In an attempt to explore ways in eradicating hunger Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD) held a two-day virtual global conference on Localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Zero Hunger by 2030 recently. During the two-day deliberations, eminent speakers from different parts of the world dwelt upon multiple aspects relating to the topic. For sustainable food security, speakers emphasized several factors including boost in Agri-productivity, environment and climate change issues etc.
“As many as 18 papers were placed from five different continents and 688 participants from 76 countries attended this global conference”, said Dr.Jayanta Choudhury,Founder of GFSRD. He added, Secretary General, African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) Manoj Nordeo Singh inaugurated the virtual conference on December 12 and the conference concluded on December 13 last.
Professor Raghbendra Jha, Professor of Economics and Executive Director Australia South Asia Research Centre, Australia presented a paper on “Design of Fiscal Policy to Boost Agricultural Productivity”. Professor Jha highlighted the increasing pace of urbanization in emerging market economies poses a challenge for agricultural production South East Asia, Africa and Latin America. On the one hand, agricultural productivity is not keeping pace with the speed of urbanization and growth in food demand and, on the other, the demand for food is highly skewed making for an inordinate amount of food going for non-human consumption and wastage. He presented policy measures designed to address this situation are considered. He also gave emphasis on implications of these growing issues to international trade and domestic agricultural policies.
Architect Mustapha Kamal Zulkarnain, Founder and Owner, Arkitek Mustapha of Malaysia focused on “Towards Zero Hunger: Myth and Reality”. Raul N. Norbe, Member, Filipino Inventors Society Innovator of Green Zymo Technology in the Philippines presented his thought on “Climate Smart Gardening’’. Dr. Amitava Mukherjee, Executive Director, Development Tracks and Former Senior Adviser, UNESCAP Sub-regional Office for South and South West Asia, New Delhi in his paper on ‘Back to Basics for Sustainable Food Security in South Asia’’ discussed the pertinent issues related to Food security.
Dr. Helen R. Sekar, Senior Fellow (Faculty) V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, India gave her presentation on “Linkage of Hunger, Starvation & Worst Forms of Child Labour Importance of Invoking Immediate Interventions”.
Besides, Dr. Moses Abednego Ollengo, Director, Research Innovation Management and Community Linkages, Dedan University of Technology, Kenya presented his paper on “Traditional Vegetables asa Sustainable Food Supplement for the Vulnerable in the Community”.
Amb. Ihuoma Emeruwa, Child Rights Advocate, Nigeria spoke on “A Full Basket of Food in the Context of Covid-19”. She expressed the causes of hunger, ways of having a full basket of food in the context of COVID-19 and suggested few recommendations.
Professor Dr. Maria Teresa Pedrosa Silva Clerici, School of Food Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil gave presentation on “Bamboos, Tubers and Roots as Food Security”.
On the second day of the Conference, Dr.Ziyad Abunada of School of Engineering & Technology, CQ University, Australia presented his paper on “Zero Hunger and the Water-Food-Energy Nexus: Pathway to Sustainable Development”. Dr.Ziyad expressed that 2/3 of the global population is at risk of water stress. Dr.Wasam Al Madhoum, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and President, Impact Youth Sustainability, Malaysiagave presentationon “Environment and Sustainability”.
Maria Christina Endarwati, ST., Mium, Indonesia placed her presentation on “Reduces Zero Hunger by Defending the Land Sustainability”. Francesca Tabor, Founder, Virtual Global Village, United Kingdom and Kate Dabrowski Environment & Sustainable Reporter, UK delivered speech on her presentation was “Achieving Zero Hunger in the UK”.
Pradeep Yarra, Outreach Coordinator at Farm Animal Protection Campaign, Humane Society International, India gave presentation on “Where Does from Our Food Come”? Mr. Pradeep Yarra detailed the Environment-Social-Economic diagram and mentioned ten undernourished countries where India remained in the top.
Rafat Nur, Founder Director, EkTakarKhabar, Bangladeshspoke on “Project One Taka Food”. Dr. Asma Bileh of Somalia placed her ideas on“Hunger in Somalia”. She detailed the chronic food crisis in Somalia. Orfa Renee Ponce Berroas, Project Manager and Service Production Engineer, Peru gave presentation on “Fighting Anaemia: An Experience”.
The last presentation of the day was given by M.V. Mathew, Director (Public Relations and Finance) Non Violence Project,India.Methew expressed that farmers all over the world are deprived and get less input supports like credit, seed, irrigation, fertilizers etc. except USA and China. He opined that food security cannot be achieved without ensuring farmers welfare.
Dr.Kamrul Ahsan, Adjunct Professor, Stamford University Bangladesh and Moderator highlighted five points as outputs of the workshop. These were (i) Increasing people’s knowledge on food and nutrition, (ii) crop diversification, (iii) preserving indigenous crops, (iv) changing food habit and (v) taking more researches on sustainable agriculture.
Before conclude his observation, Dr. Ahsan mentioned another set of recommendations of FAO to address the risk of COVID-19.
The conference ended with a closing ceremony in presence of Tapash Ranjan Chakraborty, Oxfam, Bangladesh, Mr. Andre Mostert, University of Sussex, UK and Dr. Siladitya Chatterjee, IAS (Rtd.), Former Policy Advisor, Asian Development Bank. Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, Founder, GFSRD put official vote of thanks to all concerns.
