A country that produces enough food to meet the needs of its people is food self-sufficient. It is in a state or condition where its communities or regions do not rely heavily on imported food. A country that spends its foreign exchange on the import of food items may have to resort to agricultural development to reduce its reliance on imported food. Though agriculture is a major contributor to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Ethiopia has not yet been food self-sufficient.
Food self-sufficiency refers to a state or condition where a community, region, or country produces enough food to meet its own needs without relying heavily on imports. There are several reasons for the country to be food insecure. Recurrent drought and conflicts negatively affected the seasonal agricultural produces, mainly affecting food grains. Also, the rising level of inflation, which is caused by high demand for food in the face of shortages, has made food prices unaffordable by the working people. This situation has made people suffer from malnutrition and hunger. Also, the spread of social conflicts and diseases have made people unable to produce food in time.
Food security is often considered a desirable, attractive and popular goal for a number of reasons. Being self-sufficient in food production minimizes dependency on foreign sources. The major objective of economic development in Ethiopia is self-reliance in food production. Farmers are encouraged to be productive using modern techniques of production. These techniques include modern machinery, fertilizers, pest control, improved seeds, grain storage and marketing.
A large majority of Ethiopian farmers are using traditional means of production, the yield of which is low per hectare. In this sector, output is low and marketable surplus is almost negligible. With low income from the sale of grain, the farmers are mostly incapable of purchasing basic necessities from the open market. They are not in a position to use modern tech such as pest control or improves seeds or fertilizers for enhancing their productivity and, therefore, income. They are also confronted with social conflicts to which they devote their labor force, reducing their productive capacity to meet their duties as taxpayers.
Most regions in Ethiopia are less resilient to disruptions in food supply chains. These disruptions are caused by factors such as natural disasters, political instability, or social conflicts. Politicians who aspire for power tend to be restless as they find themselves away from the center. They tend to cause political unrest as a shortcut to the apex of power. Most of these politicians tend to become restless as they have no alternative means of livelihood. Addicted to public attention, they become infatuated with power and authority as a shortcut to wealth and prosperity. Once in power, they tend to manipulate public revenues toward meeting their objective of swimming in leisure, happiness and relaxation.
In reality, access to power leaves those authorities full of activity, demanding their subordinates to work restlessly to meet the needs of the poor people of Ethiopia. This requires an elaborate strategy for enhancing economic development of the country. It may be translated into economic development plans, programs and projects for improving the living standards of the impoverished Ethiopians.
To fulfill the development objectives, economic stability is a precondition. Producing food locally, for example, can stimulate economic growth by creating jobs in agriculture, food processing, and related industries. The newly employed persons created demand for goods and services, which in turn require additional investment in various sectors of the economy. Investors may be attracted to come into Ethiopia thereby creating more output and employment. They may also engage in the export of goods and services that earn more foreign exchange.
Domestic production reduces the outflow of currency spent on importing food, goods and services. It may also bolster the domestic economy thereby raising production, employment and income. Food processing industries would definitely reduce or replace imported food, thereby minimizing foreign exchange expenditure on imports. The saving of foreign exchange is crucial for establishing additional manufacturing enterprises that may replace imported food, goods and services. These firms may use inputs that are critical for the production of export items that would substitute imports that dominate domestic markets.
Import substitution activities related to food may impact on environmental sustainability. Experts think that local food production may replace imported food items that contain preservatives and chemicals which may affect the health of consumers. Food items that are imported may have to be transported on ships that take longer time. Imported food items may require sustainable agricultural practices that are tailored to local ecosystems and climates of importing countries. However, these practices demand highly qualified experts to check the sustainability of imported food items in the importing country. To reverse all these problems related to ecosystems, the best strategy is domestic production of food items that replace imported one. This strategy contributes immensely to cultural preservation with emphasis on local food production and consumption. The pattern of consumption is also critical in the preservation of culture. Some consumers may still prefer imported food items.
