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Urban
policy makers in developing countries face a growing problem
- literally. By 2020, the number of people in the developing
world will grow from 5 to 7 billion, with 90% of this growth
in cities and towns. The sheer volume of people compromises
the ability of the cities to meet basic needs, resulting in
an increase of urban poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. In
Bangladesh, statistics show that while rural poverty rates
have declined in the past decade, poverty rates in cities
have increased for the first time.
Increases in urban poverty are evident across Africa, Asia
and Latin America. Previous urban development strategies focused
on building infrastructure- but improving lives for the urban
poor is not just about where they live, but how they live.
The
Urban Food and Nutrition Security Perspective
National governments, international organizations, and researchers
have substantial experience with the tools and programs aimed
at promoting social and economic development in rural areas,
where agriculture is key. But the urban environment is more
complex and more diverse, and urban livelihoods are not well
characterized. Without a better understanding of how urban
dwellers organize their livelihoods and how they cope with
vulnerability and risk to protect their household food security,
little progress can be made in improving their conditions.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has
launched the "Urban Challenges to Food and Nutrition Security"
program to provide information to policy makers, program administrators,
development practitioners and other vested audiences to make
sound policy and program decisions to reduce food insecurity
and malnutrition in urban areas.
Fighting
the Challenges of Urban Food and Nutrition Security
City
dwellers cope with vulnerability and risk in distinct ways,
and unique policy responses are required to address their
needs. For example:
- Poor
people frequently pay more for food than rich people. This
is partly due to congestion in urban markets, and because
poor urban consumers tend to buy in smaller quantities.
In response to these problems, markets must function efficiently.
- An
ample supply of food does not guarantee that the urban poor
will be able to afford it. To increase incomes of the poor,
national governments must establish macroeconomic policies
that encourage growth, and labor policies that do not discriminate
against them.
- City
governments must pay attention to the potential of urban
agriculture. Even in crowded areas, people can often find
space to grow vegetables or raise animals to supplement
the food they buy.
- Policymakers
must examine the link between urban and rural areas. In
many cities people depend on agricultural production for
their livelihoods, indirectly as vendors, and as processors,
transporters, wholesalers, and retailers. Many city dwellers
also still own land in rural areas, and may fall back on
relatives there in time of need. Policies must take into
account that the livelihoods of urban poor do not exist
in geographical isolation, but span the urban-rural divide.
Growing Cities, Growing Needs
Many
nongovernmental and donor organizations are beginning to make
urban food and nutrition a priority, implementing programs
that focus on these issues in developing countries. Addressing
hunger and malnutrition will require a clear, comprehensive
strategy that includes governments, nongovernmental and community
organizations, and the urban poor themselves. Food security
and nutrition must not be thought of as an after-effect of
general anti-poverty programs. Policymakers cannot afford
to miss an opportunity to utilize and build on currently available
knowledge and resources to dramatically reduce hunger, malnutrition
and poverty. Urban populations will continue to grow, and
these problems will only grow with them- unless we take action
now.
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