Ghana is currently facing the threats of food insecurity. This is as a result of the low production of food crops and climatic changes that has hit the major food growing regions in the country. Major food crops growing areas like the Eastern and Brong Ahafo Regions of the country have already started recording increase in the prices of food items as a result low production.Already, there are signs that the food crisis will affect the entire world which developing countries like Ghana will be the worst hit. In view of that most rice producing countries have started reducing the number of rice they import to other countries. It is estimated that only 6% of global rice produced are exported. 

Already, there are signs that the food crisis will affect the entire world which developing countries like Ghana will be the worst hit. In view of that most rice producing countries have started reducing the number of rice they import to other countries. It is estimated that only 6% of global rice produced are exported. This food insecurity threat has already taken a global dimension. The crisis of surging food prices could mean "seven lost years" in the fight against worldwide poverty, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said. "While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day," Zoellick said at a press briefing on the eve of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.To meet this crisis, Zoellick is calling for a "New Deal on Global Food Policy". Ghana's situation was worsened by the heavy floods that hit the northern part destroying farmlands and homes last year. These floods caused severe food shortage in the north thereby, affecting the southern part of the country. It must however be noted that there had been series of cautions to government over an imminent food crisis since last year in order for it to position itself to prevent such occurrence. Abibimman Foundation and its partners; The Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) and Food Security and Policy Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN) have since raised the alarm of looming food crisis. There seem to be every indication that government failed to take prudent measures to arrest the looming crisis. This comes in the wake of statements by the Minister of Food and Agriculture to the effect that Ghana is not threatened by food insecurity. With the recent high prices of foodstuffs, Ghanaians must pay more for the consumption of food even if locally produced. It is sad to state that Ghana has failed to optimize the agric sector for an all round food supply. This is due to inadequate attention given to the sector by the government. Should this trend continue, then the country's quest of attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be hampered. Young people and youth stand to suffer the more since they will not get the necessary nutrient they require to grow as future leaders of this nation, thus increasing the rate of hunger in the country. Something quick must be done. For instance the Aveyime rice project which would have been a major supply of food is still lying down gathering dust. Other farm areas are either been encroached by developers or are not given the necessary attention they require. Government must show strong commitment to the mechanization of the agriculture sector to ensure better yield. Currently most of the farmers in the country are practicing small scale farming. There is an urgent need to turn our focus on them and see how best to help these farmers improve into large scale mechanized farming. Incentives such as farm materials, storage facilities and capital injection must be made available to make the sector more vibrant. Government should ensure that there is ready market for farm produce. Also it must see to the provision of reliable irrigation systems at these farming areas to facilitate year long farming. The issue of land for farming in recent times has become a major problem for farmers. To this end there should be strict regulation with usage of land. Land meant for farming must be solely used for that purpose.

A striking piece in the New York Times today about the hunger crisis in Haiti and across the globe:

“Haiti’s hunger, that burn in the belly that so many here feel, has become fiercer than ever in recent days as global food prices spiral out of reach, spiking as much as 45 percent since the end of 2006 and turning Haitian staples like beans, corn and rice into closely guarded treasures. Saint Louis Meriska’s children ate two spoonfuls of rice apiece as their only meal recently and then went without any food the following day. His eyes downcast, his own stomach empty, the unemployed father said forlornly, “They look at me and say, ‘Papa, I’m hungry,’ and I have to look away. It’s humiliating and it makes you angry.” That anger is palpable across the globe. The food crisis is not only being felt among the poor but is also eroding the gains of the working and middle classes, sowing volatile levels of discontent and putting new pressures on fragile governments.”

The shocking headlines have had our attention all week. The price of basic food staples have increased 45% in just the last nine months - and they’ve doubled in the last three years. As we all must know - these rising prices deal a crushing blow to the world’s poorest people - people who already spend more than half of their income on food. This weekend, World Bank President Zoellick said that this hunger crisis could “push 100 million people in low-income countries deeper into poverty” and that the effects would be equivalent of “seven lost years in the fight against worldwide poverty.” The shortage is fueling social unrest in some of the most fragile nations around the globe. Haiti, Egypt, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mozambique, Bolivia and Uzbekistan discontent has already erupted. “For countries where food comprises from half to three-quarters of consumption, there is no margin for survival.”(Zoellick) We have to do something. Please sign our petition to President Bush urging world leaders to take action.

Everyone here at ONE is watching and deeply concerned about impact of rising food prices on the poorest people around the globe - people who already spend more than half of their income on food. We just put up a new page, at ONE.org/worldfoodcrisis to highlight what is happening, make some statements and to keep track of the latest news.

For those who haven’t been following - Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization announced on Wednesday that the cost of the most basic food staples - rice, wheat and corn - have risen 45% in just the last 9 months. The cost of these staples have now increased 80% since 2005.

From the page:

“To address the current crisis and prevent long-term damage to development progress, the international community needs to address the problem of rising food prices and renew global efforts to combat hunger, malnutrition and agricultural development. In the short-term, quick action should be taken to increase emergency aid to food-importing developing nations and provide the $500 million needed by the World Food Program to meet immediate food needs…In the longer term, the donor community must work with developing nations to develop a comprehensive response to combating hunger and promoting broad-based agricultural development.”

New figures show that rich country spending on international aid has dropped for the second year in a row.  despite promises made by rich countries nearly 40 years ago to give 0.7% of their Gross National Income as aid. This shows that new political leadership is required urgently if they are ever to be met.

