FAO’s bold appeal on ending hunger in Horn of Africa timely

The UN agency focuses first on agricultural policies and also on targeted investments in climate resilience as the key parameters of any sustainable effort to contain epidemic food insecurity, on the basis of remarks by UN Kenya representative Gabriel Rugalema. He talked about ‘robust policy frameworks, increased funding and technology adoption’ as required to enhance food production i n the Horn of Africa region amid harsh climatic conditions there.

From the viewpoint of climate change and the sort of situation found in the region as a whole, what is surprising isn’t epidemic food insecurity but resilience of grassroots markets, that outside situations of mass conflict as in South Sudan and largely in Somalia, famines are not frequent. There is an unquestionably low level and nutritionally deficient food consumption levels, and in the case of Tanzania, well outside the targeted region, the rate of stunting for primary school going children at first inscription is estimated to hover around a third of all registered pupils. It is hence obvious that one is talking of hunger in Africa generally, not necessarily tied to the Horn.

Elaborating, the representative talked about climatic shocks, outdated agricultural policies and under-investment in resilience projects, which “have undermined efforts to feed a growing population in the region.” 

That remark augments the previous point of caution, as many would point out that ecologically speaking the region can still feed a certain level of population despite climatic challenges, in which case the real issue is exponential rates of population growth. That is part of the sort of ideological paraphernalia of climate change skeptics, who would tell Africa and some other parts of the world to get their population growth checked, not cry about climate.

The one aspect where the representative’s remarks were tangible, that is, focusing on something quite specific, was in relation to technology-driven agriculture, “accompanied by streamlining key value chains like storage, distribution and marketing as key to end the hunger crisis in the region.”

 The part about outdated policies was hard to put one’s finger into what it constituted in, while at times when the issue is discussed, it reverts to the more technical issue of services to rural producers, rather than socioeconomic structures involved and their impact on productivity. In the remarks for instance, productivity seems to be tied up with investment, resilience projects. It is hence evident that the UN agency’s intervention on the issue is timely, but it doesn’t go far enough as UN agencies are not mandated to think out policies but embellishments to existing policies, in reflection of the sovereign character of its membership, unlike in the case of NGOs. 

In that case outdated policies will be noted at country level on the basis of constant evaluation of government action and how this overflows into democratic space, especially policy debates for general elections. 

Years of conferences for instance during the fourth  phase  government yielded little in the sphere of attitude change, but overall public pressure and rising comparative advantage of opposition led to a new dispensation at the ruling party level. One sees various countries in Africa dotted with action-minded governments pushing for governance change and improvement in many areas. The policy part is more intractable, but finally it will be addressed.