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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY Vol. III, Issue XII, Friday, December 10 - 17, 2010

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

PROMOTING SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS

RICE CRISES REDUX: COULD BHUTAN BE CUT OFF AGAIN?

For a brief moment in time, Bhutan faced a serious threat of rice shortage when India banned export of non-basmati rice, a situation that forced Bhutan to examine its reliance on imports to feed its people. On March 17, 2008, the Indian government placed the ban to address its own food shortage. Fortunately, the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) negotiated a reversal of the ban, staving off a potentially major food shortage crisis in Bhutan. "From the experience of 2007 Global Food Crisis, we should be alarmed that if we become more dependent on imported food, at times imports might be restricted even if we have the purchasing capability. On the other hand, if we try to produce adequately and become self-sufficient in cereal grains, we will be less influenced by external market forces" said Chencho Norbu, Director (Department of Agriculture, MoAF) The global food crisis of 200708 led to dramatic increase in the world food prices, causing political and economic instability and social unrest in both poor and developed nations. In 2007, the total food import bills settled at an estimated increase of 25% in developing countries, where people spent as much as quarter of their income on buying food commodities. The average world prices for rice rose by 217%, wheat by 136%, corn by 125% and soybeans by 107%, between 2006-08. We were paying Nu. 10 for rice for one week and then it leapt to Nu. 25 recalls Phuntsho, a resident of Thimphu. It was during that time that some of the major rice-exporting countries like China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Egypt imposed strict bans on rice exports. Similarly, Argentina, Ukraine, Russia and Serbia imposed high tariffs or blocked their export of wheat and other food commodities completely. Continue on page 3

SPONSORED BY:

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)

FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

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FOOD SECURITY IN BHUTAN

In Bhutan, the early Five Year Plans (FYPs) called for self-sufficiency in staple foods, while more recent FYPs focus on the goal of food security. There has been a long standing debate on whether food self-sufficiency is a useful strategy to achieve food security. Supporters of this proposition argue that relying on the market to meet food needs is a risky strategy because of volatility in food prices and possible interruption in supplies. The opposing view is that it is costly for a household (or country) to focus on food selfsufficiency rather than producing according to its comparative advantage and purchasing some of its food requirements from the market.

According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. The definition takes into account four important dimensions of food security: 1. Physical availability of food 2. Economic & physical access to food 3. Food utilization 4. Stability of the above three dimensions over time The adjustment of the existing 10th Plan to accommodate new initiatives under the ABSD Programme by the McKinsey consultancy introduced eight prioritized commodities targeted for accelerated intervention through contract farming. The initiative is intended to concentrate resources, funds, and manpower in the most potent growth areas. The current plan, however, does not clearly spell out how it would address food security and poverty in the remote areas. The eight commodities are: 1. Rice 2. Potato 3. Asparagus 4. Apple 5. Pomegranate 6. Passion fruit 7. Orange 8. Walnut

WHAT IS FOOD SECURITY?

THE EIGHT PRIORITIZED COMMODITIES IN BHUTAN

RURAL VS URBAN FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Rural people tend to be more food self sufficient than urban dwellers. Rural households report producing enough food for 12 months of the year in 42% of cases. The other 58% obtain food for at least part of the year from purchases and labour exchange. Total cereal production in Bhutan averages 211 kg per rural inhabitant. But some gewogs produce no cereals; Lunana in Gasa, and three gewogs of Thimphu.

The urban population is slowly beginning to battle with obesity. Though the rural food self-sufficiency is higher, the rural population suffers from malnutrition, low food availability and poverty. Although the national average energy consumption exceeds 2,500 kilo calories/person/day-in the worst hit areas, this figure does not reach 1,900. Communities from the eastern and rural regions of Bhutan experience notably higher levels of malnutrition and food poverty than other regions and urban areas. Food self-sufficiency Rice self-sufficiency Cereal self-sufficiency Rural 45% 37% 41% Urban 7% 8% 9% Overall 33% 28% 32%

Per capita food expenditure (Nu/month) Months with sufficient food (months)

Per capita expenditure (Nu/month) 2035 4403 2748 Source: Food Security and Food Self Sufficiency in Bhutan- PPD, MoAF

11.45

1103

11.95

1851

11.60

1328

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

Rice Crises Redux: Could Bhutan Get Cut Off Again?

