The newest
edition of the State of Food Insecurity in the World series by FAO presents updated
estimates of undernourishment and progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and World Food Summit (WFS) hunger targets. A total of 842
million people in 2011–13, or around one in eight people in the world, were
estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger, regularly not getting enough
food to conduct an active life. The MDGs are within reach for many developing
regions as a whole although there are significant differences across regions
and considerable and immediate efforts are needed to achieve them.
The 2013
report goes beyond measuring food deprivation. It presents a broader suite of
indicators that aim to capture the multidimensional nature of food insecurity,
its determinants and outcomes. This taxonomy gives a more nuanced picture of
the world states' food security status as well as impacting on the
implementation of targets and the establishment of effective policy measures by
policy makers, that will eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.
Food security dimensions at the national level
Drawing on
the suite of indicators which captures the various dimensions of hunger
(availability, access, utilization and stability), the report also examines the
diverse experiences of six countries (Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Nicaragua, Tajikistan and Uganda) in more detail, finding a mixed picture of
progress and setbacks. Bangladesh, Ghana and Nicaragua have all managed to halve the
prevalence of undernourishment since the beginning of the 1990s. Although many
factors comes into consideration, this progress is largely due to the
commitment of consecutive governments to long-term rural development and poverty
reduction that has shaped the dynamics of change. Nepal, although in a state of conflict, for a long
time is now on track to meet MDG1.
On the
other end,Tajikistan and Uganda seem unlikely to reach the target. Uncomplete
land reform in Tajikistan and low agricultural productivy in Uganda being
the main obstacles.
Although their path have been different, the experiences of
these 6 countries show the importance of social protection and
nutrition-enhancing interventions, policies to increase agricultural
productivity and rural development, diverse sources of income and long-term
commitment to mainstreaming food security and nutrition in public policies and
programmes.
The report also highlights the impact of remittances, which
have globally become three times larger than official development assistance,
on poverty and food security. This report suggests that remittances can help to
reduce poverty, leading to reduced hunger, better diets and, given appropriate
policies, increased on-farm investment.
Links to the reports
Ousmane Aly DIALLO
