South Asia has seen rapid economic growth and declining poverty, yet hunger rates remain high in this part of the world. The consequences of under-nutrition are severe – it constrains the cognitive and physical development of children, reduces human productivity and has adverse long-term impacts on poverty and economic growth.
In the second seminar in a series organised by the Humanitarian Centre, and hosted at Cambridge’s Hughes Hall, academics from Cambridge and beyond came together with development practitioners and research students to discuss the problem of food security and hunger in South Asia. This problem has been dubbed ‘the South Asian Enigma’, due to the juxtaposition of persistently high levels of hunger, combined with high levels of economic development in the region. Those at the seminar discussed what can be done to counteract this problem.
The keynote speaker was Dr Mahabub Hossain, executive director of Bangladeshi NGO BRAC and Cambridge alumnus. Dr Hossain’s presentation focused on the key constraints to increasing food availability and improving food access.
Other issues highlighted were improving nutrition and health interventions and the importance of strengthening governance. There was an emphasis on the need to close the gender gap in many parts of South Asia; to ensure women have equal access to education and can gain equal economic status.
Professor Prakash Shetty, an academic from Southampton University and one of the speakers at the seminar, said ‘The rapid economic growth in South Asia is unlikely to make a severe dent on the problem of under-nutrition, as one of the consequences of economic growth driven largely by market economic forces is the widening of the inequality gap. Active intervention to reduce poverty is crucial.’
Discussions in the afternoon revealed the magnitude of factors contributing to the problem. It was agreed that in order to tackle it, a holistic approach must be taken. Aspects discussed ranged from the costs versus benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to the impracticability of implementing certain recommendation – such as the proposal that women should exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of a baby’s life.
Professor Shetty gave his verdict on how seminars like this can contribute towards solving the crisis, saying ‘Events like this bring a wide range of actors together and make them realise how many facets there are to this problem; if we appreciate each other’s positions and all contribute, it may help us all get there in the end’.
The seminar was the second in a series of researcher-practitioner dialogues on key policy issues, to be held in 2009/10. The first seminar was held in November 2009, on the subject of Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change. Upcoming topics will be announced via the Humanitarian Centre website in the coming months.
Produced for humanitariancentre.org by Holly Edwards
