The greatest crisis, in my view, of 2008 was not the financial crisis. It was the food crisis that hit the world in the early part of the year. Global food prices rose by 75% as compared to 2000. Food riots broke out in many countries. About 73 million people, in 78 countries, who depend on food aid from the United Nations have had their rations cut. The crisis got diffused, because other events overtook it and food prices fell back. But unlike the financial crisis, there is no solution in sight and its going to come back with a vengeance next year, or the year after, with certainty.
The problem is deep. A combination of high oil prices, climate change (both in terms of global warming and in terms of diversion of land for growing corn for fuel) and shrinking land for agriculture affects the supply of food. On the other hand global demand is expected to double by 2030 as population increases and economic development increases the demand for nutrition. End result is that food prices will rise meteorically for the next 10-20 years. That means food riots, starvation, malnutrition and a global crisis.
The problem will be deepest in three parts of the world - China, India and Africa. China is the worst placed - it has the largest population, but the lowest cultivable land. But China will manage the problem the best. Africa is best placed - huge cultivable land, but will manage it the worst. India is in between.
My take on the solution, is for Africa to "outsource" food production to China and India. The solution is not these countries buying up land in Africa, as Saudi Arabia and South Korea are doing. That will never work - in times of crisis, a Mugabe equivalent will simply appropriate the land back. Africa must retain the ownership of the land, but outsource grain cultivation to Indians and Chinese. India and China must focus on making Africa hugely food surplus. That will have twin advantages - it will greatly reduce starvation in Africa itself. And it will increase global food production enough to keep prices low.
China and India have the greatest stake here. They are the greatest consumers of food. Their natural reaction would be to boost agriculture domestically. That they should, and would, do. But they would benefit greater if they became an "outsourced service provider" in food production to Africa.
Buzz off Europe and North America. China and India must simply take over the FAO and deal direct with Africa.
Any takers for BPO in agriculture ?
Kya Bolte Ho ? nǐ shì shénme shuō ?
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4 comments:
Governance is the reason why Africa is not self-sufficient in food. Its not because African do not know how to grow food. As you know, the British imported Indian coolies into Natal and East Africa for their supposed expertise and propensity to work hard. So importing Indians to cultivate is not a new thing. But this will not solve the governance deficit, which is a function of post-colonial hangover, poor education, etc etc - this is a long discussion. Anyone who has been to Botswana or even Kenya will tell you that things in Africa do not need to be so sad.
Oh yes, bad governance plagues Africa. But my argument for "outsourcing" is not saying Africans do't know how to grow food. Its that agriculture is a business like any other and the same make or buy decisions abound there. Why not get the Indians and Chinese to compete for the business and everybody ends up winning.
Canada probably understands this. They have relaxed rules of immigration if you buy land and do the agriculture over there. But yes nobody is thinking of this as an outsourcing opportunity.
Yes Adesh, I believe there are "Sikh farming villages" in Canada. I am propoundinga broader outsouring and not just "body shopping". Run agriculture as a business - R&D, irrigation, farming, marketing - the whole works. Land continues to be owned by the locals and they are "shareholders" reaping the profits.
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