Economist: Improve food access to alleviate poverty

CEBU, Philippines - Once challenges in the Asian food security have been addressed, it is seen to contribute to poverty alleviation in the region.

This observation was given during one of the plenary sessions in the recently concluded 27th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.

David Dawe, senior economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization Agricultural Development Economics Division and Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said in his presentation that improved economic access to food means more income and lower food prices.

He cited, however, that lower food prices for consumer could be considered as a food price dilemma since it means less income for farmers.

He then clarified that food security is not just about agriculture but involves a situation when all people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life at all times.

Although income growth has been rapid and poverty has declined in Asia, he said that food prices have recently been increasing especially in South Asia.

Dawe cited that the Gross Domestic Product growth in East Asia and Pacific is recorded to be over seven percent from 1990 to 2011 while South Asia has posted over four percent of growth.

Poverty rates, on the other hand, decreased from almost 80 percent in 1981 to less than 20 percent in 2008.

Domestic prices for grains such as rice, wheat and maize increased to an index of almost 150 from 2007 to 2011.

Aside from food inflation, he said other challenges in the sector include climate change, increasing scarcity and quality of land and water, urbanization, higher oil prices, population growth and demand for biofuels.

To resolve the food price dilemma, Dawe recommended that farming should become more profitable without relying on higher prices by becoming more productive through agricultural research and development, rural roads, and education.

He further suggested predictable policy environment that encourages farmers to invest and improved sanitation and access to clean drinking water.

He also noted that the trade sector probably needs to be more open due to climate change issues. — (FREEMAN)