Right around the time a barrel of oil was around $150 USD I stumbled upon an article from an "expert" saying that the solution to resolve hunger was to give more money to poor countries in order to buy more tractors and more agrochemicals! So wrong! Then a thought popped into mind: " Do something! No matter what! Anything is better than nothing! ". Mission: increasing awareness of hydroponics and aquaponics as key tools in fighting hunger around the world.
Roger Pilon, Editor
Hello everyone! How I got into hydroponics is a long story...let's just say that it involves a lot of tedious farm work as a child, unsuccessful 'dirt' gardens of my own and a near electrocution from a semi-submersible hydroponic pump. I've learned that hydroponic gardening is the only way to garden for me and I've been working at it for several years now. I've built ebb/flow, nft, Mittleider, wick and passive systems and I'm always on the lookout for the easiest and most efficient means of hydroponic gardening...If you have questions, I would be more than happy to answer them...
Higher food prices is very good news and very bad news for varying participants
Desk Of Jac Smit Dec. 20, 2007
The urban poor are the hardest hit by higher food prices from national capitals and all towns and cities worldwide from Addis Abeba to Washington DC.
In Washington the 'Food Pantries' have less food in storage than was at hand a year ago. And the demand is up sharply from both the unemployed and the employed.
In Addis Abeba the National Statistical Authority reports that food prices are up over 50% since the turn of the century, the supply lines and warehouses are running low and hunger and malnutrition are rising.
The Economist of December 8th identifies the following global causes of food price increases, and forecasts no foreseeable return to the low food prices of 2000 and before.
·China's and India's greater wealth and greater demand for meat, [up 150% in China since 1985]
·The price of oil at over US$ 90. a barrel,
·The new subsidized Ethanol and Deisel markets,
·Climate Change reducing productivity, and
·Urbanization.
Higher food prices is very good news and very bad news for varying participants. It is Bad news for the urban poor and Good news for the rural poor. This phenomenon presents us with a once in a generation opportunity to manage the global and national food systems for greater benefits for all.
The World Bank finds that the bottom level Rural poor get three times as much extra income from an increase in farm productivity as from the same productivity gain in industry. Thus as prices go up there is a real possibility of the rural poor working their way out of poverty.
In urban areas worldwide, but especially in low-income countries, the rise in the cost of food, which is the largest item in poor family's budget, is now doing and will do even greater damage in the future.
This is a 'clarion call' to everyone engaged in any way in urban agriculture. The need is greater and more significant than any of us have recognized, predicted or 'spoken up' about.
An increase in urban agriculture by the poor, for the market as well as the family, can turn a looming disaster into a brighter day.
Happy Christmas and 2008 from the Desk of Jac Smit.
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