food insecurity affects 36% of families

These are the data published by the World Food Program of the United Nations. The economic crisis and the latest government decisions are the cause, including the transition to organic farming carried out under the Rajapaksa administration. It is feared that the situation could worsen if farmers are not assisted.

Colombo () – According to a report published by the World Food Program (WFP), the economic crisis in Sri Lanka has increased the risk of food insecurity. 36% of families are already in a situation of food danger, while 76% have resorted to survival strategies. Although levels of food insecurity have relatively stabilized in the last three months, they remain high, considering that more than 5 in 10 households pawn gold jewelry or borrow money to buy food.

The WFP report also shows that “35% of families suffer from insufficient food consumption, they eat cheaper and less nutritious food” and that the current economic crisis continues to disproportionately affect some sectors of society. This comes at a time when financial constraints have forced the government to reduce nutritional support programmes, such as the distribution of food in schools and fortified food for malnourished mothers and children.

According to data released by WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), around 6.3 million people in Sri Lanka are acutely food insecure and their condition is likely to worsen. if adequate humanitarian assistance is not provided. Therefore, existing social assistance mechanisms are essential for families to access nutritious food.

Several economic analysts explained to that “due to limited purchasing power, more than 50% of families buy food on credit and the consumption of adequate and nutritious diets remains low. Food prices are a primary concern for 9 out of 10 households.

According to some independent observers, “Food insecurity registered a 4% increase in October last year compared to previous months, with almost half of the households (48%) in the Southern Province, followed by Sabaragamuwa Province (45%). %). Other regions of Sri Lanka, especially the Uva and North West regions, are also facing a similar situation. It is unlikely that the situation will improve in 2023. The population of the Eastern and Northern provinces registered the lowest levels of food insecurity, with rates of 26% and 25%.”

Agriculture experts explain that “this disastrous situation stems from the lack of long-term planning after the introduction of organic farming by the Rajapaksa administration.” The ex-president’s decision “ruined the entire sector, although the Government has earmarked a sum of Rs 400 crore [104.000 euros] to provide seeds to farmers and Rs 40,000 crore [104 millones de euros] for fertilizers”.

Without aid, food security is likely to deteriorate further, particularly in the coming months, due to poor rice harvests.

According to FAO sources, “to sustain the restoration of agricultural production, livelihood assistance to smallholder farmers must remain a priority, as about 30% of the population depends on agriculture. Improve the farmers’ productive capacity will increase the resilience of the agricultural sector and reduce the recourse to imports, in a context of scarce foreign exchange reserves”.

Various specialists consider that “this situation demonstrates the failure of the Government’s efforts to minimize the impact of the increase in the cost of living on the poor and the middle class, although the Government has launched a National Food Security Program, proposing the creation of companies youth farmers and cancel the outstanding loans of rice farmers”.