Bhutanese people are fond of eating rice. The per capita consumption of rice in Bhutan is approximately 166 kgs/person/year, which is very high. The demand for rice continues to rise as cereals dominate the diet composition. Despite increase in the production over the years, the domestic production of rice has not been able to meet the growing requirement. Bhutan still leans on India to make up the difference as the country is only 50% rice selfsufficient at the moment. However, the 10th Five Year Plan (2009-2013) includes an objective to achieve 65% rice self-sufficiency. Having felt the panic from the 2007 food crisis, today, we see many initiatives being taken at the global, as well as the national level, to ensure food security. Under the ABSD Programme (Accelerating Bhutan's Socio-economic Development), coordinated by the GNHC, a strong policy commitment on how to improve rice production has been illustrated. Of the eight major programmes being specifically assigned for the MoAF, one is rice productivity improvement and advancement of irrigation facilities. It is clear that creating food

security is a massive balancing act that requires the collaboration of numerous ministries as well as the determination and education of the people of Bhutan. According to Chadho Tenzin, FAO, some of the major challenges faced in order to ensure food security within the country are irrigation, availability of quality seeds and seedlings, land fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.

The food crisis appeared to explode overnight, igniting fears that there are just too many people in the world. But according to the FAO, with record grain harvests in 2007, there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone-at least 1.5 times current demand. In fact, over the last 20 years, food production has risen steadily at over 2.0% a year, while the rate of population growth has dropped to 1.14% a year. Population is not outstripping food supply. Were seeing more people hungry and at greater numbers than before says World Hunger Programs Executive Director Josette Sheeran, There is food on the shelves but people are priced out of the market.

The World Food Program said that the rising food prices and a corresponding food shortage threatened 20 million of the planet's poorest children. Food prices had risen 40% on average since mid-2007, and led to riots in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. At a summit in London on 2007, the executive director of the World Food Program said that a silent tsunami of hunger is sweeping the world's most desperate nations. What we are seeing now is affecting more people on every continent. The price of rice has more than doubled in the past five weeks" - Josette Sheeran, Executive Director, World Hunger Program.

GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS 2007-2008

The causes are scattered: increasing use of bio-fuels in developed countries, general escalation in the cost of fertilizers, food transportation, industrial agriculture, increased prosperity in emerging economies, droughts in grain-producing nations, falling world food stockpiles and climate change.

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Total amount of consumption of rice in Bhutan annually: 100,000 tonnes Percentage that comes from India: About 50% Projected demand for rice in Bhutan for 2021: At least 150,000 tonnes Year by which the RGoB has set a goal to reach 65% rice sufficiency: 2013 (It is possible, if there is enough investment in irrigation and know how). McKinsey's recommended target increase in rice yield: 1.7 tonnes per hectare to 2.2 tonnes per hectare Percentage of India's GDP that comes from agriculture: 21% Percentage of Bhtuan's GDP that came from agriculture in 2005-22.6%, 2007-18.6% Year that agricultural growth began to decrease in India: 1990 Percentage of Indias rice yield compared to China: 33% Percentage of India's rice yield compared to Vietnam and Indonesia: 50% Year by which Indias population is expected to cross 1.4 billion: 2026 Year by which India is expected to be in deficit of all main food crops: 2010 Percentage of Bhutan's total requirement of pulses and edible oils imported from India: 60% Percentage of cultivated land in Bhutan dominated by rice and maize: 75% Annual expenditure by wealthy nations on agricultural subsidies: $300,000,000 Approximate amount the EU spends on subsidies for agriculture: $75,000,000 Percentage that sector represents of the EU GDP: 2% Increase in price of local rice in Bhutan during the food crisis of 2008: 33% Amount by which the MoAF is planning to increase the national food reserves mainly cereals and oils: From 1,658 tonnes to 5,850 tonnes The estimated national average daily energy intake in Bhutan: 2,555 kcal The estimated national average daily energy intake in Punakha: 3,227 kcal The estimated national average daily energy intake in Pemagatshel: 1,647 kcal

OBSERVER INDEX

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010 As per the Agriculture Machinery Centre, Paro, rice cultivation is highly labour intensive as it requires 112 man days of work per acre, starting from land preparation to harvesting. Out of this, about seventy days (80%) are put in by women. Ploughing the field is almost purely done by men using either power tillers or bulls. While mechanized transplanting, harvesting and transportation are usually shared, all works done manually, including weeding are done by women mostly. We dont argue that women bring more income than men, but you can see that men are not interested in repetitive jobs. I feel that they like jobs which they are appreciated for and the output is easily measurable, says one lady farmer in Paro. Thats why you see that it is more males who migrate out (either permanently or on short term), and they will try hard to justify a job outside. In many countries, they are the mainstay of agricultural sectors and food systems. Yet the most disadvantaged population in the world today comprises rural women in developing countries, who have been the last to benefit from-or in

WOMEN
IN THE FIELDS
In developing countries worldwide, women play a major role in farming. The work being of regular and repetitive type, usually is taken for granted and go unnoticed. On the other hand men usually take up works which require much higher strength, usually for shorter periods of time and which are easily noticeable and possess easily measurable impacts. Leaving aside all other comparisons, assessments have always shown women to be putting in more number of hours of work in the food production related activities. And this is seen to be much more pronounced in developing countries where farming is much more labour intensive than in the developed world.

some cases have been negatively affected by-prevailing economic growth and development processes. Gender bias and gender blindness persist: farmers are still generally perceived as male by policymakers, development planners and agricultural service deliverers.

Poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation are recognized as critical development problems and have been given highest priority in the international development agenda. These problems have a disproportionate negative impact on rural women, due to their inferior socio-economic, legal and political status as well as their critical roles as producers and household managers. The causes and effects of these impacts are systemic. The implications for agricultural and rural development and for all initiatives aimed at raising levels of nutrition, improving production and distribution of food and agricultural products, and enhancing the living conditions of rural population will be far reaching.

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"I feel that the panic brought about by the 2007 Global Food Crisis was good for Bhutan. It provoked a thought and debate amongst the policy makers and plannersOh yes! Food self-sufficiency is important! Prior to the crisis, this fact was somehow ignored. Most people thought that as Bhutans requirement is small, it can easily be met through import; hence, the county should concentrate on other commodities for export. However, this isnt realistic in the long run. We can only import rice if it is available elsewhere! Therefore, it is important to maintain a minimal level of selfsufficiency. Greater investments have to be made on rice production focusing on irrigation, farm mechanization, post-harvest processing and marketing. The recently started initiative through Accelerating Bhutans Socioeconomic Development (ABSD) is in this direction and should produce tangible results." Ganesh Bdr. Chettri, MoAF We cannot ensure food security unless we increase the production area or the productivity. The challenges are huge and daunting, especially with the limited arable land in the country. But the target doesnt seem that difficult to achieve! If we want our farmers in the rural areas to continue farming practices, they must be provided full support or else they will flock to urban areas. Hence, every step we take must be in a sustainable way so that we dont complicate our own future later. Dr. Karma Tenzin, UNDP

VOICES

Bhutan imports food at the cost of its farmers, like most other nations. It is similar to destroying the market for its own farmers and denying them their income. I think food security has to begin not by thinking what you can import cheap, but what you must grow and what is the support that the more privileged part of the Bhutanese society can give to its farmers. I am very happy that organic farming in Bhutan has begun with the lowering of the cost of production. As how GNH is the measurement of reality, organic farming is the measurement of a really healthy agriculture. Dr. Vandana Shiva at a seminar on Organic Farming at Thimphu on September 2010.

Currently, we are feeding about 36,000 children in the rural areas of the country with nutritionally balanced food items like rice, dal, channa and oil. The criterion for selection of our beneficiary is poverty. We are part of the food security initiatives but our main focus is to address short-term hunger. The food that we supply is locally procured but majority of the supplies comes from India (and overseas) as we do not have enough local supply. Globally, WFP has a project called P4P (Purchase for Progress) which basically talks about local purchase. In 2007-08, we procured local maize in order to help domestic farmers, but the local supply was insufficient and untimely. Dungkar Drukpa, WFP

We need to give equal importance to awareness education than focusing on production alone. What we should look into is not just the volume we eat but the quality as wellthat's the nutrition part. There is a lot of work to be done on this front by the agriculture ministry, and the other sectors like health, education etc. If we work jointly it is not difficult to reach the target that we have set of being 70% food self-sufficient. At times it so happens that we miss the priority down the line of consultation! Definitely, there is a big role from the food and nutrition security perspective to the overall family happiness, as basic need starts from food. From my perspective, if we have enough good food to eat at the end of the day I think momentarily we should be happy going to bed. Chencho Norbu, MoAF We may have varieties of food in the market, but if we continue to take chillies only, the nutrition aspect is not met. No doubt, food security is very important! Unless the country is secure in terms of food and nutrition, it will be difficult to focus on other programmes. The self-sufficiency policy existed in Bhutan in 1970s80s, but at that time we talked only about production. However, the farming practice in Bhutan is gradually becoming more marketdriven and commercialized. For example, MoAF has redirected their goal to MAP (MarketingAccess-Production). Mr. Chadho Tenzin, FAO

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

More than 200 species of mammals, 770 species of birds (72 are among the most endangered species), and 5,400 species of plants are protected by Bhutan's strong environmental conservation policies. But there is one endangered species that has not made it onto the list: The Rural farmer. The natural world is not always a gentle one. Many farmers are under serious threat as wild elephants and other animals encroach on farmlands. Elephants destroyed 132 acres of crops in 2007, causing damage to crops and property. Bears recently killed twelve cattle and horses in Kangpara gewog in Trashigang, dangerously near the homes of the farmers. And the damage done by wild boars is a continuing issue. We spend all our time in growing crops only to see them destroyed in a single night by wild boars that come in group, said Tandin Tshering a farmer from Bemji village in Trongsa. After a hard day, we must stay awake in the night to ward off wild animals that threaten the very source of our livelihood.

