Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: How can the hidden costs and benefits of agrifood systems be effectively incorporated into decision-making for transformation?

Dear Team

I encountered different difficulties that prevented my intention to contribute to the request call on food system.

I have to travel to the rural areas after you let me submit my input even after the deadline for which I apologize for the inconvenience

I cannot provide structural contribution related to the set of question and comment on the submitted contribution. But, I want to reflect what I think as key challenge in my experience which may also apply to other, Hence, have a look at the below input and If you find something useful you can integrate it into the appropriate question or contribution

1. Concept and practice of food system I not adequately understood 

As you know, food system entail from site election (appropriate agro ecology for the type of crop), land preparation, pre and post harvest crop protection, harvesting, transportation up to reaching the table and fork

Food security is also ill perceived to some extent  since mainly focused on food availability neglecting the other pillar. Nutrition also did not get sufficient attention on stunting of children under the age of 5 

Research revealed that 8% of child death, 36%of stunting, 21% underweight, 7.14 % wasted children and inclusive breast feeding by 58% since lactating mother are not getting nutritious food

Hence, conceptual clarity and practical guidance should be improved and nutrition be given due attention to overcome stunting and wasting

2. Post  harvest management challenge

Although systematic assessment findings are not available it is estimated that about 25% to 30% of the produced food are lost due to failure in supply chain management, packing material and storage. These lose is much higher in horticultural crop (vegetable and fruit) than cereal, pulses and oil crops. There I no refrigerated truck, no cold storage given the high perishability of vegetables and fruits. Hence pot harvest loss reduction should be given priority attention

3. Inadequate action on SDG

SDG achievement is only left with 7 years. But the extent of its achievement globally is not appreciable and worse in some countries. SDG achievement could have contributed to transformation of the food system (SDG2, SDG5, SDG 12, SDG 15 etc) can significantly  improve the food system

4. Huge price increase

Several factors may contribute to high price increase that is not affordable to buyers/consumers

  • The global Market
  • Conflict
  • Travel restriction to bring food from the producer to consumers
  • The middle men/Broker distorting the demand and supply chain 

As a result of the above marginalized group employ negative copping mechanism which affects their health and the environment they live in 

5. Lack of agricultural inputs  and insufficient action to promote Urban Agriculture

  • Unavailability of seed, fertilizer and agro chemical in sufficient quantity and at an affordable price force farmer to plant without the mentioned input resulting lo production decrease while farmer could have produced greater quantities with the application of required input
  • Lack of improved breeds in the livestock sector (cattle, shoats, poultry breeds)
  • Urban agriculture could contribute to food availability and reduction of solid ate by recycling them into fertilizer enhancing circular economy

6. Inadequate capacity of farmer organization (Cooperative, union) to promote technology and protect the interest of the constituency

7. Insufficient use of Solar, biogas energy to minimize deforestation despite available potential