The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) report released in Japan today, notes a 8.4% drop in real overseas development aid (ODA) in 2007.  Most donors are not on track to meet their stated commitments to scale up aid and will need to make unprecedented increases to meet the target of a $50 billion increase annually by 2010.  The 22 DAC member countries, the world’s major donors, provided USD 103.7 billion in aid in 2007.  Taking into account this is the end of a period of exceptionally high debt relief, this represents a drop of Gross National Income to 0.28% in 2007, against the internationally agreed target of 0.7% of GNI.

 “The OECD countries are dragging their feet. They made commitments but are not following through,’ says Kumi Naidoo, Co-chair of GCAP. “ The unwillingness of governments - France, Japan and Italy in particular - to honour promises on debt relief and aid, is increasing poverty, deepening inequality and adding to global insecurity. It’s outrageous that you can find the money for military spending but can’t find it for ODA,” he added.

GCAP campaigners in developing countries have seen first-hand how these shortfalls on commitments and poor aid quality directly impacts people’s lives.  Where debt cancellation has taken effect since the Gleneagles commitments of 2005, it has led to better healthcare, better education, treatment for HIV/Aids and some progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

In 2008, GCAP therefore calls on current G8 President, Japan, to show leadership at its July Summit by putting ODA high on their agenda and reversing what they call an 'appalling trend'.   GCAP will also be looking for action at the September Aid Effectiveness Summit in Accra, Ghana which represents a crucial opportunity to improve the quality of aid .

“In Accra, governments will be set a mandatory timetable for aid delivery and effectiveness.  This, combined with the G8 in Japan is a great opportunity for a change in direction and one we will not miss. We expect a more serious approach from leaders to ending poverty, the impact of failure is not worth contemplating,” said Christophe Zoungrana, GCAP Africa Coordinator.

The , with coalitions in over 100 rich and poor countries, simultaneously campaigns for domestic accountability in the developing world.

The government of Ghana in late March started the implementation of its Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) scheme nationwide. The programme which is aimed at providing financial assistance to the 18.2 percent (880,000) persons considered to be extremely poor under the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) conducted in 2005 and 2006 is expected to benefit 8,350 individuals from 1,654 households in 21 selected districts in the country. Beneficiaries under the scheme will receive between GH¢ 8 ($ 8) and GH¢ 16 ($16) per month depending on the household. Most beneficiaries of this assistance are old women above 60 years, orphans and physically challenged persons. Currently, beneficiaries of this scheme receive their monies through the post office. However, it will be of a great service to the beneficiaries if an account is open for them at any bank closer to them for the monies to be transferred into it in order to instill saving attitudes in them.

The World Food Program is holding talks to create rationing plans if the costs of agricultural commodities (like wheat, corn, rice and soybeans) keeps rising at their current rate.

From today’s FT piece:

Josette Sheeran, WFP executive director, told the Financial Times that the agency would look at “cutting the food rations or even the number or people reached” if donors did not provide more money.

“Our ability to reach people is going down just as the needs go up,” she said.

WFP officials hope the cuts can be avoided, but warned that the agency’s budget requirements were rising by several million dollars a week because of climbing food prices.

Read the full piece here

My daily routine begins when the Concern driver comes to pick me up at the team house at 7:45am. My housemates and I climb into the Land Cruiser and we’re at the office by 8am. On Monday mornings we have an hour-long staff meeting. The security briefing is usually the most interesting part. It’s where you get to hear about street fighting or other civil disturbances, often involving “martial arts groups.” These ad-hoc groups are comprised of disaffected, often unemployed young men who perform various martial arts rituals. Rightly or wrongly, they’re frequently accused of promoting gang activity and exerting their influence through fear and intimidation.

This morning our security officer shared some bizarre information with the staff. He advised us that next weekend a resistance leader who fought against the Indonesian occupation and who was thought to have died three decades ago may be coming to Dili. According to the rumour, he wants to show that he’s still alive and that he’s now opposing Timor Leste’s newly elected government. No one seems to know if this is fact or fiction. But we’re advised to be alert to possible civil unrest just in case.

The Millennium Development Goals were agreed upon by the international community back in 2000. The goals include measurable and achievable targets on reducing global poverty, and improving access to education, water and other benchmarks. When those goals were conceived, the countries of the world envisioned achieving them by 2015.

Now that we're at the halfway point (or a little beyond), many people are wondering how far we've come toward attaining these goals.  The UN Millennium Campaign has some answers in a detailed report

In the meantime, Salil Shetty, director of the Millennium Campaign, spoke to us at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Portland about the progress we are making towards these goals. (Thanks to St. Luke member Lisa Wenwick for organizing this event). 

Huge kudos to CARE for taking a bold and reasoned stand on how best to deliver food aid to developing countries. Kudos as well to the New York Times for the front page coverage of the CARE decision—how remarkable to see food aid so prominently featured in the NYT!—and its other recent coverage (subscription required) of how U.S. policy affects poor African farmers. As the NYT reported:

CARE's decision is focused on the practice of selling tons of often heavily subsidized American farm products in African countries that in some cases, it says, compete with the crops of struggling local farmers. The charity says it will phase out its use of the practice by 2009...

"If someone wants to help you, they shouldn't do it by destroying the very thing that they're trying to promote," said George Odo, a CARE official who grew disillusioned with the practice while supervising the sale of American wheat and vegetable oil in Nairobi, Kenya's capital."