How countries can lessen burden of hunger on the poor

NAIROBI, KENYA: Today marks World Food Day and this year's theme is "Family farming: feeding the world, caring for the world." This theme was chosen to highlight and raise awareness of the problems of food insecurity worldwide, and to find solutions to the problem as a means of ridding the world of hunger.

The day also aims to create awareness about the urgent need for changes to our agriculture and food supply methods.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation has themed the event on the important role that smallholder farmers can play in feeding the world.

In the poorest parts of Africa and Asia, continents commonly ravaged by famine and hunger, small family farms account for almost 80 per cent of all food production.

Part of the Millennium Development Goals is to ensure that the number of people who suffer from hunger and starvation is significantly reduced by the end of 2015.

To put an end to the erroneous perception that Africa is a hopeless continent dependent on foreign aid for survival, mechanisms must be effected to lessen the burden of hunger and famine.

Africa must address the issues of political instability, armed conflict and lack of clear-cut policies to boost food production.

The continent has the potential but lacks political goodwill to progress. Armed conflict in the trouble spots of Africa has ensured that land is not tended to with the ultimate aim of increasing food production.

In Kenya, the day is being celebrated at a time when thousands of people are faced with starvation or dying of it as famine continues to bite in parts of Baringo, Turkana and Isiolo among other counties.

The sad part is that as the scourge of hunger bites, there is little evidence that the Government is doing anything. These areas are not only hit by food shortages but drought as well.

When the warring communities of northern Kenya move in search of water and pasture, there is bound to be armed conflict.

Vagaries of nature, besides man-made conflicts, affect food production; the reason why climate change must be everybody's concern.

The Government is duty bound to facilitate and encourage food production that is not entirely dependent on the availability of rain.

Irrigation farming in a country like Israel, once a desert, has ensured that it is food sufficient; to an extent it produces surplus grain for export.

Small-scale farmers, through Government programmes, should be encouraged to move away from traditional methods of farming and espouse scientific methods that guarantee good yields. The use of approved fertiliser after soil acidity is ascertained can go a long way in ensuring that the crop stays healthy.

The tendency by most farmers to grow only maize should also be discouraged. It is necessary to plant other crops, some of which are actually drought resistant.

Years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture had extension workers who toured villages to ensure that farmers followed instructions.

That department should be revived to help farmers for the country to become food sufficient.

It would also be of great help if the Government subsidised seed and fertiliser.