WHICH IS THE RARER SPECIES?

Human-wildlife conflict: A serious problem indeed!

Source: Bhutan National Human-wildlife Conflict Management Strategy 2008, WCD

The damage is not insignificant. The worst hit was in 2005 when elephants destroyed about 265 acres of cropland in seven gewogs of Sarpang. And many such incidents may have gone unreported because of the remoteness of these rural settlements. Some farmers have begun to blame the country's often praised strict environmental conservation for their losses. Policy makers are caught in the middle. On one hand, conservation of the natural environment is necessary, on the other hand, protecting the livelihood of the rural farmers is the duty of the government.

complex to solve. The 86th session of the National Assembly resolved that farmers who suffer from major crop damage by the wild animals could be paid compensation, but the practice is very rare. One major reason is due to lack of financial resources. Since there is no crop compensation, we dont have any options, said a farmer in Dhur village in Bumthang. The National Post Harvest Center of the MoAF developed a solar powered wild animal deterrent that emits a shrill nose and flashing light if there is a disturbance. It can be bought for a subsidized price, and many have been provided free but distribution has been far from comprehensive. There is no question that the country has a mandate to conserve the environment and the many rare species of animals who thrive in Bhutan. But in the face of modernization and urbanization, the rural farmer is becoming an endangered species alongside the pygmy hogs, the tigers and the red pandas. Bhutans economy is primarily agrarian with subsistence farming contributing to 36.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP). One of the critical challenges the country faces is its ability to maintain national food security

through agricultural production. Threats include the diminishing economic viability of food grain cultivation that resulted from small and fragmented land holdings, in less acreage being cultivated each year, loss of arable land to urbanization, changing land use scenarios and the chronic loss of crops and livestock to wildlife predation and devastation by natural calamities. As a result, there has been a continued decline in cereal cultivation and production and a corresponding drop in the selfsufficiency levels for cereals.

The Wildlife Conservation Division (WCD) and other concerned agencies have implemented various strategies to combat the human-wildlife conflict but so far it has proven too

If a beautiful snow leopard or a vulnerable river dolphin is hunted, the community is outraged, but it's much more difficult to see the unique beauty and vulnerability of a rural farming. If farmers cannot survive in the face of wildlife conservation efforts, what options do they have? Some may give up farming, migrate to the urban areas of the country, find a small job and earn a living. But what about the greater good? When farmers give up their land, Bhutan's reliance on foreign production increases. This rural-urban migration is a major factor in reducing Bhutan's chances of becoming a food secure country.

FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010 Drip irrigation technology has enabled tomato farmers to increase their yields by fourfold during the drier months of March and April. Researchers at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) calculated that every dollar invested in the technology would yield a return of $4.71 profit. Shrimp farming started in the 1970s and expanded very quickly. Shrimps are now the second most exported item from Bangladesh. However, excessive amounts of pesticides, chemicals and antibiotics pollute waterways and groundwater making the production of alternative crops basically impossible. The lifespan of a shrimp farm can be as short as 2 years because of pollution. The land is left damaged beyond repair and unable to be used.

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BANGLADESH

FOOD

Source: www.ledars.org

NEPAL

The World Food Project launched a Food Security Monitoring and Analysis System (FSMAS) allowing authorities to monitor food insecure areas in order to better target initiatives. The project provides accurate and timely data about food security to the government, UN Agencies, non-government organization, research institutes and is also available on the internet.

INDIA

E-choupal internet kiosks are run by farmers and aim at improving the availability of information to farmers regarding weather, market prices, scientific developments, risk management, sales and purchases. The kiosks currently reach over four million farmers. Treadle pumps are distributed to farmers by the International Development Enterprises (IDE). The pumps are powered by foot rather than electricity and are extremely cost effective, with only one part needing to be changed per year at a cost of 20 U.S. cents. The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCL) distributed mobile phones to farmers, enabling them to send and receive free information regarding markets, fertilizers, electricity, disaster warnings, farming practices, and training opportunities, plant and veterinary disease prevention, financing services and government schemes.

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SECURITY

INITIATIVES IN ASIA

VIETNAM

A joint project between the Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and CropLife Asia uses innovative methods such as community drama and televised farmer contests. These televised contests have become a trusted source of information about the use of pesticides.

CAMBODIA

Cambodia Farmers Association Federation for Agricultural Development (CamFAD) was established to help farmers adapt to climate change impacts. Their innovations have included a System of Rice Intensification (SRI) which is a sustainable farming practice requiring less seeds and minimum irrigation when compared to conventional farming practices.

