FOOD SECURITY

As economic power shifts from the developed world to China and other emerging giants, they have begun to consume over half of the world’s energy and have accounted for four-fifths of the growth in oil demand in the past five years. The emerging economies account for 45 percent of the world’s total export and sit on 75 percent of global foreign exchange reserves.

Unless alternative energy sources quickly come to the rescue, the near future is one of higher prices beyond the current US$100 + per barrel of oil. As the total stock of reserves diminishes what is left will command prices well beyond the reach of that part of the world economy which is not sufficiently dynamic. This includes the tri-island state of Grenada.

Add to this the fact that ethanol has become the fuel of choice since it can be derived from cereal crops, such as corn, wheat and soya or sugar cane, which have been traditionally grown on a massive scale. Food prices are spiralling upwards as a consequence of corn being diverted to produce ethanol and other crops shifting to replace the shortfalls in the production cycle. The 30 million tons of extra maze going to ethanol this year amounts to half the fall in the world’s overall grain stock. As every Grenadian knows only too well, prices are moving rapidly and as a consequence the food price index of the Economist of London is higher today than at any time since 1845.

Our urban and rural poor will continue in the short-term to experience the bad effects of higher prices for imported food since as a country we are not in a position to produce the exportable cereals which the higher cost will encourage. We do not have the vast land areas or a surplus of cheap labour like countries such as Brazil, China, India and Argentina to produce corn, wheat, soya, sugar cane, etc. and become beneficiaries of higher food prices.

Within this framework, our paradigm shift of energy and food resources see us encouraging self-reliant measures so as to maximize our capability of survival and prosperity. With the right mix of economic and fiscal policies, the NNP Administration have embarked on an “Eat-what-you-grow and grow-what you-eat” tri-island campaign.

We are encouraging in practical ways backyard farming/gardening to reduce the country’s dependence on imports. Given the richness of our soil, successful backyard gardening is assured and will assist with feeding the family as goods produced can offset the cost of supermarket purchases. Our farmers are being encouraged to increase production for the local consumer market and tourism sector of the economy. And consumer advocacy is geared towards highlighting positive changes in consumer and dietary habits.

Fanciful rhetoric cannot solve our food security and energy crisis. Neither can the disingenuous claim by the opposition NDC that the crisis is the work of the NNP and that they have the solution to it. They do not. From all indication, the National Dance Company (oops!), we mean the National Democratic Congress have no clue as to the nature of the problem. On this score, they are simply hoping to play upon the current hardships being experienced by some of our people in the hope of getting a free ride back into power.

Let the progress continue with positive change under the NNP.