Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity on Poverty

Food security is defined as economic access to food along with food production and food availability. The problem of food insecurity, the opposite of food security, has become a chronic one despite various unprecedented efforts made at the national and international level, especially in the form of setting up millennium development goals (MDGs). According to a new estimate by the World Bank, there are presently 1.4 billion people in extreme poverty in the developing world if a poverty line of $1.25 at purchasing power parity (replacing the earlier $1.08 criterion) is used.

Food insecurity and associated poverty continue to be a daunting problem facing all LDCs and developing countries. The current food insecurity, however, has two dimensions to it, the first arising out of lack of effective demand – a developing country characteristic for a long time now – and the second due to reduced productivity and declining crop yield.

In the coming period, it has been projected by numerous studies that the impact of climate change on agriculture will be deep and extensive. It will aggravate global food security and thus can lead to many falling below the poverty line. The reported increase in global warming is causing greater climatic volatility, such as changed precipitation patterns and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as typhoons and heavy rainfall as well as flooding, and droughts. It has also led to a rise in mean global sea levels. This would have serious consequences for food security and poverty the world over, especially in South Asia.

griculture is the main source of livelihood for most rural people in South Asian region and it is also the human activity most affected by climate change. Studies indicate that production of rice, maize and wheat in the past few decades has declined in many parts of South Asia due to increasing water stress arising mainly from increasing temperature and reduction in the number of rainy days and crop yields are projected to decline further.

outh Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and India will be severely affected by this climate change problem. Moreover, flood-prone areas are expected to experience significant land degradation and loss due to changing climate. Considering the pressure of fast population growth and urbanisation, the risk of hunger is expected to remain extremely high in South Asian countries. Climate change impacts on agriculture may threaten not only food security, but also national economic productivity of the region.

Asia is an important continent in terms of its capacity and potential in ensuring regional and global food security. Within Asia, South Asia is one of the most important regions, with India alone contributing over 20% of the total global production. Ensuring sustained food grain production is, therefore, not only in the interest of South Asian countries but it is also needed for ensuring global food security.

To ensure food security in South Asian, the need for SAARC food bank was realised more than 20 years ago, with the first step taken towards establishment of such a unit in 1988. However, not much progress has been made in this respect despite initiatives by various countries and signing of agreement during the fourteenth SAARC Summit in New Delhi in 2007. Overall efforts for securing an effective food bank for the region have to be scaled up.

Afghan Development Association

Afghan Development Association (ADA) has been moving through periods of extensive and intensive development work since its establishment in Pakistan during 1989, working mostly in refugee camps. Today ADA has a visible footprint across various regions of Afghanistan; working, collaborating, coordinating and supporting variety of local, national and international actors to one day effectively realize its vision, eradication of poverty from Afghanistan.
Practical Action Bangladesh

Practical Action Bangladesh has evolved over time to meet the challenges of poverty, inequality and vulnerability. Deeply committed to helping the poor in Bangladesh, its work on appropriate technology as a means to improve poor peoples livelihoods, has been flexible and responsive to local conditions and needs.
SDPI, Pakistan

SDPI was founded in August 1992 on the recommendation of the Pakistan National Conservation Strategy (NCS), also called Pakistan’s Agenda 21. The NCS placed Pakistan’s socio-economic development within the context of a national environmental plan. This highly acclaimed document, approved by the Federal Cabinet in March 1992, outlined the need for an independent non-profit organization to serve as a source of expertise for policy analysis and development, policy intervention, and policy and program advisory services. SDPI is registered under the Societies Registration Act, XXI of 1860.
CECOEDECON, India

The Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (Cecoedecon) was founded by a small group of young, committed social workers to provide immediate relief to the victims of devastating floods in Jaipur district in 1982. From a very modest beginning as a relief agency, Cecoedecon has evolved into a civil society organization pursuing integrated participatory development and advocating human rights. The organization has an authentic and informed perspective of micro-macro dynamics. The criterion for undertaking interventions is that they should lead to community self-reliance and empowerment. Thus, its work centers on the unfulfilled needs and ignored rights of partner communities.