INDONESIA

In 1967 the government began distributing high-yield rice varieties, handing out subsidies in irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides and market intervention in the domestic price of rice. By1984 production exceeded domestic consumption. However, these efforts were not environmentally or economically sustainable. Government subsidized fertilizers were overused and led to the development of chemical resistant pests, pollution from pesticides severely affected fishing and overuse of farmland caused devastating soil erosion and damage to soil structure. This has also been the experience in some parts of India.

Source: AnnieGreenSprings on flickr Source: www.farmersfirst.org

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FOOD SECURITY

BEFORE

&

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THE ENVIRONMENT
AFTER

As per the records maintained by NLCS and DoA, about 2000 acres of agricultural land have been lost to nonagricultural purposes over the past 10 years. Picture: Olakha, Thimphu

Despite growth in the urban population in recent years, Bhutan is primarily an agrarian economy with more than 66.6% of the population deriving their livelihood from agriculture (as per Bhutan Living Standard Survey 2007). Of the total area of the country, 7.9% is arable, out of which only 21% is used for paddy cultivation. Farmers cultivate their land mostly with family labour, or lease it wholly or partly. Larger landholders cultivate through tenants or hired labour. The share of agricultural sector declined from 35.1% in 1999 to 32.7% in 2003 while the share of construction rose from less than 10% in 1999 to almost 20% in 2003. Government is taking strong initiatives to enhance production to obtain 70% self sufficiency in food grain production. However, the scope of development of cultivating land is limited with the strong conservation policy of maintaining 72% forest cover. Further, the limited arable

Is our farm land disappearing?

agriculture land has been threatened with loss of valuable paddy fields with development activities due to increase in demographic pressure and the progressive land fragmentation.

Increasing rate of urbanization has led to the conversion of prime agricultural land and forests into lands of developmental infrastructure and other nonagricultural developmental purposes. Increasing trend towards urbanization is one of the causes that have resulted in farm labour shortages resulting in decreased agricultural production. The strong demand for labour from urban areas has left village homes to the ageing population or hired caretakers. Extreme cases have resulted to even abandoning of villages in search for more opportunities in urban areas. At six percent, Bhutans internal migration rate is the highest in South Asia, according to UNDPs Human Development Report. More than 69%

of the population is already living in urban areas. This has resulted in the reduction of work force in the agriculture sector, under utilization of established infrastructure in rural areas and housing shortage and unemployment in urban areas.

Shift in occupation from farming has contributed to the decrease in farm labour thus affecting production and productivity.

Since agriculture in Bhutan is highly dependent on the vagaries of weather, environmental conditions like climate change and land degradation coupled with inaccessibility have resulted either in abandoning of farm lands or leaving them fallow. Lack of adequate irrigational facilities and modern facilities, hard labour, lack of opportunity for earning cash income are some of the reasons for rural-urban migration. This issue of migration has already created farm labour shortage in farm land leading to many cases of uncultivated farm

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land, thereby affecting the overall food production in the country. Cost effective imports have gained magnitude and are taken as a substitute for domestic production. Moreover, with better access to education, parents send their children to schools resulting in less help in the farms. A survey conducted by Department of Survey and Land Record (2003) indicated that out of the total wetland cultivation area of 71,832 acres 23,132 acres was left fallow. The resultant impact is the diminishing or under-utilization of limited agricultural areas thereby adversely affecting the national food security.

FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010 acquisition, health and household necessities.

45% of migrants are between the ages of 16 30 years 63% of migrants had at least primary level education Migrants from rural areas constitute up to 72% of urban dwellers There are 37.3 thousand migrants in Bhutan who represent 5.7% At the geog level, it is easier to show the patterns using maps. Figure 1 shows the pattern of rice production of the total level. The darker per capita at the geogpopulation greens represent higher per capita rice production, while the lighter

pursuit to attain increased rice selfsufficiency deprives farmers the opportunity of increased income from crop diversification. The cultivation of rice requires irrigation water, which requires heavy capital investment and recurring maintenance expenditures.

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To address the problem the government has taken initiatives to take the development activities to the rural areas. In this line, the MoAF is initiating integrated gewog centers and improving rural access through construction of farm roads. The gewogs under this project would be developed into a hub with facilities like, entertainment centers and Internet cafes. Even RNR centers and postal services would be moved within that hub. Construction of such centers has begun in eight pilot gewogs. The Ministry is working on the proposal on the need to maintain certain acres of agricultural areas as Protection of Agricultural Areas for food self-sufficiency targets to be submitted to the Cabinet. To this effect the Government of Finland through IFAD will support Bhutan with USD 150,000 to develop a strategy for delineating protecting agricultural land for Food Security. There are, however, some positive impacts of rural-urban migration. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS), the most positive impact is the remittance received by the families in the villages from their migrant family members. The study revealed that about 54 percent of the migrants remitted their incomes home, which was invested in education, livestock, land

