This member contributed to:
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The export restrictions within the concerned African country can enhance food security in the short run because Governments are ensuring food availability and accessibility for their people. This however has to be temporary because the export restrictions affect neighbouring countries that are food importers in that food becomes expensive due to limited availability. It means the people with low incomes might not access such foods due to the high cost leading to malnutrition. For countries within the same Regional Economic Community for example East African Community (EAC), the export restrictions should be avoided so as to build trade between member countries.
WTO disciplines on export restrictions should be stricter, but this depends on whether they can be enforced. There some instances where the WTO discipline may not be considered; for example developing and Least Developed Countries were allowed flexibilities to institute export restrictions if there is likelihood of food insecurity within their countries.
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Ms. Harriet Nsubuga
Dear Moderator,
Agriculture would be the best avenue for the poorest of the poor to eradicate poverty in their households. Unfortunately, if we consider some factors of production that is; land, labour, capital and technology; they only have manual labour available. Most of them are landless, capital is not easily accessible because they lack security to offer to fellow farmers or financial institutions. Technology like improved seed, equipment, agro-inputs and even extension workers require finances.
If we are to support the poorest of the poor, they could be trained in activities that provide labour in form of casual or full-time employment in the agricultural sector; hence get income for food security and improving their livelihood. For example;
Note: Those jobs are done by the private sector, however, if we deliberately train them, then they could be a resource that can be used in the communities.
For the women, activities can include sorting and grading of fruits and vegetables, flowers and grains. The usual farm activities like weeding, harvesting and drying are possibilities. There might not be training to become well-known for the job as is the case for the men though.
Harriet
Harriet Nsubuga Mpanga
Agribusiness Development Specialist