Covid-19 crisis may lead to food shortages: United Nations

The United Nations estimates that the Covid-19 crisis may lead to food shortages in developing countries, especially vulnerable ones.

Because of travel bans and disruptions to the movement of goods, hunger may spread in Africa and elsewhere. Food price rises like those of 2007-2008, and the conflicts that followed them, may break out. Even before Covid-19 there were very many people who were hungry or on the edge of hunger. They will all fall into severe hunger, and many more will join them in this distress. Once food shortages begin, they cannot be expected to stay confined to one region, said Dominique Burgeon, director of emergencies at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). At the first sign of food shortages, many countries will ban exports.

That will push up food prices across the world. International food monopolies such as Unilever, Nestle and PepsiCo have also said that because of Covid, world poverty will double from its present level. Many economists and former political leaders have asked the G20 countries to help poor countries. It is harvest time across the world, but because of shortages of workers, problems in moving goods and difficulties in procurement, harvesting and procurement are not happening as they should. Farmers are suffering heavy losses as a result. Fertilisers and pesticides are not being produced as they should be.

In the coming sowing season, farmers will find it hard to sow. Lack of funds, lack of credit, shortages and rising prices of seeds and pesticides will affect sowing. A major crisis is developing in agriculture across the world, and the possibility of food shortages cannot naturally be ruled out. In this situation, the new agricultural policy the Kerala government has just announced is extremely important.