A Policy Review: National Food Security Policy (2018-2027)

 

National Food Security Policy Review

 

Introduction
The general state of food security in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is favorable on a national scale. This is due to multiple factors. First, most people have enough customary land to support their demands for food production, and 85% of the population lives in rural areas. Ensuring household food security requires safe access to land.
Second, the majority of people's main economic and social activity in the majority of rural settlements is subsistence farming (Pacific Livelihood, 2018). The majority of daily food intake comes from local or homegrown crops and often satisfies basic calorie requirements (Bourke, 2000). With a ten-year timeline spanning from 2018 to 2027, PNG's National Food Security is a cross-sectoral national strategy that seeks to expand national food security in order to sustainably enhance the well-being and standard of living in the nation's rural and urban areas (FAO, 2023). This review will be mainly focus on the strengths of the policy.

Summary

Taking a multi-sectoral approach, the policy integrates agriculture, fisheries, trade, health, education, transport, and WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) to address the country’s complex food security challenges.

One of the policy’s main objective is to increase agricultural productivity, especially among small shareholder farmers who are the ones that produce most of the country’s food. The policy aims to create a stable and resilient food system by empowering these farmers with better tools knowledge, and market access. Women were also highlighted in the policy as key contributors in agriculture, where the policy encourages their active participation.

Infrastructure improvement was also highlighted in the policy, a critical focus area in which many rural communities face challenges due to poor road networks and limited access to markets. The policy supports investments in both transportation and storage facilities to help these farmers for an efficient produce and to reduce any post-harvest losses.

The NFSP also aligns with other national frameworks such as the National Nutrition Policy, National Rice Policy, etc. to ensure coordinated and comprehensive approach to food and nutrition security across various government and community levels.

Overall the NFSP 2018-2027 aims to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system that benefits all Papua New Guineans, especially those in rural and vulnerable communities.

Critique

The 2018-2027 National Food Security Policy builds upon the previous 2016-2025 policy, aligning with broader national development goals such as Vision 2050 and Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030.

Strengths

One strength of the policy is the integrated cross-sectoral approach that it takes. This approach acknowledges that food security is multi-faced, requiring coordinated efforts across various domains. Stated by Schmithüsen (n.d), in Agenda 21, cross-sector approaches are seen as a prerequisite for the sustainable development of society.

Another strength is empowering smallholders. The policy recognizes the vital role of smallholders in agriculture and how much they contribute towards producing most of the country’s food. By promoting profitable smallholder farmers, the policy aims to improve household nutrition and economic resilience. An example provided by TraceX Technologies (2022), in Africa and Asia, smallholders produce up to 70-80% of the food consumed. They grow staple crops like rice, wheat, maize, and pulses, which are critical for local diets. The policy highlights how important these people are.

The policy also highlights public-private partnerships. It encourages strong collaboration between public institutions and the private sector and are intended to develop efficient food chains, improve market access which has been one of our current challenges, and stimulate innovation within the agricultural sector. Public-private partnerships allow large-scale government projects, such as roads, bridges, or hospitals, to be completed with private funding (Investopedia Team, 2024).

Lastly, it is in alignment with the National Development Plan. The policy is designed to complement existing national strategies, ensuring coherence in efforts to achieve sustainable development and for economic growth. Stated by Department of Agriculture and Livestock (n.d), that achieving the policy's successful implementation will help the country move closer to its Vision 2050 of a wise, intelligent, just, and contented society. It will also help the country reach the second Sustainable Development Goal, which is to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and support sustainable agriculture (Department of Agriculture and Livestock, n.d).

Recommendation

A recommendation that I would like to include is to update the policy to promote Climate-Smart Agriculture practices. Climate change is one of the major security issue we face every day especially in the agricultural sector. It has led to increase frequency of extreme weather events, affecting agricultural productivity. An example would be the Zambia’s National Government Agriculture Investment Plan which integrates these climate changes concerns into its situational analysis and in the actions (FAO, n.d).

Conclusion

To conclude, this policy review looks mainly at the strengths of the policy which is how it has integrated a cross-sectoral approach that acknowledges that food security is multi-faced, it empowers smallholding farmers and it highlights public-private partnerships which encourages strong collaboration for food security in the country.