Food Insecurity Problem in Senegal and the Welfare of the People - Essay Example

Running Head: FOOD SECURITY IN SENEGAL Food Security Paper Insert Name Title Date Introduction Food security is generally defined as food availability and the access of people to it. People can be said to have food security when they are not living in hunger or the fear of starving. According to the 1996 World Food Summit food security exists when “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. In ordinary terms the food security concept includes economic and physical access to food which meets the dietary needs of the people and their food preferences as well. Situation Senegal is a low income nation with pronounced food deficiencies. There are high levels of malnutrition with statistics showing that children below age 5 have a chronic malnutrition of about 16.4%. Rural areas have double the level of malnutrition when compared to the urban areas. ‘A vulnerability analysis and mapping’ study by the World Food Program, 46% of the Senegalese households have problems with food insecurity. 20% of them are considered to be highly vulnerable. The region of Casamance is of high vulnerability because it is a former conflict zone Goodman (1997). Poverty rates in this part of the country are the highest. Over 49% of the households in this area are taken to have a high vulnerability for food insecurity. In August 2008 2.1 million people from Senegal were reported to be in danger of food insecurity resulting from increased food prices which resulted from a poor harvest the previous year. The situation was expected to deteriorate and reports have shown that the situation has not change to date. In every ten households nine of them in the most affected areas of Oussouye, Sédhiou and Bignona have problems with taking care of their food needs in times of hunger. In places like Tivaouane eight in every 10 households have that problem while seven in ten face the same problem in Tambacounda, Rufisque, Linguère. Problem The majority of the households in these areas have been affected by extreme cases of poverty. Senegal being in West Africa and part of the Sahel region is affected by extreme poverty levels. It is rated among the poorest in the world. 34% of its entire people live on less than US$1.25 per day. It was also rated as number 144 out of 169 countries on the human development index of the United Nations Development Program. Poverty levels are high especially in the rural areas because of inequitable wealth distribution. Population pressure is another major problem Singer (1997). The population of Senegal is about 12.9 million of which 68% is below 25 years and 57% percent live in the rural areas. Productivity rates are low with underemployment and unemployment rates being reported to be so high for the youth. The annual population growth is at 3% and about 100,000 youths are released into the labor market every year. There is widespread illiteracy more among girls and women. All these problems fuel the levels of poverty in the country which is a major contributor to food security problems. Development in many areas has been hampered by environmental degradation. Food security in these areas is affected by accelerating cases of soil erosion, desertification and salinization (Brandt 1997). Agricultural prospects are destroyed due the impoverishment of soils through agricultural processes that are unfit. Cultivation without replenishment of the nutrients of the soils results in exhaustion of those soils. Consequently they cannot support crops for food production. Many of the soils are farmed year in and year out without getting time to rest. Due to poverty the farmers are unable to afford fertilizers which can be used to improve production. Excessive evaporation due to high temperatures in drought situations destroys the soils through salinization. Soils full of slats cannot support food crops to maturity. Drought and erratic rainfall disrupts agriculture in the country. Erratic rainfall is responsible for high levels of soil erosion and occasional floods which destroy soils and crops respectively Bonanno et al (1994). According to the World Bank, the vulnerability of Senegal is moderate as far as food security is concerned. The country has had food crisis episodes in its history such as the 2008 famine resulting from low rainfall. Food production went extremely low dues to this causing the prices of basic commodities to shoot up. In order to overcome such occurrences, women find strategies to help their families to cope like going for risky or low paying jobs for them to find food for their families. When this happens the food security situation is compounded because development is hindered because inequalities between women and men are reinforced Singer (1997). Since 1982, there has been a conflict in the Casamance region of southern Senegal where there are poor and geographically isolated regions. This separatist movement led conflict although taken to be of low density has ravaged this part of the country and the consequences have been felt in other parts of Senegal. Even though there was a peace agreement signed in 2004 development has been greatly hindered by conflict together with its outcome Zarges (1997). Traditionally Senegal’s food security relies on the exportation of ground nuts and fish products which are used to fetch income for the importation of wheat and rice. In 2007 for instance, about 60% of Senegal’s food requirements were imported. This was the highest in all West African countries. Events that have been taking place in Senegal have made the export import arrangement of Senegal to collapse. Between 2007and 2008 there was triple increase in rice prices on the local market. Grain prices grew by 50%. Consequently there were serious riots in the capital Dakar resulting from ‘the global food crisis.’ This situation was tackled by the huge subsidies made by the government on the prices of staple foods Mc Michael (1994). The groundnut industry also suffered a great deal as a result of variability in climate, soil degradation, and lack of investment by the government and reduced global prices. Reduced fish stocks in the waters have also undermined the livelihoods of the poor communities in the rural areas who depend on fish. Reduced fish stocks are a problem caused by European boats that operate in cooperation with local businessmen. Fish are obtained from the waters illegally at the expense of the local fishermen. There are new agreements on trade which might possibly consolidate exploitation in this area. Many countries in West Africa are opposing these agreements Kurien (2005). Response Food security problems have always attracted the attention of the government of Senegal and the international community. The government of Senegal put a side US$23.5 million to help the communities in the rural areas with food scarcity problems. It has also launched a program of relief food distribution especially in the worst hit areas. Non Governmental Organizations also stepped in to provide food rations for distribution to the hungry. However the failure of the government to declare the hunger situation an emergency made many NGOs to desist from launching wider responses in the affected areas. The response of the World Food program to the situation has been evident through its cooperation with NGOs to feed over 30,000 children below five years with cases of malnourishment Zarges (1997). The response of the government was also geared toward the development of a strategy to make the country sufficient in food production by 2015. The GOANA strategy unleashed in 2008 has triggered a big boost in agricultural spending. Through GOANA new land is being brought under cultivation and assistance is being given on credit and farm inputs with the aim of achieving increased production of food especially rice. The government subsidized fertilizers and seeds by 70% and delivery were done in good time Mc Intire (1981). The World Food Program helps about 1 million people via its 2007-2011Country program. It concentrates on education, nutrition and activities geared at crisis prevention. The program serves pre/primary school level children, lactating and pregnant womenand vulnerable people coming from rural households with high food insecurity. WFP provides help to the 380,000 beneficiaries of conflicts in Casamance area. This support goes to the food insecure and poorest areas like Fatick, Kolda, among others Werblow (1997). Evaluation The situation in Senegal has been termed as serious especially in drought situations. However things can change since what is happening is not permanent. The drought situation and the economic problems affecting the major cash crops can be dealt with. However the government needs to invest a lot in the agricultural sector as well as the diversification of the economy. The Senegal situation can easily be salvaged since it cannot be compared to what has happened in several other countries around the world. Given the peaceful atmosphere and the current stable political climate Senegal can become a food secure nation Bonanno et al (1994).The challenge remains on the side of the government to put in place the right structures to ensure that resources are used well for productivity. Poverty is the major problem affecting agricultural out put in this country. People need to be taught how to reduce poverty through employment creation. More youth engaged in self employment can support the economy a great deal while at the same time they are reducing pressure on agriculture Singer (1997). Impoverishment of the soils through excessive farming is caused by poverty. If poverty was reduced then soils can be allowed to rest. Marginal lands are being forced to produce; this contributes to soil erosion which can be avoided if these lands are left alone. The Senegalese government has what it takes to reduce or even finish completely the problems affecting its country. Since population growth has been cited as a problem that results in food scarcity policies must be enacted to control population growth (Brandt 1997). Conclusion Since 2008 the food security situation in Senegal was hit by a shocking crisis that resulted from failed crops due to failure of the rains to come on time. Since then many problems related to food scarcity have befallen the country. The global food crisis contributed to this through the fall in global prices of groundnuts and fish which are the major exports for the country. A hunger crisis exists in the country to date. Food scarcity in the country is a result of a number of factors some of which are being dealt with. This food insecurity problem in Senegal has been met by responses from within the country and from without. The government together with Non Governmental Organizations responded by distributing foods to the most affected populations. Malnourished children have been fed through programs run by NGOs and the government. Distribution of food is a good intervention measure but it is not long lasting. In fact the foods being distributed are not enough to satisfy the hungry. Long term solutions have not been arrived at. The government should tackle root causes like high levels of unemployment, poor soils, and the increasing poverty levels among women and girls. Structures should be put in place to fight the high illiteracy that so threatens the welfare of the people. Food insecurity results from many problems in Senegal as discussed in this paper. All these problems must be addressed if a permanent solution has to be found. Hunger will remain an all time problem if NGOs and the government will only wait for times of drought for them to start distributing food to those affected. The GOANA strategy which is aimed at boosting agricultural production through production of credit and farm inputs is a good initiative. If managed well it could be very effective. However irrigation must be considered for farmers in areas prone to drought. References Braun, J. (1997).Food security for all by the year 2020? Agriculture and Rural Development, 4(2), 14–17. Bonanno, A.; et al., ed. (1994). From Columbus to ConAgra: the globalization of agriculture and food. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA Brandt, H. 1997.Development policy in sub-Saharan Africa after 15 years of structural adjustment. Agriculture and Rural Development, 4(2), 22–24. Goodman, D.; Watts, M., ed. (1997). Globalising food: agrarian questions and global restructuring. Routledge, London, UK; New York, NY, USA Harmon C. T. (2006), Trade reforms and food security: country case studies and synthesis‎ Haen, H.; Lindland, J.(1997). World cereal utilization, production and trade in year 2020. Agriculture and Rural Development, 4(2), 10–13. McMichael, P., ed. (1994). The global restructuring of agro-food systems. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA. Harmon C. T. (2006), Trade reforms and food security: country case studies and synthesis‎ John K, (2005).Responsible fish trade and food security‎Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, NORAD Environmental Co-operation Programme John M.I (1981), Food security in the Sahel: variable import levy, grain reserves,.Business & Economics. Peter H. , Olatunde J. C. B. Ojo, (1999) Making aid work: innovative approaches for Africa at the turn of the century‎ Business & Economics Singer, H. W. (1997). A global view of food security. Agriculture and Rural Development, 4(2), 3–6. Van Koppen, Barbara, Namara, Regassa, Safilios-Rothschild, Constantina Reducing poverty through investments in agricultural water management‎ Werblow, U. (1997). A radically changing world: globalization and food security up to the year 2020. Agriculture and Rural Development, 4(2), 7–9. World Bank. (1990). Structural adjustment and sustainable growth: the urban agenda for the 1990s. World Bank, Washington, DC, USA Zarges, W. (1997). Food security for all by the year 2020? Who will meet increased import demand from developing countries? Agriculture and Rural Development, 4(2), 18–19. Read More

