More people now go hungry globally

The recently published 'Global Food Policy Report (GBPR) 2023: Rethinking Food Crisis Responses' tell us, amongst other things that the world hunger has increased by 34.2 per cent over a seven-year period and the number of undernourished people has risen globally from 572 million in 2014 to 768 million in 2021. The report prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation sheds light on the fact that the issue of ensuring enough food supply to stave off malnutrition is not getting the required attention.

Things were bad enough before the pandemic because the fight to tackle undernourishment had somehow slipped under the global basket of critical issues that were prioritised to be tackled at policy level. Then came Covid-19 when the world turned on its head and after that the world is now faced with a war in Europe that shows no sign of halting any time soon. Added to all this of course are the extreme weather events that have shaken the world with untimely droughts, floods, extreme heat and extreme cold. When one takes into account the energy price shocks experienced by the world thanks unfortunately to the Russo-Ukrainian war, one can begin to start comprehending why food for the undernourished is hardly a priority issue for governments around the world, which are grappling with fiscal issues that affect entire economies.

So far as Bangladesh is concerned, the country is in doldrums footing the energy bill, a large percentage of which is now imported. The annual energy bill has crossed the US$10 billion mark and according to experts, should this foreign dependence on energy continue on its present trajectory, then the fuel import bill will hit $30 billion by 2030. The point being made here is that despite Bangladesh being more or less self-sufficient in food production, there will always be need to import essential edibles in the face of crop failures and other unforeseen climatic situations, but the money to import these stocks looks increasingly uncertain today. That is because most of the limited foreign exchange available is going off to meet as much of the fuel needs as possible.

Looking beyond energy, the fact that a country such as Bangladesh may produce enough for its population, market and supply chain distortions ensure that safe, sufficient and nutritious food for all Bangladeshis is not accessible. Rather, media reports over the last one year have pointed out rightly that the existence of market monopolies are on the one hand depriving food growers of their necessary profit margins, while on the other, the middle and lower-income groups in society are no longer able to maintain their daily healthy food intake. And although the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has tried to provide some help to city dwellers with their food trucks, the supply is a pittance against demand and impossible to service the massive urban populations. That leaves the rural people largely on their own, despite some food safety nets run by the government.

In the current economic climate, the significant devaluation of the Bangladesh Taka against the US dollar has played havoc with paying for food imports. As the GDP slows down in the current fiscal, the economy is being hammered by a multitude of factors, like growing trade deficit, continued high inflation, falling exports, reduced remittances, load shedding (energy scarcity) and higher prices for everything, it isn't difficult to imagine the plight of people with limited incomes. When it boils down to balancing the family budget, food is often the first to be curtailed because no compromises will be found on transportation costs or house rent or the energy bill (being regularly revised upward with zero oversight).

As one takes stock of global food supplies, the report mentions "South Asia has been affected by the global rise in food, fuel, and fertilizer prices. Food prices have risen sharply, contributing to food insecurity. In September 2022, the year-on-year consumer inflation rate for food was 66 percent in Sri Lanka, 36 percent in Pakistan, and about 8 percent in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal." The policymakers may feel contended with the rate of inflation, but the effects of price increases on a weekly basis in retail food markets in the city is plain for all to see. While it makes perfect sense to inaugurate the much-needed infrastructure projects all around the country, a large segment of the population would rather like to see some concrete actions taken to calm down the runaway inflation particularly on the food front for a change.

It is a matter of great pride that Bangladesh is taking giant steps (by Bangladeshi standards) to build world class bridges, a metro rail system, a tunnel that runs under a river (first in Bangladesh) and so many other crucial infrastructure projects. Yet, one can only wonder why the people are being put through such hardship! It is because a few greedy super-rich groups of business entities are getting away making obscene levels of profit from a hapless population! But then the poor are seldom seen with the compassion that every human being deserves. Who cares if they go hungry?

[email protected]