greens indicate lower per capita rice production. It is clear that per capita rice production is highest in the westcentral region, although Currently, in the there are geogs in the south and in the northwest with high levels as well. Per capita Bhutanese context, rice production is lowest in the north, where the cool climate reduces rice yields, and in the east, where maize fooddominant staple. self sufficiency is basically is the dominated by cereal sufficiency. Rice Figure 2 illustrates the level of per capita maize production. Again, darker colors represent higher levels. Per assumes the mostisimportant position geogs and, to a lesser extent, in the south. It is lowest capita maize production clearly highest in the eastern and the rice self sufficiency hasregions of Bhutan. in the north-central, northwest, and western been receivingdemonstrates the spatial attention. capita cereal production. Although it includes wheat, Figure 3 relatively more patterns in per barley, the economic analysis, it has Fromand other minor cereals, the pattern is dominated by rice and maize. The high per capita cereal production in found that returns from rice been the west-central area is undoubtedly reecting rice-growing areas, while the high levels in the east and south are associated with maize-growing zones. cultivation are much lower than theFigure 4 presents the patterns in the percentage of households who report that they have enough grain from cultivation of other non-cereal own production crops such to last until the next harvest.fruits as vegetables and The percentage is over 60% in most of the geogs in the eastern zone, but generally lower in most of the geogs in the central and western zones. The lowest percentages are treesin the southwestern and Therefore, the (cash crops). south-central geogs. found Figure 5 shows the pattern of an index of housing quality from the Population Census. According to this map, housing quality is highest in the western zone, including the cities of Thimphu and Paro and their surrounding areas. There are some geogs in the central and western regions that also have relatively high-quality housing. The geogs with the lowest average housing index tend to be along the southern border.

"There is enough food for everybody's need but not for everybody's greed" - Gandhi

Figure 1. Map of rice production per capita by geog

Rice Production (per capita) by Gewog

Per capita rice production 115 497 64 115 17 64 0 17

Source: Analysis of data from the 2000 Agricultural Census and the 2005 Population Census.

Source: Food Security and Food Self Sufficiency in Bhutan- PPD, MoAF

The figure above shows the pattern of rice production per capita at the gewog level. The darker green represents higher per capita rice production, while the lighter greens indicate lower per capita rice production. It is clear that the per capita rice production is highest in the west-central 6 region, although there are gewogs in the south and in the northwest with high levels as well. Per capita rice production is lowest in the north, where the cool climate reduces rice yields, and in the east, where maize is the dominant staple.

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The oats Pema has for breakfast are harvested in Australia, transported 7150 kilometers by land and sea to be packaged at a plant in Pune, India then they travel another 1890 kilometers to be sold at a supermarket in Thimphu. In fact, Pemas breakfast has travelled more of the world than she has. I took a walk through the grocery store and investigated the social, health and environmental impacts of local and imported food.

Bhutan depends heavily on imported food. In 2008, food and agricultural imports totaled Nu 3,850 million. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, Bhutans food imports are growing at 10% a year to meet the growing demand for choice. Unfortunately, mother-nature bears most of the cost of importing such large quantities of food. The transport of imported items by land and sea over long distances consumes fossil fuels and generates carbon dioxide. In addition, imported foods require more packaging and refrigeration, all of which contributes to generation of emissions. Locally grown products are not only fresher than imported ones, theyre also better for you. To travel these vast distances, fruits and vegetables are covered with chemicals and preservatives so that they dont rot or go stale. These chemicals include sodium nitrate and sulfates, which have perverse effects on human health. Also, the nutritional value of fresh products declines over time so the longer an apple takes to reach you the less vitamins and minerals they provide. An apple imported from New Zealand might still look shiny and fresh but its nutritional value could be negligible.

GLOBE TROTTING
of to local communities. Agriculture was the single largest sector (according to the National Statistics Bureau) providing livelihood for over 65% of the population. But this number is steadily declining as farming becomes less lucrative.

GROCERIES
Reporter Natasha Akib takes a trip through several Thimphu supermarkets
Aum Neten "People are ashamed of eating maize and wild potatoes as a substitute for rice.eating rice has become a status symbol." Most of the shoppers that I spoke to support local products, but few were willing to pay for the higher price tag or significantly alter their diet to consume less imported products. Pema Choden from Thimphu says that although she tries to buy Bhutanese groceries as much as possible, the juice she buys (which is imported from Thailand), is cheaper than local brands. While other cereals such as maize and potatoes can easily be grown in Bhutan, the population continues to prefer rice and over 50% of this rice has to be imported from India. According to Dasho Importing food isnt all bad news. It gives consumers more choices at lower prices and provides us with products that cant possibly be grown or produced in Bhutan. Imported agricultural products will force Bhutanese farmers to improve the quality of their produce and although we may feel compelled to support Bhutanese farmers, there are also farmers in countries such as India and Thailand who struggle to make a living. But as foreign trade increases we must continue to assess whether the costs of our dietary choices are sustainable and remember that how our food is grown, stored and transported has impacts that go far beyond our dinner plate.

