Why We Face Food and Water Crisis - Coursework Example

Part I Historical Trends of Agric Production Until the advent of the twentieth century, the most widely held policy explaining the increase in agriculture food production was the result of a proportionate increase in the total cultivation area. Food production was characterized by the use of primitive technologies that had little impact on gross output. There was a significant paradigm shift after science and technology came into the scene, creating an entirely new dispensation in the annals of global food production, precipitated by the industrial revolution. Developed nations were among the greatest beneficiaries of the new dispensation of increased food productivity in sharp contrast to countries in the global south that had not even been brought into the picture. Several decades down the line, it can be said that the level of responsiveness by the developing world has not being very significant. For reasons explained later in this essay, it is glaring that even in contemporary times the degree of responsiveness needed to facilitate this transition is not monumental enough to effect the needed changes. An integral element of the adoption of new technological approach to food production was the sporadic increase in global population1. Rationally, an increase in population produces a consequent upsurge in the demand for resources which obviously includes food and water. Notwithstanding the perspective from which this issue is viewed it still does not defeat the argument that exponential population explosion placed a strain on the global food stock, consequently fuelling the need to explore other opportunities through renewed research efforts. Having said this, it is therefore undisputable that there is a direct relationship between high population growth and research tailored agric development. A minor but equally relevant factor was a general increase in consumer income level causing increased in demand. Models of Agriculture Development Hitherto, the shift in agricultural production policy from the orthodox policies of clinging to the believe in agriculture production being static as opposed to the new model of dynamism in agriculture production, the general annual output level was estimated to be within 0.5% to 1%. With changes in models however, it upwardly adjusted to approximately 3% within the first few decades after the massive shift in policy model gears. The gains from the dynamism principle motivated the new to steadfastly seek innovation, which eventually culminated into the input model popularized in the early 1960s. Based on the funfair and pageantry that heralded the success of the new technology dispensation, there was an attempt to conduct a wholesale transfer of the new technologies to areas that were technologically fallow. Unknown to this policy, was the fact that geographical differences simply would not permit this agenda owing to differences in consumer preferences, topographic and climatic factors2. Interestingly, the very factors that necessitated the quest for technological breakthroughs to surmount the pressure brought on global food stock by the population explosion did not just leave with the introduction of a new technological model or another, hence the need to persist in the quest to permanently resolve the challenge. Therefore in the 1970s, a new approach that emphasized on the need to pursue an institutional change from within as part of the overall agenda to increasing global food capacity became the talk of the day. It proposed a multifaceted approach to food production and security. In literal terms, the approach was not holistically new, in view of the fact that it incorporated some elements of the so-called “green revolution” to describe its modus operandi. My essay will lack its basic merit, should I fail to stress the unique place of the green revolution as a major policy model that changed the cause of history. Against all odds, the green revolution was in direct response to the imminent food crisis that threatened to annihilate humanity. Its core principle was the need to pursue vigorous research in agric and food technology. As the revolution got under way, evidence of its success was heavily felt by the new improved varieties of staple crops such as wheat and rice. Global food stocks begun to witness an upward move as the new varieties served to offset the threatening unprecedented demand. As per the assertion in the previous paragraphs, the transfer of the revolution to South Southeast Asia was a widely acclaimed success in view of the fact that it brought about massive social transformation through improved poverty reduction, in stark contrast to the earlier pessimistic forecasts. As the praise of the green revolution was being sung in Asia, an entirely opposite effect was being displayed in Sub Saharan Africa. Among the reasons for the poor performance was Africa’s primary dependence on rainfed agriculture, food crop diversity, policy discrimination against agriculture and poor infrastructure. Policy Constraints Food sufficiency and security has become a topical issue in global food policy circles which calls for aggressive methods of combating the crisis. Inasmuch as there is an urgent need to restore sanity, there still remain a number of hurdles that can never be over looked if the process will be sustainable. A further reason for this point is the fact that the challenges of contemporary societies are in many ways different