health

Reimagining Farming Post-Covid Pandemic

Sustainable Agriculture Management Team, FAO

ROME, Apr 6 2020 (IPS) – Together with medical services and transportation, farming and food production have been correctly identified as ‘essential services’ by all countries under lockdown. The Covid-19 pandemic has not yet made a dent in the food supply and so far, there are no reports of shortage of essential food and agricultural goods. All cities and towns are actively coordinating with government agencies, farms, businesses and transport companies to maintain the supply chain and ensure full availability of food for the population,

Kakoli Ghosh

However, despite the efforts, farm gate prices have crashed, there is a drastic drop in demand and farmers recognize that they are facing a substantial economic loss as fruits, vegetables, fish or meat have to be discarded due to the lockdown. There are warnings about the shortage of labor to harvest seasonal fruits and crops due to the restrictions in movements, fear and uncertainty. Should the lockdown continue for long, one expects price fluctuation, food crisis and a further exacerbation of hunger around the world. A similar spike in food prices and food crisis was experienced in 2008, although that was for different reasons.

This is the overall situation and the basic fact is that no country, rich or poor, has ready capacity to handle an emergency that requires a ‘whole-of-country approach’ all at once. It is becoming clear that the ground reality is very different for different metropolis, cities, towns and villages. Therefore, in a relatively short period since the onset of the pandemic, a range of innovative approaches and targeted, strategies have been developed and being employed to ensure food production and supply across the value chain.

For instance, in Wuhan an efficient, closely monitored and executed food procurement and e-distribution strategy was in play through its food outlets, supermarkets and home deliveries. It was supported by a robust digital architecture for operation at scale and there appears to be no major hiccups in food supply for its 11 million inhabitants. In Rome, there is a spike in the online ecosystem- something that was a modest initiative before the pandemic. Local agri-preneurs have increased and expanded their range of e-services and door-deliveries of farm products through innovative ways. In Delhi, swift policy measures have been deployed to avert food hoarding and cash support for farmers, incentives to ensure staggered transport of harvests among others.Similar innovative measures and new ways of working are being used and can be widely adopted for long-term recovery.

By all counts, three points seem to be of utmost priority. First, the role of government agencies must be reinforced decisively. The pandemic is bound to hit crop cycle, availability of inputs, storage and the entire farm value chain and the governments will need to coordinate and monitor an efficient, flexible strategy to handle the fall out. Public sector agencies have to be empowered to be able to provide the administrative network and infrastructural support needed for operating at scale. This would include for disbursal of resources, engaging the private sector, regulatory support, and managing externalities in line with the national priorities.

Secondly, food security should be the top concern. Having access to nutritious basic food for all the citizens can become a challenge especially for countries that rely on imports, when shipments are halted or borders are closed. Overall, lack of labor, lack of inputs or lack of finance and subsidies can all lead to major disruptions in the production cycle. More emphasis can be on developing and sustaining local food production that can be a lifeline during and after the pandemic. Such efforts must be sustainable, built on good practices and expanded to provide income, occupation at least at the local level. Natural resources, especially soil, water and agro-biodiversity should not be degraded any further.

Finally, agriculture has to embrace digital tools more quickly. Although online applications have been influencing many aspects of the society, it has not yet been given a priority in the agriculture sector. The pandemic has shown the immense value of digital tools and agriculture cannot be left behind. Especially for countries where food production and supply involves many smallholder farmers systematic application of digital tools can support sustainable production, quality control, price support and timely supply. Estonia operates fully online and an example on how to manage the transition. Better connectivity can unlock wider opportunities for the governments and the farmers and smallholder communities. This is the path to the future.

 

Related Posts

Get a job- Google is looking to hire a Graphics Engineer

The Gamasutra Job Board is the most diverse, active and established board of its kind for the video game industry!

Here is just one of the many, many positions being advertised right now.

Graphics EngineerGoogle

Location: Mountain View, CA

Google is not a conventional company, and we don’t intend to become one. True, we share attributes with the world’s most successful organizations – a focus on innovation and smart business practices comes to mind – but even as we continue to…

Get a job- Heart Machine is hiring a Gameplay Engineer

The Gamasutra Job Board is the most diverse, active and established board of its kind for the video game industry!

Here is just one of the many, many positions being advertised right now.

Gameplay Engineer, Heart Machine

Location: Culver City, California Come from South African Online Casinos

Heart Machine is a small, deeply motivated and close-knit team located in Los Angeles. Our focus is gameplay that’s engaging, fluid an…

Get a job- Hi-Rez Studios seeks a Character Rigger

The Gamasutra Job Board is the most diverse, active and established board of its kind for the video game industry!

Here is just one of the many, many positions being advertised right now.

Character RiggerHi-Rez Studios

Location: Alpharetta, GA

Hi-Rez Studios is immediately hiring a qualified character rigger to work at our studio in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Come join the creator of the critically acclaimed Smite,

Experimental Gameplay Workshop returns to GDC 2014 with star lineup

With less than two weeks remaining before the Game Developers Conference 2014, show organizers are detailing the lineup of the ever-popular Experimental Gameplay Workshop, which returns to GDC for its 12th year. This jam-packed two-hour session — which takes place Friday, March 21 at 2:30pm in Room 135 of the San Francisco Moscone Center's North Hall — will showcase an eclectic mix of unusual game prototypes that defy convention and explore new ideas and genres. This year the EGW is curated and organized by leading creators Robin Hunicke and Daniel Benmergui, and it promises to be an exciting opportunity for presenters and attendees alike to explore some fresh territory in game design. A number of 'experimental' …

Black Ops 6 Reveal Trailer Provides First Glimpse At 2024's Call Of Duty

The first trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is out now. The trailer doesn’t show any footage, but is instead a live-action mood piece that features a number of real-world political leaders, including Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and Saddam Hussein.

The trailer’s thumbnail also contains coordinates that point to the location of Hussein’s palace. The game seems be themed around questioning the government’s version of facts. “If it’s the truth you seek, look in the dark,” reads a line from the trailer’s description. Take a look at the trailer below.

Balatro Hits Big Sales Milestone After Being Showered With Awards

Developer Localthunk has revealed that Balatro has recently passed the 5 million sales milestone across all platforms. Come from South African Online Casinos

“The last few weeks have been pretty wild. To everyone who picked up Balatro after seeing it at The Game Awards, we hope you’re having an amazing time with it,” the developer said on Twitter. “If this is your first time picking up an indie title, try to make it a habit!”

According to Balatro’s publisher, Playstack, the 5 million mark doesn’t include downloads from Apple Arcade. Additionally, the game was sitting at 3.5 million copies sold at the first week of December, indicating that it received a boost in exposure after being nominated as a Game of t…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *