I think for the first time in history of mankind, universal food security has become a technical ,if not a political,possibility. We have come a long way from our days as hunter gatherers. There is enough food, to go around for all inhabitants of earth provided , government policy makers across the world know how to manage food stocks and prices.
Can governments across the world sit together and enact laws that make it mandatory in their countries for their governments to ensure all citizens get access to cheap food – it may be rice or wheat or lentils or vegetables. I am not referring to expensive basmati rice or premium wheat or fancy vegetables, more of basic food items at the bottom of the food price pyramid that are edible.
This will probably ensure that for the first time in the history of mankind, man is freed from the necessity of having to look for food, and his efforts are spent elsewhere in ensuring better education, healthcare and housing for his family.
In the context of food security, food subsidies, i believe have a central role to play. Food subsidies, to some extent ensure that the poorest of the poor in our country, do not have to pay through their nose for a days meal. Rice at Rs 2, ensures that a poor family can spend the money saved elsewhere – on things like education, healthcare etc. That also ensures, that there is a psychological assurance to BPL families, that food is only 5 or 10 Rs away, not an expensive dream.Atleast in developing countries, like India, while market capitalism plays this role in western countries.
Another item that comes to mind is the free noon meals scheme in place in some states like TamilNadu and Andhra in India. While this scheme has been criticised for being a drain on the state exchequer and populist, there is no doubt about its role in lifting an entire generation of kids out of poverty in these states.
Parents who otherwise send their children to work so everyone in the family can be fed, no longer have to worry about their childrens meals ( and clothes etc. ) and this has helped many children to focus on completing their schooling. This has broken the vicious cycle of having to work to feed and come out poverty which in turn made them abandon their schooling , and took away the chance to complete a schooling and get a high paying job requiring a college degree.
While, giving away food for cheap in a developed country sounds like cheap populism , it is probably a strong necessity in a poor country like ours and should be encourage and looked at. As per captia starts rising and a country become wealthy , food subsidies can be brought down gradually.
