Any plan to deal with Agriculture and Food Production has to be discussed in terms of financial feasibility and social responsibility. Agriculture must be seen as both a money making venture and as a health security issue. It is the profit-making aspect of the sector that encourages the risk-takers to invest; the capital component, the skilled personnel, the time and effort. The haunting reality that the human body must have proper forms of nutrients to be healthy and productive must drive Governments’ actions.Feeding your population is the most important pillar of any Government’s plans, not to do so is to encourage anarchy. A healthy diet must be provided for all, from birth to death, through social programs and affordable pricing. Importing the majority of foods consumed locally, leaves nations open to foreign decision-making, in other words, if an oil producing nation uses it earnings to import the greater part of its food needs, that nation’s food security is directly linked to the international market price of oil and the world price of the imported foods. Hence, if the price of oil goes down and the price of imported food goes up, the local Agriculture sector becomes a national security issue.
Business, with no loyalty to country or nationality – loyal only to profits, sees agriculture purely in terms of financial returns which are market driven. World food prices are escalating due to the increases in the cost of essential inputs, energy and transportation and primarily due to the uncertainty that climate change presents. Yields per acreage are declining worldwide as a consequence of severe weather conditions, a lack of coordinated planning to control prices, the perception that the lands are worth more if put to other usage and technological advances have not yet reached to the main stream. Hence, uncertainty is stopping the flow of private capital.
Traditionally, Agricultural skills where passed for one generation to the next but Agriculture itself was never accepted as a profession. So many, even from within the sector, saw Agriculture as a way to survive and educate their children into more acceptable professions. Many of these professionals now understand the importance of Agriculture, from growing crops and raring or catching animals to processing and preserving, and further downstream to the preparation and presentation of finished meals and brand name medicines. Universities and Colleges have redesigned their degree programs to incorporate, what was once seen as common manual work, as a specialized skill set, socially recognizing the practical expertise of many (former farmers) Agriculturists.
Studies continue to improve upon the techniques presently applied, to achieve the economies of scale associated with land yields and other food production measurements, to reduce food import bills and feed the population healthy affordable meals. With Governments leading by setting pricing policies, reducing the cost of imported equipment and making lands accessible to dedicated and qualified persons, private capital will take the risk.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
