Food Security in Nepal:An Overview from Policy Perspective

More than 20 countries including Nepal have the right to food enshrined in their constitutions.The article 36 of the constitution of Nepal-2015 broadly enlivens the essence of all the past,present and future policies of Nepal related to food security,food sovereignty,and food rights.The article and the essence of the constitution are in perfect synergy with the United Nations sustainable development goals-2015.Nepal’s policies on food,when implemented,are sufficient to guide the agricultural development to end hunger,achieve food security,improve nutrition,and promote sustainability.The challenge has been to learn a lesson from the past and focus on the implementation of the numerous guiding policies to achieve the goals of the constitution.

Investigation of Climate and Land Use Policy Change Impacts on Food Security in Eastern Sudan, Gadarif State

The aims of this research were to investigate the impacts of climate variations on land use policies, food security and vegetation cover in Gadarif State (eastern Sudan) during 1961 to 2013. Analysis of precipitation and temperature time series revealed that the annual precipitation was decreasing while the temperature was increased in the study area. Precipitation was decreasing at a rate of −50.3 mm/10a, while the temperature was increasing at a rate of 0.02°C/10a. The result of both SPEI and SPI showed that the Gadarif State has been changed to a high frequency of drought during 1961-2013. Sorghum yield showed a significant positive relationship with precipitation during July and October (CC = 0.364 and 0.321, respectively), moreover, a significant positive relationship between Sesame yield and precipitation was observed during July (CC = 0.335). A significant negative relationship between Sorghum yield and mean temperature was observed during the rainy season (July to October) with CC = −0.278. The yield productivity of Sorghum and Sesame had decreased significantly (from more than 800 kg/ha in the 1960s to less than 200 kg/ha in 2000s for Sorghum, while 500 kg/ha in 1960s to 100 kg/ha in 2000s for Sesame). The Mechanized Rain-fed Agriculture (MRA) area of Sorghum and Sesame in the Gadarif State had been increased from 1,058,241 ha to 2,799,655 ha during 1961 to 2013. Thus, we ultimately suggest that in the Gadarif State, policy makers must strive for an increase in yield per unit area by using sufficient fertilizers along with the gradual increment in tendencies of grain production through expansion of the cultivated area.

International Conference on Sustainable Rice Production - Policy, Technology and Extension Celebration Activity for International Year of Rice and World Food Day 2004

Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world’s Population.The production,processing and management of paddy rice have provided the basic conditions for the living of mankind.The production of rice has not only created

Establish the Long-effective Mechanism of Food Security in China

In despite of fluctuation in recent years, the grain yield in China has been increasing, which relieves the conflict between supply and demand and turns the situation of food security good. However, because of the rapid increase in food consumption, the conflicts of food quality and structure in the supply and demand equilibrium has become more and more obvious and the long-effective mechanism of food security has not been estab-lished yet. It is found that the factors affecting food security in China include the scarcity and dissipation of resources, farmers’ low enthusiasm in planting grain crops and the inappropriateness of the emphasis and measures of macro-economic regulation and control. Therefore, the authors advance to optimize resources allocation, strengthen macro-economic regulation and control and policy stimulation and establish the mechanism of allocating grain production cost, to set up the long-effective mechanism of China food security and keep it stable in the long term.

Relevance of Advanced Plant Disease Detection Techniques in Disease and Pest Management for Ensuring Food Security and Their Implication: A Review

Plant diseases and pests present significant challenges to global food security, leading to substantial losses in agricultural productivity and threatening environmental sustainability. As the world’s population grows, ensuring food availability becomes increasingly urgent. This review explores the significance of advanced plant disease detection techniques in disease and pest management for enhancing food security. Traditional plant disease detection methods often rely on visual inspection and are time-consuming and subjective. This leads to delayed interventions and ineffective control measures. However, recent advancements in remote sensing, imaging technologies, and molecular diagnostics offer powerful tools for early and precise disease detection. Big data analytics and machine learning play pivotal roles in analyzing vast and complex datasets, thus accurately identifying plant diseases and predicting disease occurrence and severity. We explore how prompt interventions employing advanced techniques enable more efficient disease control and concurrently minimize the environmental impact of conventional disease and pest management practices. Furthermore, we analyze and make future recommendations to improve the precision and sensitivity of current advanced detection techniques. We propose incorporating eco-evolutionary theories into research to enhance the understanding of pathogen spread in future climates and mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks. We highlight the need for a science-policy interface that works closely with scientists, policymakers, and relevant intergovernmental organizations to ensure coordination and collaboration among them, ultimately developing effective disease monitoring and management strategies needed for securing sustainable food production and environmental well-being.

