The rise in food prices across the world has been unprecedented and it is giving sleepless nights to those who need it and the governments alike.
Biofuels, climate change, natural calamities such as flood, increasing demand for food from growing nations such as India and China, all have been blamed as fundamental reasons for the food crisis. Normally, these cycles of demand and supply is known to balance on its on and keep prices at an acceptable levels. However, this time, it is predicted that global food prices are set to rise further and stay that way.
Even though the developing countries are the worst affected of the alarming price rise and food crisis, developed economies of the world are also considering it as a threat. World Bank President Robert Zoellick has warned that the situation could put up to a hundred million people into deeper poverty.
Rice and wheat price increased to double figures due to decreased production globally. US. President George W. Bush has ordered the aid of $200 million in U.S. emergency scheme to control food shortages in developing countries. The countries like India is facing severe crisis because rice is the staple food item of majority.
In Kerala, people suffer a severe crisis due to sky rocketing price. Each and every political party tries to use this as a weapon to attack the rival. Congress accuses the ruling LDF for its poor management of food crisis. LDF points its fingers to central government by saying that centre is not releasing more quota of rice to the state. This kind of tit for tat never made any sense to ordinary people.
At last, ruling front and opposition joined hands to approach the centre. But the result was not positive.
Globally, agriculture sector has been ignored. In US and Australia, production ratio decreased a lot. Nations are investing billions of dollars in industrial sectors. Present food crisis should be an eye opener to the world, according to Zoellick.
Meanwhile in Haiti; food price riots have prompted the government to take steps to cut the price of rice. Many other nations are also facing the similar situation. Food consumption has gone up in large amount in all countries. But according to the demand, many nations could not focus on increase in production. More over natural calamities caused havoc to many agriculture farms. These are the major reasons for the present crisis, according to experts. Present price rise in food items may be the reflection of global crisis.
But Kerala, the small state said to be very developed in many sectors, could have avoided the present crisis. Thousands of hectares of farm land have disappeared within a decade all over the state either due to loss in crops or used by land mafia to build flats and villas. The remaining land was kept untouched by farmers. Due to heavy loss and bankruptcy, farmers committed suicide in many parts.
Governments in the state promised many welfare schemes and projects for farmers. They still make new promises. But nothing became fruitful. People’s mindset, political issues have also become a setback to agricultural development.
Being an agricultural nation, we need as many as projects and policies that meant for the entire development of agricultural sector. But the governments failed in this. Recently the central government offered a scheme to write-off farmers bank debts. But this is not a long term strategy to revive agrarian crisis. People’s mindset also is very important in the development of agriculture. Many are still ignoring farm. Youths are not interested in crops. They are looking for white collar jobs.
Even the unemployed youths are not entering in farm sector. They are ready to work hard in deserted foreign lands. Majority of parents do not encourage their children to engage in farming. Women’s organizations have been concentrating on income generating programs (not agriculture). These are some of the factors that pull back Kerala in agricultural development.
The rise in production cost, the lack of long term strategic policy suitable for climate and geography also affect agriculture. Kerala is becoming more and more of a consumer society depending on neighboring states for all food items and other essential commodity.
Majority of people are addicted to comforts. They do not give consideration to farming more than just a time pass. But they can’t sleep without watching reality shows in TV. Price rise and food crisis can be tackled in one way or the other, but only if people pay some attention to agriculture.
Unwanted politicization also became a setback to Kerala’s agriculture development. In Kuttanad, farmers lost hectres of ripened paddy due to unexpected summer shower. Lack of labors had caused the delay in harvest.
Keralites should come forward as per the demands of the situation. Government should introduce long term strategies to attain self-sufficiency in food. Strict rules should be adopted against paddy field being misused for construction. A Kerala model in agriculture development is the need of the hour.
