Like its precursor, the dreadful COVID-19, the burgeoning global food crisis is turning to be another pandemic of a greater proportion. North, South, East and West of the hemisphere the impacts of food shortage are being felt in shopping malls, the marketplace and in homes where lack of food is manifesting in profound hunger. The hunger is translating fast to anger and potential social unrest in many countries. In many countries of the global south not even multibillion dollars in buffers has been able to avert crisis.

That the earlier pandemic of COVID-19 interrupted international supply chain is saying little. The on-going war in Ukraine is another big disruptor. The war has severely disrupted food, fuel and fertilizer outlets. The ripples effect is being felt everywhere both in developing and less developed countries.

As at half year, the World Food Programme (WFP) has estimated the number of acute food insecure people whose access to food in the short term has been restricted to the point that their lives and livelihoods are at risk 345 million globally. WFP’s estimates covered 82 countries. Reports around the world indicated knee jerk reactions which have seen over 25 countries adopting export restrictions measures. The high costs of inputs such as natural gas are also a contributing factor as it has resulted in escalating the price of fertilizer. The elephant in the room is climate change. This is affecting agricultural productivity especially in agrarian counties where farming and subsistence agriculture are being severely constrained.

This is recipe for disaster. A potential disruptor of progress already being made towards achieving outcome under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

What next?

Heart-warming that the international Monetary Fund (IMF) has come up with a four point framework –that hold promises on this food crisis. The framework equally has potentials to becoming the much needed solutions to the food crisis. Strengthening safety nets for vulnerable households, according to the fund, is urgent and should be top on the list of priorities. One cannot agree less. The subdued anger in many countries as a result of this food crisis needs to be stemmed and nipped in the bud. A hungry man is an angry man.

Facilitating trade and improving on international supply of food should be next. While these can be achieved in the short term, countries of the world and concerned world bodies especially the World Food Programme (WFP) should begin taking action to encourage farmers and fishers to boost sustainable food production in both developing and developed countries and improve the supply chains that connect them to the world’s eight billion consumers. Needless to say that this feat would require affordable fertilizers, seeds, and other agricultural inputs.

It is imperative that help gets to many vulnerable countries especially those in the global south in the throes of acute balance of payments problems. Significant assistance with capacity to cover costs of increase in food import bill would minimize risks of social unrest presently brewing up in many countries - Sierra Leone inclusive.

A stich in time in this instance would save millions.