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CYCLE OF UNFULFILLED DEVELOPMENT COMMITMENTS MUST COME TO AN END: FOOD NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE MUST BE MET AT ALL TIMES, OBSERVES JCTR May 2008 The JCTR has challenged leadership at all levels to invoke their moral persuasions to address the needs of food for the people in a fashion away from the business-as-usual approach that has been characteristic of development efforts over the years. Most of the time it is the eloquence of problem identification and description that has been given to those affected as opposed to putting lessons learnt in previous efforts to action and more importantly concretely addressing their needs. The imperative of food to human welfare is one that does not need even a bit of explanation. “Household, community or nation’s inadequate food situation distracts human efforts aimed at improvement of humanity itself,” says Miniva Chibuye of the Social Conditions Programme of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection. What can be disheartening in situations of prolonged inadequate food availability at the household level is that such situations tend to eventually be seen as a norm. Unfortunately, for most of Africa, inadequate food availability, disease, ignorance, etc., are occurrences that have not received the necessary urgency in reactions or redress. How else can one explain the slow pace at which international commitments such as the Millennium Goals (MDGs) have moved in terms of attainment? Even putting into action lessons from previously failed commitments has rarely taken place. This can be underscored by the Basic Needs Basket, a monthly estimate of cost of living for a family of six done in Lusaka and other towns of Livingstone, Kabwe, Ndola, Kitwe, Luanshya, Kasama and Mongu that has shown cost of basic needs affordability or lack thereof. For the month of May cost of food for Lusaka was recorded at K739,450 representing a slight reduction of K3,250 from K742,700 recorded in April. The reduction is coming from green vegetables and dry fish. The reduction in cost of dry fish can be explained in terms of the effect of lifting the fish ban which has allowed more fish on the market. Green vegetables tend to cost less during this season because of the ease with which they are grown. However, there has been an almost double increase in the cost of sugar recorded at K4,900 in April to K8,300 per kg in May. Mealie meal has also continued to increase in cost. In Ndola, cost of food was recorded at K725,390 representing an increase of K57,870 from the cost of K667,520 recorded in April. The words of Mr Diouf, Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) could not have been more appropriate during these times when he says "Important today is to realize that the time for talking is long past. Now is the time for action." According to Ms. Chibuye this statement should be seen not only in terms of the current global food crisis but must apply broadly to examining current energies and responses to human situations both nationally and internationally. As the food prices continue to be beyond many households, shown through the JCTR Basic Needs Basket and the struggles households are experiencing witnessed through anecdotal accounts and other indicators, the high cost of food, indeed basic needs calls to attention, among others: First, the need for a seriously renewed commitment around attainment of the MDGs shown in national concrete steps in increasing both health and education infrastructure such as building more classroom space, increasing the number of health centres, particularly in rural areas. It is unacceptable to suggest that Zambia is likely to attain universal primary education just on the basis of enrolments without attendant consideration to quality. Certainly classes of 65 or more pupils are in no way assuring education quality for all. Second, national budgetary allocations to agriculture need to increase not to support only traditional approaches such as fertiliser subsidies but to include increased attention to crop diversification, strong links between extension services and farmers, irrigation, livestock diseases, and supportive infrastructure – roads, bridges, etc. In unfortunate circumstances, it is also important to realise that unprecedented action need not only come because we are confronted with problems of pervasive proportions forgetting that there are people within communities, countries, regions, etc., that have endured chronic hunger but have not had much responses to their situations. JCTR hopes that out of the current global and domestic food crisis will be born a different energy of response to human challenges. |
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