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Sustainability of rice in the global food system - IRRI books

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unfulfillable goal, whereas people’s <strong>food</strong> needs are a more tangible fulfillment <strong>of</strong><br />

needs for a healthy life. Susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>food</strong> security is a fundamental aspect <strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />

human development. It fuses <strong>the</strong> goals <strong>of</strong> household <strong>food</strong> security and susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />

agriculture. A commitment to susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>food</strong> security requires that we address<br />

not only <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g agricultural production but also <strong>in</strong>come and land distribution,<br />

dietary needs, women’s status and opportunities, and <strong>the</strong> protection and regeneration<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> resource base for <strong>food</strong> production. The recent World Food Summit held at <strong>the</strong><br />

Food and Agriculture Organization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Nations (FAO) has clearly emphasized<br />

<strong>the</strong> more people- and environment-oriented approach to guide future <strong>in</strong>vestments.<br />

Food strategy for susta<strong>in</strong>able human development: three policy<br />

areas<br />

We can identify three components <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able human development approach,<br />

as it relates to <strong>food</strong> and agriculture: <strong>food</strong> and participatory development, <strong>food</strong> and<br />

environmental susta<strong>in</strong>ability, and <strong>food</strong> and susta<strong>in</strong>able livelihoods.<br />

Food and participatory development<br />

Broad-based economic growth that is equitable and anticipatory is central to eradicat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

poverty and meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>food</strong> needs. Agricultural development is an important <strong>in</strong>strument<br />

for this growth, but only <strong>in</strong>s<strong>of</strong>ar as it is accompanied by dynamic nonfarm economic<br />

growth. The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Poverty Strategy<br />

Initiative, through participatory methods, helps smallholders and communities<br />

identify and implement a range <strong>of</strong> actions to improve <strong>the</strong>ir livelihoods.<br />

Though <strong>the</strong> rural poor are immensely skilled <strong>in</strong> generat<strong>in</strong>g livelihoods under<br />

adverse conditions, <strong>the</strong>y mostly operate with no improved <strong>in</strong>puts or <strong>in</strong>formation, low<br />

p<strong>rice</strong>s and distant markets for <strong>the</strong>ir produce, and virtually no <strong>in</strong>stitutional support for<br />

harness<strong>in</strong>g and manag<strong>in</strong>g natural resources. Migration to cities only serves to bloat<br />

cities and <strong>of</strong>fers partial and temporary solutions to problems <strong>of</strong> rural poverty. Achiev<strong>in</strong>g<br />

susta<strong>in</strong>able livelihoods for <strong>the</strong> rural poor is thus crucial for balanced and susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />

economic growth.<br />

Partnership between local communities and development plann<strong>in</strong>g and programs<br />

can be enhanced by build<strong>in</strong>g and support<strong>in</strong>g local <strong>in</strong>stitutions that enable broad-based<br />

participation. For <strong>in</strong>stance, <strong>the</strong> conventional top-down process <strong>of</strong> agricultural technology<br />

development and transfer has had some success. But when farmers are actively<br />

<strong>in</strong>volved, and technology development and transfer take <strong>in</strong>to account local<br />

needs and conditions, <strong>the</strong> results are far greater and <strong>the</strong> benefits more broadly shared.<br />

Institutional development is critical. Decentralization and democratic governance<br />

facilitate local participation. For small farmers to <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong>ir productivity, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

need access to <strong>in</strong>formation, services, improved technologies, and markets. Most exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g countries fail to meet small-farmer needs. To meet<br />

<strong>the</strong>se crucial needs, UNDP supports capacity build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a variety <strong>of</strong> ways, via <strong>in</strong>no-<br />

12 Speth

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