ROME: The Food and Agriculture Organisation affirmed that persistently high levels of hunger underscore the urgent need to address global food insecurity, especially as nearly 282 million people faced acute food insecurity, driven by conflict, climate extremes, and economic shocks in 2023, an increase of 24 million compared to 2022.
The outlook for 2024 is equally alarming, with famine imminent in Gaza and already confirmed in Sudan, while parts of Haiti, Mali, and South Sudan are at risk of starvation, FAO further stated.
As the demand for humanitarian aid grows, it is crucial to shift intervention strategies to tackle the root causes of hunger. Providing emergency agricultural livelihood assistance to rural communities, where over two-thirds of the world’s food-insecure population reside, is essential. Yet, only four percent of global food security humanitarian aid is allocated to emergency agricultural support.
To raise awareness of this urgent issue, FAO developed a 5-minute video, “Spotlight on Agricu
lture is Humanitarian Aid”, which aired on PBS-affiliated channels in Spring and Summer 2024. Produced by Trivue Entertainment, the show was broadcast 730 times on 124 stations, reaching 37 percent of US households and attracting 3.5 million viewers, with significant airings during both prime and non-prime times. The programme aired across various markets, including major cities and smaller regions, achieving broad coverage and highlighting FAO’s impactful agricultural interventions in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Somalia, and Central America’s Dry Corridor.
Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, stated, ‘We can talk about the scale of hunger, or we can provide farmers and herders with the means to solve it. At FAO, we do so in a way that helps families continue to provide for themselves and communities day after day, year after year. Agriculture is the game-changer in the fight against hunger.’
The long-standing partnership between the US government and FAO is crucial for tackling
protracted levels of acute food insecurity and meeting unprecedented humanitarian needs. The US, as a top donor, plays a pivotal role in this effort. With funding pressures at an all-time high, agricultural interventions offer cost-effective solutions. For every US$50 donated, rural families produce $300 worth of food.
In 2023, FAO supported 57 million people in 95 countries with direct emergency and resilience assistance, using its technical and operational expertise to protect livelihoods and enable local food production. FAO’s efforts include providing high-quality seeds, farming tools, fertilisers and training, supporting livestock keepers and fishing communities, and contributing to environmental restoration.
Currently, FAO is urgently appealing for $30 million to help 300,000 Afghan families secure a critical winter wheat harvest by the end of August. This funding will provide essential wheat seeds and fertilisers, benefiting 1 million families and significantly reducing food insecurity for 7 million
people.
By increasing awareness and funding for effective agricultural interventions, we can work towards a future where food security is a reality for all.
Source: Emirates News Agency