brand logo

Ensuring the food policy committee achieves results

06 Oct 2022

It was reported earlier this week that in a bid to ensure food security and nutrition among communities that are most affected by food inflation, and to eradicate malnutrition, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to establish a Food Policy Committee. In this regard, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Bandula Gunawardana stated that the Government is working on implementing policies to ensure the said objective. Amidst a national crisis that has dealt a heavy blow to the access, availability, and affordability of food, there is a lot that proper policies can do. On the one hand, one of the reasons for certain food-related issues that the country is dealing with is the lack of proper policies. This situation was evident in food pricing-related matters, especially with regard to the controlled prices of essential food items. On the other hand, during the past few months, food-related decisions were taken on a case-by-case basis without much attention to the consistency of such decisions with the overall food security situation in the country, which should also be addressed. The said committee will be tasked with building trust among producers, traders, and customers on monitoring the supply chains within the country, as well as monitoring the short-term issues prevailing with regard to the supply, prices, and marketing. However, as part of these tasks, this committee should also pay attention to bringing in policies to reduce and prevent irregularities in the food sector that have exacerbated the plight of the people trying to obtain food. Prompt and stern action in this regard would give people the message that the Government is capable of addressing not just theoretical issues, but also practical ones. One such issue that needs to be addressed without delay is black markets. They are everywhere, from ordinary retail stores that sell goods at prices higher than the approved prices, to reputed supermarkets that require people to purchase certain goods or spend a certain amount to be eligible to obtain goods that are in scarce supply.  In addition, the threat of the hoarding of food and fertiliser, which is a result of sudden and substantial price changes and the lack of imports, is a pressing issue. While the authorities have claimed to conduct various projects to take legal action against those involved in these irregularities, hoarding remains an issue that is yet to be addressed. There are also various irregularities taking place in the transportation, storage, and sale of crops, which local experts have identified as one of the reasons that prevented around one-third of the country’s harvest from reaching the market. It should be noted that even though several institutions are vested with the responsibility of preventing these irregularities, policies can play a vital role in dealing with these concerns as far as legal reforms, strengthening the Police, and introducing fairer market policies are concerned.  Moreover, this committee’s roles and responsibilities should not be confined to ensuring food security in just the crisis. In a context where short-sighted, impromptu policies, such as the infamous organic fertiliser policy, alongside the lack of adherence to existing policies by successive Governments have created an environment that left the country susceptible to the sudden onset of a food crisis, this committee should be empowered to address the policy-related factors that led to this crisis.  However, more than drafting proper policies, it is their proper implementation that will bring about some stability to the country’s weakening food security, and failing to ensure proper implementation will make this committee just another example of good initiatives that have not borne fruit. Therefore, the Government has to ensure that this committee is given the full freedom and powers to achieve its objectives.  


More News..