Agricultural prospects are destroyed due the impoverishment of soils through agricultural processes that are unfit. Cultivation without replenishment of the nutrients of the soils results in exhaustion of those soils. Consequently they cannot support crops for food production. Many of the soils are farmed year in and year out without getting time to rest. Due to poverty the farmers are unable to afford fertilizers which can be used to improve production. Excessive evaporation due to high temperatures in drought situations destroys the soils through salinization.

Soils full of slats cannot support food crops to maturity. Drought and erratic rainfall disrupts agriculture in the country. Erratic rainfall is responsible for high levels of soil erosion and occasional floods which destroy soils and crops respectively Bonanno et al (1994). According to the World Bank, the vulnerability of Senegal is moderate as far as food security is concerned. The country has had food crisis episodes in its history such as the 2008 famine resulting from low rainfall. Food production went extremely low dues to this causing the prices of basic commodities to shoot up.

In order to overcome such occurrences, women find strategies to help their families to cope like going for risky or low paying jobs for them to find food for their families. When this happens the food security situation is compounded because development is hindered because inequalities between women and men are reinforced Singer (1997). Since 1982, there has been a conflict in the Casamance region of southern Senegal where there are poor and geographically isolated regions. This separatist movement led conflict although taken to be of low density has ravaged this part of the country and the consequences have been felt in other parts of Senegal.

Even though there was a peace agreement signed in 2004 development has been greatly hindered by conflict together with its outcome Zarges (1997). Traditionally Senegal’s food security relies on the exportation of ground nuts and fish products which are used to fetch income for the importation of wheat and rice. In 2007 for instance, about 60% of Senegal’s food requirements were imported. This was the highest in all West African countries. Events that have been taking place in Senegal have made the export import arrangement of Senegal to collapse.

Between 2007and 2008 there was triple increase in rice prices on the local market. Grain prices grew by 50%. Consequently there were serious riots in the capital Dakar resulting from ‘the global food crisis.’ This situation was tackled by the huge subsidies made by the government on the prices of staple foods Mc Michael (1994). The groundnut industry also suffered a great deal as a result of variability in climate, soil degradation, and lack of investment by the government and reduced global prices.

Reduced fish stocks in the waters have also undermined the livelihoods of the poor communities in the rural areas who depend on fish. Reduced fish stocks are a problem caused by European boats that operate in cooperation with local businessmen. Fish are obtained from the waters illegally at the expense of the local fishermen. There are new agreements on trade which might possibly consolidate exploitation in this area. Many countries in West Africa are opposing these agreements Kurien (2005). Response Food security problems have always attracted the attention of the government of Senegal and the international community.

The government of Senegal put a side US$23.5 million to help the communities in the rural areas with food scarcity problems. It has also launched a program of relief food distribution especially in the worst hit areas. Non Governmental Organizations also stepped in to provide food rations for distribution to the hungry. However the failure of the government to declare the hunger situation an emergency made many NGOs to desist from launching wider responses in the affected areas. The response of the World Food program to the situation has been evident through its cooperation with NGOs to feed over 30,000 children below five years with cases of malnourishment Zarges (1997).

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