Should
African governments take steps to review Food Aid Policy?
By
Antony Simbowo
Hunger and famine is
nothing new in the 21st century Sub Saharan Africa. Across
the continent, from the north to the south, many countries cry for
food aid yearly due to conditions escalated by adverse weather
conditions.
In the East and Horn
of Africa, famine has left lasting negative impressions on the food
security scene across the years as millions die due to inadequate or
complete lack of food. Food Aid Policy interventions have been
employed in various scenarios where such inadequacies have been
experienced. Started in the 1950s, Food Aid Policy came from the
Comrade Law, which is often known as the PL 480.
Food Aid Policy
usually ranks countries depending on the degree of need and prefers
assistance either in the form of food or monetary help. The food
security sector has been transformed over the last 50 years as
weather patterns, which, influence agriculture and farming trends,
change. This has meant that countries affected by food shortages
invest in intervention mechanisms to counter the adverse effects of
drought, famine and hunger. While the Food Aid Policy greatly caters
for the deprive3d in the African continent, it has witnessed many
challenges along the way due to issues of logistical, social and
economic nature.
Dr. Christopher Gor,
an Agricultural Economist and Lecturer avers that only about 50% of
food aid reach those who need it. Also fronted is the fact that it
creates dependency in the consumption-demand-supply chain. Long term
intervention procedures need to be put in place by governments in
terms of irrigation and the general development of the agricultural
industry.
The food
distribution channels are complicated and this has meant that some of
those affected by hunger donot live long enough to get the food. As
such, what many experts are asking for is the review of the half a
century old Food Aid Policy. In this, Non Governmental Organizations
and corporate have been pivotal in developing livelihoods programmes
that look into the long term improvement of food security through
enhancement of agricultural productivity via irrigation, commercial
farming and the application of soil conservation mechanisms. African
governments are expected to put in more effort towards modifying the
food Aid Policy to suit the needs of their citizens.
– – –
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 02:07:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: Volunteer Work