Support Small Farmers to Survive Global Food Crisis Post-COVID-19

A top-notch researcher called attention to the post-COVID-19 global trends of agricultural reform, small farming promotion, health food production, biodiversity preservation, reduction of large-scale malls, and more farmers markets for food security and immunity against emerging diseases.

Pictures of empty shelves in supermarkets and modern trade department stores have all become too common since the onset of COVID-19 outbreaks that led to countries’ lockdowns in 2020.  People in many cities started to realize that their once-powerful purchasing power has been reduced to non-existence in times of crisis.  Money does not guarantee that there will be food to satisfy their hungry stomachs.

For one guest lecturer of Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI), Peter Rosset, an expert in food security, this is a telltale sign, a wake-up call for world citizens to know better than betting their future on large-scale food industries.

“This is a consequence of allowing big corporations to monopolize the entire agricultural system as well as controlling world food production and logistics.  Such monopoly is one of the main causes for the spread of many pathogens today”, said Prof. Rosset at a public forum “Monoculture Policy and Food Inequality and Security Post-COVID-19: A Perspective from Corporate Farming Policy, Pesticides, and Plant Varieties Protection” recently held at Chulalongkorn University.

Prof. Rosset reiterated that this disaster is an impact from large-scale food production and farming which has compelled many countries to rely solely on food or raw materials transported across the globe from a sole source.  So, when infections occur at this single production source, be it from the excessive use of growth hormones, antibiotics-resistance in sick animals, or emerging diseases carried by wild animals that come close to communities because of human encroachment of their habitats, the world is held hostage as we have seen today.

“We need to establish food sovereignty,” Prof. Rosset, Advisor to the International Peasants’ Movement (La Via Campesina), proposed an approach to agricultural reform to build world food security for the future.

“We must shift food production from large-scale industries to small farming by allowing local farmers to produce healthy food with environmental-friendly farming methods to deliver to consumers.  Simultaneously, we should reduce the number of large shopping malls and increase the number of farmers’ markets, as well as encourage urban farming.”

Urban agriculture is important. Prof. Rosset cited the data proving that urban consumers are more impacted than small growers during crises.  Moreover, small farming can also absorb approximately 30% of the laid-off workers from the cities (during epidemic crises).  These findings are consistent with those from the study in Thailand by CUSRI.

“Small farmers are stronger than we think. Local farmers and residents can restore their food supplies and public healthcare by turning to eco-farming.  This type of agriculture relies on traditional wisdom that came before monoculture or agrochemicals. The people can produce healthy food from eco-farming that will not cause epidemics.”

Prof. Rosset also stressed that agricultural reform is a shift in the power structure that will transform the relationships between small farmers, large retailers, and end consumers. By incorporating new methods of eco-farming that have proven to give higher yields per rai (1,600 sq.m.) than monoculture, farmers can benefit from higher return and profit, while both farmers and consumers will enjoy the benefits of good health — a true life immunity and food security for the future.

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