Daily as I surf the net and peruse the articles published in the print media and aired on international television of the likes of CNN and BBC, I am further convinced that the world’s population is heading down a calamitous road in terms of its survival.

Recently all eyes were turned in the direction of climatic change and its disastrous effects on economies, but a greater crisis is brewing; finding enough and cheap food for the world’s peoples.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, institutions considered as highly powerful and prestigious have lent their voices to the international debate on rising food costs and shortages.

World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, last month spoke of the situation facing the world and I quote: “Soaring food prices and their impact on hunger, malnutrition and development threaten to push 100 million people further into poverty. For more than 2 billion people, high food prices are now a matter of daily struggle, sacrifice, and, for some, even survival, with no apparent relief in sight. Malnutrition threatens to harm not only this generation but the generation to come. This is a test for the international community that we cannot afford to fail. We must make globalisation work for all. Nowhere are we seeing this more clearly than in the issue of food where millions are now at risk.”

Yes indeed we have to take cognizance of what is being played out daily in this highly volatile situation and plan and take action now.

But what are the answers to the food and energy crises? Governments now have to make pertinent decisions as several millions more are now being forced into poverty as they have to dole out more to buy the basic food items they need. This opens up opportunities for malnutrition to step in as millions can only afford to buy the basic necessities for a meal. The issue of balanced diets will not matter too many.

One answer that is being forwarded is expanding production and this brings me to the local situation and what we are doing to address rising costs.

We can indeed consider ourselves fortunate in that we have huge tracts of land that more local people can get involved in tilling.

Our leader seems to be going down the right path and with his Jagdeo Agriculture initiative, the entire Caribbean region is slated to benefit. Guyana is perhaps one of the first countries in the region to seriously adopt a proactive approach to tackle the food crisis, having gone from mere rhetoric to actually begin the process by initiating meetings with the grassroots to find out how they can be helped. This is an admirable stand for our small country.

In closing I would urge that we get into farming, starting with our little kitchen gardens. To others who are into large scale faming, I wish to urge that this crisis has presented an opportunity to you. Capitalise on it. Expand production and you’ll gain from the high prices for exports!
ESTELLE CLERKE