The following can also be considered as indicators in servicing some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
1. Product Accessibility.
2. Product Affordability.
3. Satiety of the Products.
4. Long-term Sustainability of Product Supply.
5. Variety Production from the same Core Foods.
Varieties of products should be produced from the Core Foods and capable of providing satisfaction upon consumption (satiety). These products should be affordable and always accessible having assured its long-term sustainability in production and supply, thereby ensuring food security.
CHALLENGES AFFECTING THE IMPACTS OF PRIVATE SECTORS' CONTRIBUTION
1. Not all the Food and Allied Industry Players use the same Agricultural Indicators, both in the same and in different countries. Variations in the use of the indicators in many countries are equivalent to variations in impact/result.
2. There are discrepancies in standard amongst usable indicators available in most countries.
3. Absence of/little/inefficient monitoring and evaluation on the part of Standard Organizations/Agencies over the effectiveness and impacts of the agricultural indicators as adopted by the Food and Allied Industry Players.
4. Playing at variance and personalizing competition - the reason for the gap between standard and sub-standard products. The gap could be seen in product price differences, safety, and quality of comparable products. Most Private Sectors engage in open wars and can go to any length (including spiritual) to stop their perceived competitors, thereby seeking Monopoly with their blood. These seekers forgot that the world and the population therein are too large to accommodate several competitors of the same product.
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES ABOVE.
1. Just as we have 17 SDGs being projected and adopted by all countries of the world, we should also have enlisted Agricultural Indicators as well as their various standards of measurement for quantifiable results/impacts especially on the related SDGs. The list may be subjected to review in every two years with respect to Technology Advancement.
2. A particular indicator could have 2 - 3 evaluation methodology such that any country in the world must find at least one method that will give them equivalent/expected result/impact.
3. Every member country that adopted SDGs should be mandated to set up functional Standard Organization/Agency that will use the enlisted Agricultural Indicators as yardsticks in measuring the impacts by the Food and Allied Industry Players in achieving the SDGs.
4. Partnerships especially in terms of knowledge sharing and networking should exist between the various Private Sectors in the spirit of sportsmanship.
With regards;
ONYEODILI, ADINDU OLIVER.
Food Sci. & Tech. Graduate Student,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN.
M. Oliver Onyeodili