from what existed about five decades ago. A case in point is the ongoing debate about the policy of using consumer grains to serve as biofuel3, causing prices to soar. The question of population explosion resurfaces when discussing the ongoing limitation to the process of achieving food sufficiency. There is no point arguing against, the positive gains of research in agric. A critical concern is the inability of research facilitated development to meet up with the rate of population growth—a living threat to future planning process. Concerns about environmental degradation owing to the intensification of agric production are another threat to future food security efforts. Suffice to address the subject of water scarcity under this category even though, by its complexity deserves to be discussed under an independent forum4. Food production is progressively being threatened in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, thus making irrigation an inevitable substitute for developing countries. Health and global climate changes put together poses a new breed of threat to food security efforts. There is a wealth of research that has being published on these topics. Part II In this second part, my attention will be focused on concisely analyzing the most salient points raised in the fist part, by identifying where these points are either covertly in harmony with my personal assessment of the crisis and where I have credible reasons to prove that they are in serious conflict with my independent opinion, I will make them known. Let me begin by stating that notwithstanding all the reasons outlined for the food and water crisis in the fist part, an integral point that is conspicuously absent is the fact that the current crisis is clearly a question of managerial lapses. It boarders on the lack of coherence between previous international policies with contemporary policies. For instance, it is unclear whether globalization and its attendant economic and social imbalances is a welcomed friend or a dreaded foe. Agriculture and its policy variations have generated considerable controversy in the area of subsidy, where the effects are mixed5. Food security and its sustainability can never be guaranteed under existent conditions whereby food producers continue to be afflicted by ill-health. It is a good point well espoused in the previous part, which I agree in totality. A significant chunk of local farmers particularly in the developing world suffer serious setbacks to their annual productive lives due to various diseases. The HIV-AIDS menace is currently on a devastating spread in Africa, especially in areas south of the Kalahari Desert. Undoubtedly, if the human resource is rendered physically infirm then total farm productivity will take a fatal nose dive. A case strongly advocated in the first part as a reason for the crisis is an increase in income levels. I find this reason very lame in many respects, against the backdrop that increased income levels and economic prosperity has not prevented people from starving across the world, a visible contravention of the tenets of democratic governance.6 The irony is sharply resolved against the unilateral decision by rich nations to adopt the use staple grains and cereals for their energy needs. A decision which is utterly untenable. Nevertheless, in reference to the subject of water and its scarcity in the previous part of this essay, I share the sentiments that it has become a monstrous snare that is steadily looming to very large disastrous proportions if proactive measures are not adopted in a timely manner to curb it. The summary below will illuminate a brighter picture of the current crisis. Approximately half a billion inhabitants of the world living in twenty nine countries are presently battling severe water shortages It is estimated that 20% more than the current water level will be needed to feed the extra three billion people who will be living on earth in the next thirty years. Over half of the world’s water bodies are heavily polluted. The United Nations recognizing the magnitude of this crisis agrees that it will be the single major constraint to increase in food production. It is a very insidious subject that touches on a complex network of problems spanning from poverty, hunger, ecosystem destruction, desertification and even global unrest. A source of concern is based on the realization that, despite two thirds of the earth’s surface is covered with water a striking 97.5% of it is not fresh water. What is left of the fraction of the global fresh water deposits has the bulk of it sheltered in ice. Viewed superficially, the prospects for surmounting this crisis looks somewhat bleak. However, a careful evaluation of available options still leaves some window of hope, especially when it is understood that the existent crisis transcends the simple terms of water but boarders so much on management that will guide international policy options towards sustainability. It should resurrect from the ashes of the former principle of seeking spontaneous fix technological solutions to what is purely a “governance” challenge. Governments should seek to give water premium on national and international development agenda, by advocating for dynamic water storage projects, coupled with design innovations. Until the right measures are put in place, we as a people will continue to brazen on the brinks of a lingering human catastrophe that we may not have the resources to manage it. Read More