Food security in Guyana

THE recent events of inflation of prices for basic necessities in the past week or two have been a scare and eye-opener to us all in some way or the other. Persons who make well above the minimum wage were anxious about the recent increases in basic household items, inclusive of food items. One can only imagine the thoughts and emotions of those who work for money right above or at the minimum wage. Let’s also not forget that there is still the reality of many who make below minimum wage—and has to use said “wage” to provide for entire households. One of the most basic necessities for human survival and wellness is food. Our entire existence and quality of life is dependent upon the quality and dare I say, access to food. Communities in developing countries are structured around agricultural infrastructure. Our primate ancestors and their social structures were centred around food—men were hunters, and women were gatherers.

Guyana is on the rise to becoming a developed country. Investments are rapidly being made to encourage tourism and business. Restaurants are welcomed as an investment but the average will still have to access daily food through markets and supermarkets, as it is in other countries. Accessibility and affordability go hand-in-hand for food. They’re both just as important so in that same breath, while food may be accessible—it should be affordable as well. Even when food is accessible and affordable, is it healthy to provide dietary requirements? So, we may have one or two of these things, but for overall success, all three must be achieved. When we speak on accessibility and affordability for healthy food, we’re relating to food security. Food security, as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.

The Sustainable Development Goal 2 entails Zero Hunger. The goal is to end world hunger by 2030, ensuring that every child and adult receives enough nutritional food. Food is a luxury for some, especially when fine dining, but it’s a means of survival for many. Some people can pick and choose which restaurant or supermarket they can choose to access the food they’d like to eat today. Meanwhile, impoverished people of this land are forced to think about where their next meal comes from—given that they have access. The supermarkets or markets for some are the garbage bins or their neighbours leftovers. I must commend the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Marketing Corporation for their ongoing campaigns, farmers’ markets and outreaches across the country. When the cost of garlic skyrocketed in Guyana, both of these entities provided the sale of garlic at a reduced price. This is a great initiative. However, this and many more are needed. As the world and Guyana continue to continually populate themselves, we are in need of more food. Sadly, unhealthy food is also cheaper to access, which fuels obesity and unhealthy eating habits.

I will dedicate a future column piece to discussing possible solutions for better food security in Guyana. In the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you can ponder food security and the lack of accessible food for impoverished families in Guyana. You can’t build a prosperous Guyana with empty-stomach citizens