Preservation of traditional food cultures saves foreign exchange and creates domestic employment in the food production and processing sector. It also preserves the culinary practices enjoyed by Ethiopian households. These and other cooking practices foster a sense of identity and community pride. This pride also emanates from achieving food self-sufficiency which involves a combination of agricultural policies, support for small-scale farmers and consumers.
Food self-sufficiency implies investments in infrastructure which facilitates the flow of inputs into and outputs from the agriculture sector. Identification of the right inputs and outputs requires research in the sector that increase productivity and raise income. In the long-run agricultural development and its modernization contributes immensely to the increase in the gross domestic production (GDP) of Ethiopia. This leads to the creation of employment and generation of income for all involved in the production process. It contributes to food self-sufficiency, high consumption, improved health and higher standard of living for Ethiopians.
Complete food self-sufficiency may not, however, be feasible all the time. In some regions of Ethiopia that are not endowed with arable land and favorable climate, the residents and farmers may not enjoy improved standard of living. In these areas, certain food items may not be grown efficiently and productively. In such cases, experts suggest a balanced approach that combines local production with strategic imports. This approach is part of a strategy for food self sufficiency that combines the best of the existing alternatives. Generally, achieving food self-sufficiency involves careful planning, resource management, and a combination of agricultural techniques. The planning of resource allocation for enhancing efficiency contributes to productive use of inputs that minimize wastage. Planning involves strategy for implementation of programs and projects related to food self-sufficiency. It also requires monitoring and evaluation of resource allocation for achieving food self-sufficiency.
One of the strategies that are used to achieve food self-sufficiency is to assess the natural and human resources of Ethiopia. This begins with assessing available resources such as land, water sources, climate, and labor. Assessing these factors of production will help determine what types of crops or livestock are suitable for each and every region.
Agriculture experts stress on the strategy of crop diversification in which Ethiopian farmers may grow a variety of crops to ensure resilience against diseases, pests, and adverse weather conditions. This requires crop rotation to maximize soil fertility, minimize pests and diseases, and increase yields. Studies show that certain plants grown together may benefit each other by avoiding dangerous pests, attracting beneficial insects, or providing nutrients to the soil. Another crucial strategy for maximizing crop production is water management. The Implementation of efficient water management techniques such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting are critical for raising output per hectare. Also, mulching to conserve water and ensure adequate hydration for crops enhances productivity of soil for food self sufficiency.
Ethiopian farmers have to be assisted by agricultural experts in focus on improving and maintaining soil health. This may be done through organic practices such as composting and tillage. Healthy soil is essential for nutrient-rich produces and sustainable agriculture. The farmers also need to be acquainted with modern means to livestock rearing, which is a major component of agricultural development.
If is feasible, farmers may consider raising livestock for meat, eggs, and dairy. Experts may assist the farmers on how to choose livestock species that are well-suited to the environment and type of operation. Integrated “crop-livestock” systems can also provide benefits such as manure for fertilization. Added to this system is food preservation and storage in the farming community. Farmers may have to learn modern food preservation techniques such as drying and fermenting to store excess produce for the future. In this regard, proper storage facilities are also necessary for preserving the quality and longevity of harvested crops.
Agricultural experts are of the opinion that Ethiopian farmers should stay flexible and adaptive. Their opinion is based on the inherently unpredictable nature of farming. It is seriously affected by the seasonality of some crops that are seriously affected by slight change in the weather conditions or manmade problems such as delivery, marketing, storage of yields and related issues.
In any event, farmers have to be advised to get prepared for any eventualities. They may have to adapt their intent in response to changing circumstances. These include weather patterns, market demand, and emerging challenges like pests or diseases. Ethiopian farmers have to be alerted to weather patterns by the concerned agency. They have to be informed about market fluctuations, such as price, demand and supply conditions related to their produce.
Similarly, they have to be ready against emerging challenges such as pests or diseases affecting their crops or live stocks. Through implementing these strategies and continually adjusting to the reality based on feedback and experience, Ethiopian farmers may work towards greater food self-sufficiency and resilience.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY GETACHEW MINAS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 2 MAY 2024
