The politics of food is an interesting question. It is what makes the world go round, and hence why can make the best of men turn into beasts. The question is, at what point? What point can be food be taken as a political agenda, as a tool of war, and most importantly, as the fate of humanity?
These questions, among others, were consistently barraging my mind when I read this book entitled "Enough: Why the World's Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty." It took a very methodological look at the problems regarding the starving and how more prominent nations can easily cure them of their woes, yet choose not to. Why is that? I guess humans are inherently greedy, in fact, I know they are. Of course they would want the best for their own kin over others. But when you're living in so much splendor and riches, isn't there a limit? I don't think humanity knows when to stop. Their greed creates this insatiable hunger that will never end, always wanting, never satisfied. So what of those that live in squalor? Those that live in such poverty that they are literally on the verge of death? Easier said than done.
Let's start off with the basics. What is food? Food is agriculture right? Thus it needs to be grown. Obviously, we all know that simple fact. The question is, how do you properly till a plot of land to its' maximum potential? After the fact, how do you maximize the market to it's full profit? How do you create a sustainable market? It all really is a vicious cycle. One part of it is symbiotic to the other, and thus if one fails, the whole system would most definitely crumble. This is especially hard in a continent like Africa with a almost non existent infrastructure. Let's take this step by step.
The first step in producing agriculture is obviously the growing of it. Africa is a diverse geographical continent ranging from more temperate zones to harsher more desert like zones (such as some parts of the Sahel). Of course with different geographical locations comes different strategies to maximize said plot of land. This is a problem when most Africans use a rather simplified form of farming. Not that this in itself is their fault, for they do not know any better. Farming to them is a simple matter. Most of which practice in swidden farming otherwise known as slash and burn farming. In theory, it is a practical way of growing one crop and rejuvenating the soil for the next. This is of course in theory. After time, swidden farming becomes impractical because all of the nutrients will eventually be depleted leaving the land a barren waste. It will take years for the soil to replenish itself thus it would be of no use. More importantly, if farmers live in a rather harsh zone, they obviously depend on the annual rains to give their crops the nutrients it desires. Of course, droughts are common among these lands, and thus famine will reign supreme. Yet again I digress, the main point I am trying to make here is that most farmers in Africa are completely unaware of proper farming techniques to maximize their land. This is not their fault, for this is only a more recent development among western societies, but again, this in itself can make or break the crops for that season.
We all know that after the crops have been tended to, it is now time to harvest your fields once it is fully grown. Harvesting isn't the big question, what is more important is what to do with your harvest. What do the people of Africa do with their harvest? First off, most Africans probably lack a surplus, so therefore, it goes right back to their family. Thus, it becomes food for them. There is a huge problem with this though, I shall explain that later. What happens to the farmer's surplus (those that are fortunate enough to have one)? This is biggest problem. Most countries in Africa does not have the infrastructure to support trade within their nations. In fact, most surpluses end up sitting there, rotting. What's the point then? What makes it worse is that trade subsidies with other countries are so ridiculously high that Africa has no chance of competing with them. America is especially guilty of this by pushing their surpluses as food aid to Africa rather than stimulating Africa's own economy. American farm subsidies have only increased throughout the years only further pushing Africa out of the picture. If you look at an average American farmer's income, it has only increased within the past few years. This is only further supplemented by the farm bill that was signed by President Bush, and again renewed only further buttressing the power of the American farmer. Who stands a chance against them?
This leads to food aid, and I mean massive amounts of food aid. You might as well take these surplus foods from the local farmers and give them as aid. Not only would it stimulate their economy but it would also be cheaper on our end. Why spend the additional costs to transport food all the way from America to Africa when you can simply buy the food from local farmers? Of course, the answer is always money. Farmers depend on these subsidies and these buyers of their surpluses to make their bank, but is it completely necessary to cut the local out of the picture? The huge juggernaut that is our economy will obviously supplant that of a poor nation. Furthermore, when African farmers are cut out of the picture, why would they even bother to farm anymore? They would much rather invest in other opportunities to make money since farming is such an intensive labor. This leads to the vicious cycle of aid. When farmers do not farm and thus cannot provide food for their families, they ask for aid. The US among other countries provide them with this food aid, and they are once again trapped in the cycle. Simply put, African farmers cannot compete against other large nations pumping the continent with aid to benefit their own wallets. With a poor infrastructure already, how do you expect them to do so?
I say, we let Africa stimulate their own economy. Let them trade from within to build up some form of infrastructure. You cannot completely eliminate other countries from providing aid, but you can cut back on the trade subsidies that are completely unfair to poor continents such as Africa. It's a monopoly really. We push Africans to fail and thus push them to depend on our food. They are not self sufficient whatsoever and thus are stuck on this cyclical vicious cycle of depending on food aid. It all becomes a survival game really. What is life when all you do is depend upon the next food aid to live? What is life when your whole existence is a fight to survive?
And this is one of many reasons why I am so passionate about Africa....