Perhaps the most significant cost of buying imported products that are readily available from local farms, is that the profit goes overseas instead

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PLANS IN PLACE
Starting from the Seventh Five Year Plan (1992-1996) there has been a steady decrease in the funding for agricultural programs. The National Agricultural Seed & Plant Programme was corporatized in an effort to remove the subsidy. The gradual unavailability of quality seeds and planting materials compelled the farmers to maintain their own seeds. On numerous occasions when the national productions could not meet the demands, seeds and seedlings had to be bought from India.

The Eighth Five Year Plan (19972001) saw the establishment of new ministries, and most of the engineers concerned with the construction and management of the irrigation schemes, were transferred to the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS) which deprived agriculture of another very important basic needs-adequate irrigation water. Despite the drawbacks, there have been many achievements. Due to the continued works carried out by research teams and the extension to promote production, the average maize yield doubled in the last twenty years. Wheat yields have increased nearly four-fold. Farming has also become more diversified, being less dependent on the production of cereals. The introduction of new horticultural crops, such as fruits and vegetables have not only enriched traditional diets but also provided many farmers with a new source of income especially from increased export earnings. Accessibility has improved with unprecedented number of farm roads constructed during the Ninth Five Year Plan (20022006) period. Bhutanese farmers no longer toil in isolation. Instead they are able to draw upon a system of agricultural services

through a wide network covering the whole country, comprising four agricultural research centres with numerous branches, more than 186 agricultural extension centres, more than 150 livestock extension centres, 11 seed and plant production farms, four farm machinery centres, and numerous externally aided area based development projects. The services provided penetrate into the most inaccessible and rugged parts of the Kingdom. The MoAF's Triple Gem Approach aims to enhance food security by emphasizing three key aspects: Marketing, Accessibility and Production (MAP). There has been a major shift in the Tenth Five Year Plan (2008-2013) in favour of the Renewable Natural Resources. The agricultural development plan takes a commodity approach-rather than program based intervention. The MoAF has invested in technologies, infrastructure, and experienced personnel. Previously, lack of clear cooperation has been identified as one of the main weaknesses of the past development approaches. However this time all the relevant

2010 Rice Harvest at Paro

agencies and stakeholders are being organized into integrated groups to initiate commodity based interventions.

Rather than focusing solely on increasing yield, the maintenance of the productivity of soil will be a priority to ensure long term sustainability. Although there is increasing use of chemical fertilizers, consistent application of farm yard manure is also in place, which prevents the deterioration of soil. To ensure long term sustainability and reduce dependence on chemical use, organic farming is encouraged side by side with the conventional agriculture. This is made possible in Bhutan by the practice of mixed farming. The policy of maintaining minimum 60% forest cover lends assurance for adequate supply of compost. However, questions that will emerge from the effort to commercialize farming is, how will the large scale farms be able to produce sufficient organic manures to maintain the soil structure and fertility?

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

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Joni Mitchell's song Big Yellow Taxi was an international hit when it was released in 1970. Many still remember the lyrics, Dont it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?/ Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT/ I dont care about spots on my apples/ Leave me the birds and the bees please.

TO SPRAY OR NOT TO SPRAY?

By Natasha Akib

Despite the four decades that have passed since the songs release, Mitchells lyrics are more relevant than ever. The dangerous effects of pesticides and chemicals used in farming are rapidly gaining the attention of scientists, politicians and health experts. So which would you choose spots on your apples or toxins in your food? Chemicals and pesticides are used to ensure that food is available all year round by protecting crops from

pests, weeds and diseases. They make your fruits and veggies look pretty. However, just as these chemicals are harmful to pests, evidence is mounting regarding the danger they pose to human health, particularly at the extremely high levels that are being used in India.

Of particular concern is the presence of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) in our food sources. Dr. Karma Tenzing from the UNDP describes POPS as substances that possess toxic characteristics, are persistent and are likely to cause significant adverse human health or environmental effects. Tenzing says that POPS have been linked to cancers and tumors, neuro behavioral impairment, immune system changes, reproductive defects, diseases, including an increased incidence of diabetes.

People can be exposed to chemicals through residues left on food from pesticide spraying or even chemicals that have persisted in soil and water on farms years after being banned. And you thought you were just having a healthy snack! So what is being done to protect people from the harmful effect of chemicals and pesticides in Bhutan?

