdalrahman