Should India Feed the World?
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India is one of the world’s leading agricultural producers and fast-growing economies, with a thriving agricultural sector that produces an abundance of food for its citizens.
The country has a vast array of climate zones and soil types, which allow for a wide range of crops to be grown. As a result, India is self-sufficient in many food staples, such as rice, wheat, corn, sugarcane and potatoes.
In addition, India is one of the world’s largest exporters of food, with exports worth $39.5 billion in 2016-17.
Ultimately, whether or not to provide food for the world in a time of need is a complex one that must weigh the potential risks and rewards.
But as the country looks to expand its footprint on the global stage during this time of crisis, it is a legitimate question if India should be doing more to help feed the rest of the world.
Feeding the world is a humanitarian gesture, and India has always stood for peace and humanity. However, there are a few problems that we need to consider before taking on such a big responsibility. These factors include economics, access to resources, public opinion and government policy.
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Feeding the world is a humanitarian gesture, and India has always stood for peace and humanity
On the one hand, there are many compelling reasons for India to be more involved in foreign aid initiatives. It is a significant player on the global stage and should help those in need.
In the past, when India failed to feed its population, other countries came to its support. Hence, it is now responsible as one of the world’s largest economies to wield soft power and supporting those in need.
At the same time, however, India’s resources are limited, and there is concern among some that the country would be spreading itself too thin trying to feed other nations while still working to meet its own needs.
Therefore, while it is indeed a noble gesture, we need to ensure that India has covered its social, economic and security risks before taking on such a big responsibility.
India has more than a billion of its population to feed. It is already feeding 800 million mouths after the pandemic.
India has a large buffer stock from over the years of good harvest, but the question is whether it is enough to feed the world in case of a global crisis.
The Indian government can use this buffer stock and distribute the surplus food grains to developing countries. This charitable action will help in reducing the food crisis in those countries. Moreover, it will also boost India’s image on the global stage as a country.
However, some concerns need to be addressed before taking such a step. There is the risk that doing so could deplete India’s food supplies, leaving the country vulnerable to a future crisis.
The first and foremost problem is our population. The majority of the population is still hovering around the poverty line. It makes them a priority in government policies.
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The majority of the population is still hovering around the poverty line
The second problem is corruption. There is a lot of national and international crime, and if we take on the responsibility, there is a danger that the resources we are trying to provide for the needy might end up in the wrong hands.
The food supply will only make the crony middleman rich. It will be ironic for a hungry Indian to fill up someone else’s bank. There should be a mechanism to track the distribution of the food grains to reach the intended beneficiaries.
In these times of chaos and uncertainty, tracking aid to the last plate is a challenge.
There is also the issue of dependency: many countries that rely on foreign aid eventually come to depend on it, and India would need to be sure that it could cut off the assistance if necessary. Stopping aid and pushing millions to hunger again, will be difficult for any peace-loving nation like India.
Time and again. India, too could need help to ensure that its food prices remain stable and predictable. It had imported food grains from Australia, Sugar and Onions from Pakistan etc. Though, it wasn’t a food aid.
Thankfully, those days are past when India faced famine and sought the world’s help.
India does play a big-brother role in the region. In the past, it has helped countries like Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan. Now, it is Sri Lanka which needs India’s support.
Why India should NOT feed the world?
India has a responsibility to itself first and foremost. It needs to take care of its citizens. Therefore, India would be wise to focus on its development and not take on the burden of providing for everyone else.
Many other countries in the world are capable of feeding others.
For example, all big oil companies in developed countries, are having a windfall profit. Initially, they were manipulating the prices of fossil fuel, reasoning demand surge post-pandemic and now citing an excuse of the Ukraine-Russia war.
As a result, the oil-producing countries are increasing their production capacities, and profit is expected to reach a trillion-dollar by 2030.
On the contrary, India must push for these giant energy companies to subsidize fuel for poor countries to fight fuel poverty. Then, automatically, hunger will vanish with cheap fuel costs.
There are also ethical concerns to consider. For example, India is home to many malnourished people, and it would be difficult to justify providing food assistance to other countries while millions of Indians go hungry.
Indians cannot afford food prices to rise, especially after the pandemic, when the unemployment rate is already high. COVID has worsened the situation, with many people losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet. The government has been providing some relief, but it is not enough.
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Indians cannot afford food prices to rise, especially after the pandemic, when the unemployment rate is already high
While it may seem like a noble cause, India will quickly fall behind if it tries to take on so much responsibility for others.
India would be exporting to nations supplying arms to the Ukraine war. In a way, India will be feeding war efforts.
Suppose India exports to the United Kingdom. It could be construed as a good thing – after all, India would be helping to provide for people affected by food shortages due to war.
However, some might argue that India should not be indirectly responsible for fueling conflict, as the United Kingdom supplies weapons to Ukraine.
Currently, the geopolitical situation is fluid. India should also prepare for war or the unlikely event of war with its hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan.
In recent years, tensions between India and these countries have intensified as each nation seeks to establish its dominance in the region.
In preparation of war or war-like situations, India should not use its vast agricultural resources. If India were to use its agrarian resources for others now, then it would have a significant security impact in a war or other major disaster.
Future
India can make a difference in the lives of the global population, but it must carefully consider the long-term consequences of its actions.
However, India will continue to face these dilemmas as it grows on the world stage. India would need to invest in storage and transportation infrastructure to do this effectively.
This development is a costly endeavour, as the country’s agriculture sector is already struggling to keep up due to its low profit and high debt for the farmers.
According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, global food production needs to increase by 70% to meet the demand of a population that is expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050.
Then, India is facing a significant risk of the monsoon failing, which could have dire consequences for the country’s agricultural sector and food supply. If this happens, food shortages and price hikes will affect millions of people.
Inflation could lead to political instability and even violence. It is history that hunger leads to civil unrest. Though. India has taken measures to mitigate this risk by investing in new agricultural technologies and developing more resilient crop patterns.
These will show results only in the distant future. However, the failure of the monsoon is still a genuine threat that needs to be taken seriously.
The country has one of the largest populations globally, with over 1 billion people who rely on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods. India is already a major exporter of food and supports several countries that cannot feed themselves due to drought or other factors.
Hence, the Indian food aid program should be avoided to further the feed, and India is already doing beyond its comfortable capacity.
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Inflation could lead to political instability and even violence
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