Ensuring that the trade of agricultural and food products improves nutrition in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Atlantic (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe) and the Indian Ocean (Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zanzibar) met since yesterday at Colbert Hotel in Antaninarenina, under the auspices of the Ministries involved in food production, food security, nutrition, industry and trade, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The inextricably links between trade and nutrition
Food imports have become an increasingly important source of food in Small island Developing States (SIDS). Half of all SIDS worldwide import more than 80% of their food needs. This high and growing dependence on food imports has raised significant concerns. It has been identified as a key factor that increases the vulnerability of SIDS to external shocks by negatively affecting incentives for longer-term investments in agriculture and food; and by reducing the nutritional quality of diets by stimulating the consumption of dense energy foods rich in sugars, fats and salt, contributing to a transition from traditional commodities and fruit and vegetables to processed products and products of animal origin. This reduction in nutritional quality is considered to be the main factor behind the sharp rise in obesity and micronutrient deficiencies and the challenge of the triple burden of malnutrition (chronic malnutrition / undernutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, obesity) observed in the majority of SIDS.
What interests for Madagascar?
"Madagascar is not yet among the Small Island Developing States group," the Secretary General of the Ministry to the Presidency in charge of Agriculture and Livestock, but as the Representative of FAO said, "this island is facing the same problems from the climate change effects as the others one". Madagascar has an agricultural potential not sufficiently exploited to enrich its population. Nearly one child in two in Madagascar is considered to be at risk of stunting. Overall micronutrient deficiencies are about 52% of pre-schoolers with vitamin A deficiency and 32% of women of childbearing age are estimated to be anemic. According to the study on the Cost of hunger, malnutrition equates to a loss of more than 3,300 billion Ariary, more than one and a half billion dollars a year, that is to say almost 15 percent of its GDP.
What potential solutions?
A strategy of significantly increased food self-sufficiency is unlikely to be realistic for most SIDS. However, a strategy of managed trade, with some rebalancing of the ratio of imports towards domestic or intraregional production could help to improve the supply and competitiveness of more nutritious foods, improve diet quality and reduce the growing burden on health care systems, according to the majority of participants and the discussions held. The countries will draw up action plans in order to make more concrete progress in the implementation of the solutions identified.