"In 1984, realizing the dangers of solely depending on pesticides, the RGoB sought assistance of European Union to assist the development of sound plant protection services." Dr. Thinley, Specialist (NPPC)

In 1984 the Royal Government of Bhutan began to work with the European Union on Strengthening plant Protection Services in Bhutan to control the use of pesticides in Bhutan. The import of persistent pesticides to Bhutan was completely banned in 1987 and there are no pesticides manufactured within the country. Subsidies for pesticides have been phased out since 1990 and from 1993-2000 the project worked on completely phasing out the use

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

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WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

OR
of toxic pesticides. The government has also acted by implementing The Pesticides Act 2000, which controls the use of chemicals within the country and ensures that pesticides are used as a last resort. However, internationally the situation is not so reassuring. At present, India is the largest producer of pesticides in Asia and ranks twelfth in the world for the use of pesticides with an annual production of 90,000 tons. India is also Bhutans biggest supplier of imported food. Several studies have shown that the amount of chemicals and pesticides found in their food far exceeds internationally accepted standards. In a 2001 survey conducted by All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) on Indian diet samples, 75% of the samples had detectable levels of DDTa particularly harmful chemical banned in many parts of the world. Another study released last month by nongovernment organization ConsumerVoice tested fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkin, cabbage, cucumbers, bananas, apple and grapes. The study found some of these foods to contain over 700 times more chemicals than the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) set by the European Union. Spots are only skin deep but poisonous chemicals remain long after the skin has been peeled away. The choice between chemically treated and organic foods ultimately rests with you, the consumer. WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF AGAINST THESE CHEMICALS? Wash fruits and vegetables with a solution of water and vinegar and dry them before eating. This will help decrease the pesticide residues present on the surface of the vegetables. Peel the outer layer of fruits and vegetables. Buy organic! Certified organic foods have not been treated with pesticides or chemicals. Grow your own. Buy local! Buying local produce is the safest way to ensure that your food doesnt contain any of the chemicals banned under The Pesticides Act 2000. Select from the "Clean 15" list when you have to buy POP fruits and vegetables. THE CLEAN FIFTEEN (Low-level of pesticides)

THE DIRTY DOZEN (High-level of pesticides)

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY / Friday, December 10 - 17 2010

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A Traditional Bhutanese Meal

Pros: Locally grown; good source of fiber; protein, vitamins A, C, E & K; high in important minerals including folate and iron.

SAG

The ingredients in a traditional Bhutanese meal tend to be locally grown and highly nutritious. When consumers make informed choices, it is easy to maintain a healthy balance while supporting local farming, thereby improving Bhutan's food self-sufficiency.
Pros: Good source of calcium and protein

FRIED CHEESE

Cons: When boiled in salt, like in this dish, it can be very high in Sodium.

Cons: High in fat and cholesterol which are fine in small amounts.

Pros: Dal is a great source of protein especially for vegetarians who consume little or no meat.

DAL

The key to keeping all of these dishes healthy is using good cooking oil such as mustard, olive or sunflower. The best oils are high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Highly refined oils often contain trans fats which raise cholesterol. Pure ghee is also a healthy choice.

OIL

Cons: Because of the oil used to prepare dal, it can be quite high in calories from saturated fat.

Pros: Pork is a good source of Thiamin,Vitamin C, Niacin, Phosphorus and Zinc, and a very good source of Protein, Vitamin B12, Iron and Selenium.

PAK SHA (PORK FAT)

Cons: Pork is very high in cholestrol and untrimmed pork has a lot of saturated fat.

Pros: Higher in fiber than white rice, rich in B vitamins, iron and calcium. Contains anti-oxidents.

RED RICE

Cons: High in carbohydrates

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Tenzin Wangdi, HEAD OF OPERATION: Phuntsho Wangmo, EDITOR: KarmaJones, DESIGNER: Sushil Mishra, MANAGING DIRECTOR: Tenzin Wangdi, HEAD OF OPERATION: Phuntsho Wangmo, EDITOR: Noa Gayleg, DESIGNER: Sushil Mishra, COMMERCIAL GENERAL MANAGER: BUSINESS MANAGER: Deeptika Chhetri, CONTRIBUTOR: COMMERCIAL GENERAL MANAGER: Gopal S. Mongar,Gopal S. Mongar, BUSINESS MANAGER: Deeptika Chhetri Natasha Akib. Printed and Published by Bhutan Observer Pvt. Ltd., Norzin Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan. Tel: 975-2-334891/92/93 Fax: 975-2-327981, E-mails: editor@bhutanobserver.bt, advertisement@bhutanobserver.bt, www.bhutanobserver.bt

The ultimate Bhutanese ingredient Pros: Tasty! and packed with Vitamin C. Chillis are also great for increasing blood circulation. Cons: Chillis can irritate the stomach and digestive system

CHILLI

Pros: Radishes are a good source of Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium and Copper.

RADISH

Cons: A large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars.