Fourth South-South Cooperation Workshop on Rural Development and Poverty Reduction - Syed Bilal Khisro

Ni Hao, Good Morning, Bonjour & Assalam-o-Alaikum

The socio-economic Wheels of the Vehicle of Human Development

Global Sirens

Poverty

Population

ProblemsA to Z

Food Insecurity

The Barriers

Other Diverse Problems A to Z

• Political Solutions

• Diplomatic Solutions

• Technological Solutions

• Even Philanthropy Works

And the remaining 3 Wheels?

• Uniform Issues & Dynamics --- So!

Population PovertyFood

Insecurity

THE TRIPLE CONSTRAINT

Food

Insecurity

POPULATION

0.5 B

(1500)

-----

1.0 B

(1804)

304 years

2.0 B

(1927)

123 years

3.0 B

(1960)

33 years

4.0 B

(1974)

14 years

5.0 B

(1987)

13 years

6.0 B

(1999)

12 years

7.0 B

(2012)

13 years

8.0 Billions

(2027)

15 years

World Population–the Billions’ Marks

POVERTY

FOOD INSECURITY

World Agricultural Disequilibrium

• Co-existence of Food Deficit, Hunger & Malnutrition in some areas; and

• Food Surplus & Excess Nutrition in other areas

Political Distortions in Food Trade

• Food Problem in Low-Income Countries

• Protection Problem in High-Income Countries

• Disparity Problem in Middle-Income Countries

ONE RESOLVE

(FOCUS STANDI)

But, Challenges are Unlimited:

Land & Tenure Security:• Universal Proportional Lags in Land Use

Intensity

• Marginalization (Lack of access to land & land-use)

• Land Reforms; threatened by Political & Vested Interests

• Rapid Urbanization

• Land Scarcity; Cultivated Land Vs Irrigated Land

• Distortion of Priorities in Policies

Water Resources (Depletion & Scarcity):

• Limited space for Irrigation Expansion

• Groundwater Aquifers, going overexploited

• Small Farms Constraints

• Large Owners’ Exploitation

Diversification LAGS:

• Declining Productivity Growth

• Markets fragmentation for High Value perishable commodities

• Volatility of Prices & Market Risks

• Infrastructural Deficiencies (FMRs)

• Poor Credits’ Accessibility

• Erosion of Trust in Markets

• Weak or NO Value Chain Management

Environmental Issues:

• Land Degradation

• Soil Erosion

• Salinity & Water-Logging

• Poor Water Management Practices

• Misappropriation of Fertilizers & Pesticides

• Water Pollution & Damages to Ecosystems

Climatic Changes:

• Narrow Research Base

• Low Technology

• Mitigation Absence

• Adaptation Lacking

• Low Capitalization

• Diverse non-climate Stressors

The Natural Factors:

• Vulnerabilities and Risks; stay unattended or partially/minimally Redressed

• Disasters, Droughts, Floods and Hurricanes, etc.

Towards Workable Solutions

POLICY SUGGESTIONS

Supportive Policy Drivers for Small Farms:

• Research, Extension & Farm Services

• Insects & Pests Management, Soil conservation strategies

• Strengthening Participatory Methodologies

• Subsidized Farm Mechanization

• Fiscal Stimulation

• Organic Agriculture and Bio-technology

• Supply Chain Management

• Information & Communication Technology

Applying Modern Concepts & Culture in Traditional Agriculture:

• Governments to Institutionalize Strong Regulatory Frameworks

• Establish & Strengthen/Integrate Linkages between Industries & Agriculture

• Supportive Infrastructure (FMRs),

• Services & Utilities plus Alternate Power & Fuel sources

• Agricultural Production Optimization

Agricultural Market Strengthening:

• Constant Improvement of Product & Factor Markets

• Optimizing Transaction Approaches

• Price Adjustment & Stability

• Improved Information & Dissemination Platform

• Improved Agricultural Production Inputs & Products’ Standards

Agricultural Technical Services:

• Technology Development

• Extension Services

• Innovation & Training

• Water Management Practices & Support

Agricultural Public Policies:

• Sustainable Development Planning

• Delivery of Subsidies

• Agricultural Financing & Insurances; as Priorities

• Strong Reserve System of Agricultural Products

National Policy Dimension-1

Prioritize Smallholders & Farms in Policy Priorities in Planning

Enabling Envt. & Legislation; Smallholders’ Rights’ Protection

Supportive Physical, Financial & Technical & Info. Infrastructure

Strategies be Needs, Area, Situation-Based & Not Experiments

National Policy Dimension-2

Smallholders’ cultural exchange programs for experience sharing

Measures for Agri-based Industrial Base

Res., Extension, OFWM, Trainings

Evade Exploitation & Build Farmers’ Trust (Sustainability)

The Middle-Man’s View

Quality as Priority-I

Quality as Priority-II

Quality as Priority-III

Global Policy Dimension-1

Initiate Global Agricultural Policy Dialogue Forum for Small-Holders

Adopt Resolution/s for Enabling Policy & Growth Environment

Set Goals on MDG Lines

Promote Linkages across Boarders

Global Policy Dimension-2

Devise Agri. Social Protection Strategy for Smallholders

Devise Agricultural Governance

Devise a Social Contract for Smallholders

For All of Us to Commit and Strive for a Better Tomorrow

PovertyReduction

BetterHuman

Resource

GlobalPolicy

Dialogues

FoodSecurity

The Vehicle May Have a Safe Drive Now