Food security from an environmental and technological point of view

This article focuses on technology＇s enormous impacts in solving food security. Over the past several decades technology has made an important contribution to Chinese food production, and it will continue to have the widest impact on food security in China. The relationship between technology and environment is discussed in this article. It is suggested that technology is significantly related to the theme of sustainable Agriculture, and technology can achieve food security.

A systematic review of climate change impacts,adaptation strategies,and policy development in West Africa

Climate change studies are diverse with no single study giving a comprehensive review of climate change impacts,adaptation strategies,and policy development in West Africa.The unavailability of an all-inclusive study to serve as a guide for practitioners affects the effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies proposed and adopted in the West African sub-region.The purpose of this study was to review the impacts of climate change risks on the crop,fishery,and livestock sectors,as well as the climate change adaptation strategies and climate-related policies aimed at helping to build resilient agricultural production systems in West Africa.The review process followed a series of rigorous stages until the final selection of 56 articles published from 2009 to 2023.Generally,the results highlighted the adverse effects of climate change risks on food security.We found a continuous decline in food crop production.Additionally,the livestock sector experienced morbidity and mortality,as well as reduction in meat and milk production.The fishery sector recorded loss of fingerlings,reduction in fish stocks,and destruction of mariculture and aquaculture.In West Africa,climate-smart agriculture technologies,physical protection of fishing,and inclusion of gender perspectives in programs appear to be the major adaptation strategies.The study therefore recommends the inclusion of ecosystem and biodiversity restoration,weather insurance,replacement of unsafe vessels,and strengthening gender equality in all climate change mitigation programs,as these will help to secure enough food for present and future generations.

Grain Science and Technology Policies and Food Security in China:An Empirical Study Based on a Provincial Dynamic Panel Model

China’s grain science and technology policies have played an important role in the development of China’s food industry.This paper aims to examine the effects of China’s grain science and technology policies on food security.It quantitatively assesses China’s food security by analyzing the main contents and development trends of China’s food science technology policies through the text metrology method,and then investigates the effects of grain science and technology policies on food security by employing a provincial dynamic panel model.The results show that food security in China is all-round developed,and that the release frequency and cumulative effect of grain science and technology policies play a significant role in promoting food security.Powerful grain science and technology policies can effectively guarantee China’s food security.

“No Need to Get Salty” Or Is There? Sodium Functionality as a Consideration in Nutrition Public Health Policy

Aim: Public health professionals focus on both downstream (individual) and upstream (population-level) interventions to reduce sodium consumption and prevent sodium-related chronic diseases. Effective upstream interventions specifically aimed at reducing dietary sodium intake include the implementation of comprehensive nutrition standards that restrict the amount of sodium contained in foods available for purchase. The aim of this work was to identify sought-after foods that did not meet the Philadelphia Nutrition Standards’ sodium limits and reformulate those foods to be standards-compliant and consumer-acceptable. Subject and Methods: Two foods were reformulated for compliancy with the Philadelphia Nutrition Standards’ sodium limits and consumer acceptability: the hoagie roll and soft pretzel. Reformulation included sensory testing and engaging potential manufacturing partners to investigate products’ commercial potential. Results: While hoagie roll reformulation led to a local company manufacturing and selling the reformulated product, soft pretzel reformulation stalled due to lack of consumer acceptability of the reformulated product. Salt contributes desirable characteristics in the texture, taste, and appearance of the soft pretzel, the absence of which consumers found unacceptable. Conclusion: Product reformulation holds great potential to create lower-sodium foods that otherwise have all of the characteristics of the higher-sodium “original” products but requires an understanding of the role of salt in product recipes. Reducing salt without considering its multiple functions in food may result in a product that is unacceptable or even unsafe. A simple four-step tool can help public health practitioners evaluate the extent to which products are suitable for reformulation.

AGRICULTURAL GREEN DEVELOPMENT TO ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND CARBON REDUCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF CHINA'S DUAL CARBON GOALS

The agricultural sector,a major source of greenhouse gas emissions,and emissions from agriculture must be reduced substantially to achieve carbon(C)neutrality.Based on a literature analysis and other research results,this study investigated the effects and prospects of C reduction in agricultural systems under different scenarios(i.e.,methods and approaches)in the context of China's dual C goals,as those working in the agricultural sector have yet to reach a consensus on how to move forward.Different views,standards,and countermeasures were analyzed to provide a reference for agricultural action supporting China's C neutrality goal.

Promoting the Empowerment of Science and Technology to Ensure Food Safety Production:A Case Study of Huizhou City

The current situation of grain production in Huizhou City was analyzed firstly,and then the existing problems and challenges of grain safety production were pointed out,such as increases in the pressure to ensure grain safety production and the difficulty of stable development of grain production.Finally,several countermeasures and suggestions for the stable development of grain production were put forward.

