Discussion on Topic A: Reforming International Food Aid Systems

Hi delegates! I was reading more about Topic A: Reforming International Food Aid Systems and I stumbled upon this journal: "'Food aid is killing Himalayan farms.' Debunking the false dependency narrative in Karnali, Nepal."


If you are unable to open the journal, here is the link:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X18304297


FAO’s topic synopsis greatly explains how the international food aid system has been hurting nations; however, I found this journal interesting because Yograj Gautam explains why the idea of food aid is hurting farms may be false.


While reading this article, I encourage you to reflect on what are supportive and hurtful aspects of the international food aid system. By understanding opposing narratives, how can your nation take this new understanding and address the reformation of these systems? 


Here are a few points I want to highlight. However, I encourage you to read this article to dive deeper into details. 

Condition in Humla District in the Karnali Province of Nepal:

  • Hula District relies on self-production of food in order to maintain food insecurity. However, self-production can only feed 47% of households for six months. 

  • Local farmers have been hit by climatic change and labor shortage, resulting in an inability to keep up with food demand. 


Food Aid in Karnali:

  • Food aid transfers contributed to 20% of total household food needs. 

  • Food aid provided households with a safety net and prevented the need for loans.

  • In 2014, the Nepal Food Corporation implemented a new food aid initiative: grain exchange program. Local grains harvested in Karnali were sold in Kathmandu in order to encourage self-dependency. However, the results were not successful. The local grains were too costly due to high transportation prices. 

 

Gautam’s Arguments that Food Aid is not killing Himalayan farms:

  • There is lack of evidence on food aid dependency, but rather it is based on “assumptions and theoretical explanations” (Barrett & Maxwell, 2005, p.2007).

  • Empirical evidence reveals that food aid does not provide a reliable or large amount of food in Karnali; therefore, the population cannot fully depend on it. 


Each region will have a different experience with international food aid systems; the same system may work for a few nations, but not others. Be mindful of how we can learn from past experiences in order to make needed changes to our food aid systems. Share insights that you found interesting and how this article might have challenged your original understanding of the topic. 


Bibliography

  1. Gautam, Yograj. “‘Food Aid Is Killing Himalayan Farms’. Debunking the False Dependency Narrative in Karnali, Nepal.” World Development, vol. 116, 2018, pp. 54–65., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.12.001. 


Best,
Vice Chair, Tess
FAO, BMUN 71

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