Food Sovereignty as a precondition for Food Security

Ensuring Food Security is ultimate aim of any agricultural system. But, Food Security should not compromise the food sovereignty. These two terms Food Security and Sovereignty looks like identical, even some people use as synonyms, however has great differences. Food security  in one hand is a technical concept , whereas sovereignty is political. 

As according to World Food Summit (October 1996) ,Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”  It has four pillars or dimensions : Food availability, Food Access, Food Utilization and Stability. 

Similarly, Food sovereignty is the right of each nation to maintain and develop its own capacity to produce its basic foods respecting cultural and productive diversity. We have the right to  produce our own food in our own territory. Food sovereignty is a precondition to genuine food security." - (Via Campesina, 1996: 1). It comprises four priority areas(pillars): the right to  food; access to productive resources; mainstreaming of agro-ecological production; and  trade and local markets.

Economic and political structure has lot to do with overall development framework of nation. Agriculture development is not an exception. The objective of any agricultural program is food security. Food security of individuals, households, communities, regions and nation as a whole. Then, does food security means agricultural development? no off-course not. Because food security aims to fulfill the food and dietary need of people from any sources available, it does not emphasis on own production and sustainability, whereas sovereignty does so. Then least developed and developing countries has to be awake and keep in mind, food security if does not ensure food sovereignty should not be only aim of the national agriculture.

Lot of controversies and debates are there to establish their own verse among advocates of food security and food sovereignty.  Country like Nepal is never part of such discussion. We are actually follower of power. Who virtually wins and establishes the own definition, Nepal would be the supporter of them. 

The debate on either food security or sovereignty is not new, however the sprouting of the sovereignty concept took place after  establishment of Via Campesina  in 1992 by international Farming and Peasant Movement. The advocacy for food security is doing through concept of World Trade Organization (WTO) and Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation's (FAO). Whereas, International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignity( IPC) comprising  of NGO's and social movements,  is advocating for food sovereignty. 

Now it's a time to think of these things seriously, either Nepal would prefer to be a food secure country at any cost or maintain food sovereignty. Interim constitution of Nepal 2007 has stated food sovereignty as liability of nation. In contrast to this, relevant ministries and agencies are wholeheartedly working for food security at any cost. If government is not serious at this time, culture of food dependency, which is promoting nowadays would increase more in days to come, making nation food insecure chronically.

FAO itself has questioned on maintaining food security through liberalized economy. It means the culture of economic rationalism is questionable on its sustainability, rather we need green rationalism, which is only possible from food sovereignty. 

Therefore, let's work together, make our nation food secure through food sovereignty. Protect and promote our farmers and agriculture and develop our nation economically and socially in a sustainable way.