Present Situation and Development of Chinese Grain Food Safety

The recent outstanding issues,＂ puzzles of farmers, anxiety oflocal government and helplessness ofcentral government,＂ facing Chinese grain security, depend on the lack of national food security strategy. Therefore, we must reconstruct our national food security strategy with a cornerstone of an integrated productivity, the focus control of market regulation forces and the protection of sovereignty. By analyzing the status of integrated productivity, market regulation force and sovereign control, this essay proposes that we should change the concept from ＂ food production＂ to ＂foOd management＂, design the two systems of the interest coordination and the special safeguard, effectively improve the enthusiasm of the government＇ s undertaking work in grain-producing areas and farmers＇ farming work, firmly grasp the two initiatives of acquisition and processing of grain and operating inputs, and actively apply recommendations of the two regulators： food exports, processing and conversion.

Food Imports in India:Prospects,Issues and Way Forward

India is one of the fastest growing markets in the world.Among the various sectors contributing to the growth of the economy,food is one of the fastest growing sectors owing to factors such as a large population base,rising middle-class,increase in per-capita income,and greater consumer awareness.Demand for imported food products is increasing due to factors such as reduction in tariffs,changes in consumer preferences and growing adaptability to international cuisine.Several initiatives have been taken by the Indian government in recent years to improve the ease of doing business and reduce the compliance burden through use of technology.Despite these initiatives,India’s ranking compared to other countries in some selective indicators such as documentary and border compliance and logistics performance is quite low.To improve ease of doing business,reduce cost and time taken in importing food products,and improve India’s ranking in logistics performance indicators,there is an urgent need for backend process and information technology(IT)integration across the agencies involved in the import clearance process.Given this background,the objective of this paper is to(a)provide an overview of the food import clearance process in India,(b)identify issues in the import process and(c)make recommendations on how to streamline the process using technology and automation.The paper is based on a survey of key stakeholders engaged in the food import clearance process.Based on a primary survey of 150 stakeholders in the United Kingdom and India,this paper finds that while India is an attractive market for importing food;low penetration of technology in the food import clearance process,lack of inter-agency coordination,and lack of risk management systems impedes the ease of importing food products into India.This paper recommends that in order to enhance ease of doing business,especially for SMEs,there is need to reduce procedural barriers by implementing technology and automation-oriented solutions,and a robust risk management system.In addition,there is a need to conduct continuous regulatory impact analysis to assess the time and cost reduction in importing food into India.

Evaluating the Impacts of Food Safety Policies on Japan's Rice Imports Based on the Simultaneous Buy and Sell System

This study evaluated the impacts of food safety policies on Japan's Simultaneous Buy and Sell rice imports through measuring tariff equivalents of food safety policies.In order to construct an estimated model,a Japanese consumer's utility function is introduced and developed with consumer's preference parameters and elasticity of substitution.In the empirical study part,Japan's positive list system and rice traceability were analyzed and assessed as critical food safety policies.Results showed that after the implementation of the positive list system,consumers'preference for foreign rice and the substitution elasticity diminished.This decreasing tendency was quite similar to the results after the enforcement of rice traceability.The tariff equivalents of food safety policies on imported rice fluctuated around ¥50 yen/kg from fiscal year 2000 to 2005 and decreased because of the global grain price hike after 2006.The tariff equivalents soared in 2010,which was induced by the traceability regulation,and then dulled during Japan's earthquake and tsunami in 2011.Subsequently,after the recovery from natural disasters,the tariff equivalents of food safety policies became higher.Therefore,food safety policies had made imported rice less attractive,weakened the competitive power of rice exporting countries,and had statistically significant impacts on Japan's rice importation.

Technology Adoption and Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa （SSA）： A Nigerian Case Study

This study examines the impact of technology adoption on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using Ukum rural community, Benue State, Nigeria, as case study site which significantly represents other Nigerian-SSA farming communities, the study tracks the impact of farmers＇ adoption or non-adoption of improved technology on food security vis-a-vis factors shaping their choices. It aims to make the case that adoption boosts productivity and improves food security among others. Filly farmer-participants were randomly selected using participant observation, structured interviews, questionnaires and photographing for data collection. Applying descriptive statistics including frequencies, tables, charts and percentages, field data were analyzed. Study findings strongly suggest that the main factors significantly affecting adoption of technology include cultural values, institutionalized land tenures, cropland size, poverty, literacy level, technology complexity, agricultural extension services, age and sex. Results suggest significant correlation between literacy level, economic power and technology adoption： younger, more educated farmers with higher economic status tend to adopt new technologies; farmers with access to agricultural extension services and credit facilities were more inclined to adopting new technologies; women were found more disadvantaged in the male-centered, exclusionary land tenure practice. Consequently, the study recommends sustained public sector interventions aiming to reduce food insecurity in the region.

