Read on Twitter
Plant the land - Lessons from the past
1- I'm not sure if you all remember that food prices increased dramatically in 2007-2011. Food price indices increased worldwide by 88% with across-the-board increases in prices of meat, dairy products, cereals, sugar, & oils
1- I'm not sure if you all remember that food prices increased dramatically in 2007-2011. Food price indices increased worldwide by 88% with across-the-board increases in prices of meat, dairy products, cereals, sugar, & oils
2- by 46%, 83%, 112.5%, 139.2%, and 126.4% respectively.
Several reasons stood behind such increases including higher oil prices, higher demand, speculations, stronger $ etc...so the macro context was totally different at that time, but we can still learn from that experience.
Several reasons stood behind such increases including higher oil prices, higher demand, speculations, stronger $ etc...so the macro context was totally different at that time, but we can still learn from that experience.
3- Higher international food prices were transmitted into local market driving up inflation & raising the prices of majorly consumed items in Leb. As a result, consumers experienced a reduction in purchasing power which was expected to alter food consumption patterns
4-& increase the risk of malnutrition. Based on available consumption data, we estimated the potential losses in energy, micro/macronutrient intakes of Lebanese families. We found that price increases lowered Lebanese households consumption of macronutrients (carbs & protein)
5- micronutrients (iron, calcium, potassium, folate) & vitamins (vitamin A & C) in different percentages increasing the risk of malnutrition & micronutrient deficiencies. Even though the reductions were experienced in all governorates, they varied significantly across them.
6- In short, the greatest losses occurred in Beirut and the lowest in Bekaa, what did that mean? Urban families, especially poor ones, were at greater risk and families living closer to #agricultural areas and with better access to diversified food were the least affected.
7- We are currently in a much worse economic situation. Ideally, the govt should step in & do something, lay that grand plan for agriculture everyone is talking about but the gov't is busy with a non-existing plan to restructure debt.
8- So if the plan at the national level isn't available, at least as individuals or households do something to secure your own access to good food. If u own a #land plant it, if u don't partner with someone who has land but unable to plant it
9- If u have a roof-top micro gardening isn't a bad idea. I know some "wise" people out there will now think this is useless, I can read their comments even before tweeting. Yes, this will not solve the problem, & nobody can plant all its needs. We are aware!
10- #Food and assistance will still be needed yes! We are aware of that too! But this will at least leave the households with a room for better coping mechanisms.
#agrinerds
@MouhanedD @HuseinNourdin @lebfinance @MalekRobert @RitaJalkh @RizkCharbel @Rizka_agri
#agrinerds
@MouhanedD @HuseinNourdin @lebfinance @MalekRobert @RitaJalkh @RizkCharbel @Rizka_agri
sorry 4 the mistake in #9, i seriously need that edit button 
