Costly diets: Lack of resources in food systems hamper right to food

The latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a troubling picture, emphasizing that the world is far off track in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims for Zero Hunger. 

According to the State of Food and Nutrition in the World Report 2024, the global prevalence of undernourishment has remained stagnant for the last three years, following a sharp rise after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2023 alone, between 713 and 757 million people faced hunger—one in every eleven people globally, with one in five in Africa. While some regions have seen notable improvements, hunger continues to rise in Africa, reminding us that the journey toward food security is far from over.

The Food Crisis in Africa

The situation in Africa is particularly alarming. Hunger has worsened in the region, with 924.8 million people unable to afford a healthy diet. 

The number of people facing food insecurity has increased by 24.6 million since 2021 and by 73.4 million since 2019. These figures represent more than just numbers—they reflect the daily struggles faced by millions of African families. 

In many parts of the continent, food insecurity is exacerbated by the impacts of conflict, climate change, and economic inequality.

Dr. Hameed Nuru, Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), warns, "The gap between those in need and those who can provide will continue to grow if we don’t address these issues." 

His words resonate with the reality that Africa’s food systems must be transformed to address these challenges. "If we don't change our food systems and tackle food insecurity, we will never achieve peace," he states, emphasizing the need for African nations to take responsibility for their own agricultural resilience.

One such family facing these challenges is that of Kelvin, a 43-year-old man from Vihiga County, Sabatia. Life is a constant struggle for him and his family. 

“We buy food according to the available cash at hand,” he says. As a casual laborer, he earns between Kenya Shillings 250 and 300 a day. With six children and a wife to feed, every shilling counts.

A 2kg packet of maize flour costs Ksh.120. Mostly, the family eats ugali with kienyeji vegetables, which cost about Ksh.30. The family shares a quarter-acre piece of land with his mother, which means Kelvin does not have full control over it. 

He plants some vegetables at the corner in front of his the succession of the land has not been done; it remains in his grandfather’s name, who passed away before he was born. 

“I never saw him. The land barely provides enough for us,” he laments. They grow some vegetables, but it’s not sufficient to meet their needs.

Kelvin’s five school-going children attend a public school. They face additional costs, as each student must pay Ksh.100 for exams twice a term. His eldest child is in grade six, preparing for the KEPSEA Exam, which has three papers. On top of everything, he cares for his mentally ill brother. “I can’t feed him,” he says. 

The weight of responsibility is overwhelming. Kelvin’s story is a painful reminder of the challenges many families face in their quest for survival and dignity.

Today, he didn’t get a call for work. With no other option, he heads downhill to harvest sand in a nearby river-It is illegal but that does not deter him, armed with just a shovel and panga. I walk alongside him as we talk. The sun beats down, and the work is backbreaking, yet the pay is barely enough. 

At home, his family waits. They’ve managed to gather only a handful of vegetables from their garden. His wife prepares dinner—a watery “soup,” stretching the little food they have to feed eight mouths. Each meal is thinner, a stark reminder of the food insecurity that shadows their lives, threatening hunger every day.

Limited Resources and Youth Engagement

A significant barrier to economic growth and individual prosperity in African agriculture is the limited access to resources, particularly for the youth. 

Agnes Matildah Kalibata, president of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) explains, “Resilience is the ability to bounce back every time you encounter an obstacle.” However, young farmers often face numerous challenges when attempting to enter value addition markets, which can lead to frustration and missed opportunities. The continent's heavy reliance on rain fed agriculture only compounds the problem.”

“I am not very sure you can respond to a rain fed agriculture system in less than eight months,” Kalibata emphasizes, underscoring the vulnerability of African agriculture to erratic weather patterns.

This vulnerability is illustrated at Kelvin’s farm, where the recent rains were accompanied by a hailstorm that unleashed numerous hailstones. 

These ice pellets struck the crops with force, causing significant destruction. Consequently, Kelvin and his family do not expect to achieve a successful harvest this season, leading to yet another cycle of insufficient food staples. 

They will have to wait close to two weeks to harvest what remains of the sukumawiki (kale) on the farm. This situation has left them with little to do, as the hailstorm also destroyed the tea bushes where they work, further jeopardizing their livelihood.

Africa's youth are essential to the continent's future, yet without the right support—access to land, credit, technology, and markets—many will find it impossible to thrive in agriculture. 

Kalibata stresses, "We must invest in our youth to secure our food systems for the future." Addressing these barriers will not only enhance productivity but also build resilience against climate shocks and global disruptions.

The Cost of a Healthy Diet

Recent updates on food prices and new ways of calculating them reveal that the average cost of a healthy diet globally rose to 3.96 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day in 2022. 

PPP is a measure that compares the value of currencies and helps understand how much people can buy in different countries. Despite the rising costs, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet globally has returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

However, the situation in Africa remains dire—particularly in low-income countries, where 71.5 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet.

Systemic Flaws in Agricultural Supply Chains

Kalibata also points to systemic flaws in agricultural supply chains, citing that doubling the cost of inputs just because one part of the world goes to war highlights misalignments in production and market demands.

These misalignments disproportionately affect low-income countries, as rising input costs further exacerbate food insecurity. Kalibata suggests that African nations need to focus on comparative advantages. "We cannot all produce everything." 

By fostering collaboration and specialization among countries, Africa can enhance food security and reduce reliance on global markets that are vulnerable to disruptions.

 “We can’t keep throwing good money after bad. We need to go back to basics,” Kalibata concludes emphasizing the need to improve regional strengths and build a more resilient agricultural framework across the continent. 

Only by addressing these structural challenges can Africa hope to overcome the recurring cycles of food insecurity.

Global Food Waste and Loss

Food waste remains a critical issue. Globally, 13.2 percent of food is lost before it even reaches consumers, contributing significantly to the hunger crisis. 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that around 931 million tons of food are wasted globally each year, a number that highlights the inefficiency of current food systems. In Kenya, for example, the average person wastes about 141 kilograms of food annually, a particularly concerning figure in a country where food insecurity affects millions.

Challenges of Aflatoxin Contamination

In Migori County, Kenya, food security is severely threatened by Aflatoxin contamination, a toxin produced by molds that can contaminate crops and lead to serious health issues.

 The issue has reached alarming levels, with many families consuming contaminated food without knowing the risks. 

Addressing food safety and promoting awareness around aflatoxin contamination are critical steps toward ensuring food security in the region. Local representatives, such as Janet Omollo, emphasize the importance of raising awareness and improving food safety practices to prevent further harm to vulnerable populations.

In the pursuit of global food security, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) stands as a fundamental milestone, asserting in Article 25 that everyone has the right to a standard of living that ensures health and well-being, including food. 

The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) also reinforces this principle, with Article 11 recognizing the "right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their family, including adequate food" and the "fundamental right to be free from hunger." 

Moreover, the Rome Declaration on World Food Security (1996) established that food security is a common objective, reaffirming "the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food."

The Right to Food Guidelines adopted by the FAO Council in 2004 provides practical guidance to states on fulfilling this right, emphasizing the need to build sustainable food systems that ensure long-term access to adequate food.

These declarations, agreements, and frameworks underscore that food is not merely a commodity but a human right—one that is essential to human dignity, peace, and prosperity. It is a right that demands collective action, from policymakers to farmers, in ensuring that no one is left hungry.