Paddy rice multiple cropping index changes in Southern China: Impacts on national grain production capacity and policy implications

Changes in rice production in Southern China are crucial to national food security.This study employed Landsat images to map the distributions of paddy rice-cropping systems in Southern China in 1990 and 2015.The impact of rice multiple cropping index changes on grain production capacity was then evaluated.Three important results were obtained for the 1990 to 2015 study period.First,the multiple cropping index for rice decreased from 148.3% to 129.3%,and 253.16×10^4 ha of land area was converted from double-cropping to single- cropping rice,termed “double to single”.The area with the most dramatic changes is in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain.The rice-cropping system distribution in Southern China showed a change from north to south with double-cropping rice shrinking and single-cropping rice expanding.Second,the “double to single” conversion led to a reduction of 6.1% and 2.6% in rice and grain production,respectively.Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces,located in the main rice producing areas,and Zhejiang,which has shown better economic development,exhibited large reductions in rice production due to the “double to single” conversion,all exceeding 13%.Third,the grain production capacity of converted “double to single” paddy fields is equivalent to that of 223.3 × 10^4 ha of newly reclaimed cultivated land,which is 54% of the total newly cultivated land reclaimed through the 2001–2015 land consolidation project.It is also 1.7 times the target goal for newly cultivated land in the national land consolidation plan for 2016–2020.Making full use of the converted “double to single” paddy fields can save 167.44 billion yuan in newly reclaimed cultivated land costs.Therefore,instead of pursuing low-quality new arable land,it is better to make full use of the existing high-quality arable land.Based on these results,the government should change the assessment method for cultivated land balance,and incorporate the sown area increased by improving the multiple cropping index into the cultivated land compensation indicator.

我国大豆种业科技创新发展现状及对策建议

我国是大豆消费和进口大国,推动大豆产业振兴、强化大豆种业科技创新对于保障我国粮饲安全意义重大。结合2016年以来我国大豆种植面积、产量、进口量等数据及相关研究进展,深入分析我国大豆产业所面临的刚性需求量大且长期依靠进口、平均单产水平低且种植面积受限、大豆进口面临潜在风险且不易疏解等形势挑战,简述了“十三五”期间我国大豆种业科技创新发展成效,系统分析了我国大豆种业科技创新面临的种质资源研究水平不高、原始科技创新能力不足、商业化育种体系不完善、知识产权保护体系滞后等问题,并据此提出我国大豆种业科技创新发展的对策建议,以期为推动我国大豆种业科技自立自强提供重要参考。

新时期种植业保障我国食物安全战略研究

种植业产品是保障我国食物安全的关键,种植业的发展支撑了我国由“吃得饱”到“吃得好”的历史性转变,促进了居民膳食质量的逐步提升;新时期我国种植业发展面临资源环境压力、极端气候冲击以及国际地缘政治格局不稳等内外部风险因素的挑战,亟需探讨可行性发展战略以确保食物安全。通过对2035年、2050年种植业食物供需形势预测后得出,未来我国粮食净进口主要集中在大豆和玉米,油菜籽和糖的自给水平将继续下降,花生和水果的自给水平将先降后升,蔬菜始终保持自给有余的态势。基于此,本文梳理了新时期保障我国食物安全面临的挑战,提出了新时期种植业保障我国食物安全的战略构想,主要包括采取种植业产品生产能力提升和结构优化、资源高效利用与低碳生产推进、消费结构引导与健康观念培育、农业科技创新与装备支撑、新型经营主体创新等战略举措,实施种植业科技创新、种植业产品质量提升、种植业生态保护、蛋白替代等重大工程。研究建议,坚持“口粮绝对安全、谷物基本自给”总体战略,分区域制定产业发展优先序,加快补齐农业基础设施与科技短板,健全重大危机应对战略体系,以此增强种植业发展水平,切实保障我国食物安全。

有土斯有粮:高标准农田建设提高了粮食单产吗?

作为“藏粮于地,藏粮于技”战略的重要政策实践,高标准农田建设被期待能够有效实现粮食增产和更好保障国家粮食安全。基于27个省(市、自治区)的面板数据,探索了高标准农田建设对粮食单产的影响及其可能机制。研究发现:(1)高标准农田建设能显著提高粮食单产。替换核心变量、进行非参数估计和考虑内生性的稳健性检验,均证实上述发现可信。(2)机制验证表明,高标准农田建设主要通过提升规模经营、促进技术进步和降低生产风险三大路径来提高粮食单产。(3)异质性分析发现,高标准农田建设对起伏度较小地形、粮食主产区、较发达地区的粮食单产促进效应更大。研究结果表明高标准农田建设确实是夯实粮食安全根基的重要举措,需扎实推进新一轮高标准农田建设工作。