Uganda: Motorists to Blame for Food Scarcity
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The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
5 August 2008
Posted to the web 5 August 2008
Shaban Serunkuma
Consumers are faced with a safety and moral dilemma. In view of the prevailing food crisis that is threatening the lives of millions of people across the world, experts have noted that production of bio-fuels poses a clear and present danger to food security.
Most bio-fuels are made from foodstuffs like maize, sunflower and soya, among others.Before long, the question of genetically modified (GM) food has returned on top of the agenda. Pro-GM groups are now smiling at last, saying: "We told you.
They are reminding those who care to listen that GM products should largely benefit humanity through boosting food production in terms of quality and quantity, specifically today, to 'prevent' the food crisis."
Anti-GM groups have apparently been caught flat-footed: they are on the defensive, retorting that their enemies are exploiting the crisis to force GM food down the throats of desperate consumers.
Across the world, fear is rising over climate change, with consumers caught in the middle. Scientists backed by 'green' activists have for long maintained that so-called greenhouse gases, that include automobile emissions, are to blame for global warming and therefore the phenomenon of climate change. The food crisis has also been linked to climate change.
There has always been a common understanding about the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy and instead switch to so-called alternative/clean energy sources. But hardly any action has followed.
And, there is more: a battle of words is raging on the multilateral trading scene and is cited among factors that have stalled progress in talks at the World Trade Organisation.
Poor developing countries want their rich developed counterparts to scrap subsidies given to their farmers because they distort trade in agricultural commodities - unsubsidised goods from poor countries cannot compete fairly. And even if they did, they face other barriers.
The sum effect of all the above developments is bound to change the marketplace the way we have always known it. Consequently, many consumers, mainly the poor, are destined to find themselves at a crossroads: in view of the prevailing food crisis, arguments over the nature of food they eat may cease to matter. Factors remaining constant, consumers would be ready to eat anything affordable. And this could happen right in your neighbourhood.
Uganda and East Africa at large are no longer food secure; our stocks often end up in export markets, a weakness that could expose millions to hunger, given that every passing day, more farmers are hanging up their hand-hoe and increasingly rely on markets for their regular meals.
But hang on a second. Someone is using food you could eat to make fuel to power SUVs for the rich. If it were that simple, consumers would be in a full-throated protest. But they are not.
Instead, the motorists and public transport services consumers are exerting silent pressure on government over spiralling fuel prices, forcing the authorities to consider alternative fuel sources.
Relevant Links
Bio-fuels are a tempting option; even Makerere University has made a breakthrough in making bio-diesel from cooking oil. Now we could be heading to a cruel and vicious loop.
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Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
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