Must Watch Video. Mesti Dengar Video : Global Food Shortage 2023

 We are going into our 15th general elections. So far no one is raising any issues of any real importance.

Among the headlines today include :

Video of Najib, Dr M thought something about someone, somebody's son unfit for Pekan, Tambun will choose next PM, Gerakan use PN logo, heavyweight for Pandan, mahasiswa jual peranti, BN Perak sasar 40 DUN, MIC muktamad calon, Perkosa gadis 14 tahun, 6 remaja mengaku salah, 2 dibicara.

That is the type of news about politics. I just threw in that 'perkosa gadis 14 tahun' because it was a gang rape and it took place in Serambi Mekah. More than once before this I have written about gang rapes in Serambi Mekah. It happens once too often.

Anyway here is something far more relevant for the entire world. Please take 27 minutes to listen to this fellow (its in English). There are already severe shortages of food crops ALL OVER the world.

There is that El Nina / La Nina (?) driven drought that has hit north America and Europe for three years now. China too is facing drought (kemarau). 

Food prices around the world have already shot up.  This morning my wife and I had breakfast at our local mamak - one roti telur, one thosai, two half boiled eggs, one teh-C kosong and one hot water. The bill was RM10.00.  It used to be about RM7.00 not too long ago. That is over 40% higher prices.

This fellow says 2023 is going to be worse. 

 

First of all please see the following charts.

They are up to 2022. The prices of wheat, soybeans, corn, gas, oil, fertiliser, housing etc is shooting up in Europe and everywhere else.  

The war in Ukrain only makes things worse but ven without Ukrain the severe drought (kemarau) in the northern hemisphere has created major food crop losses.

Then the floods in Pakistan have wiped out maybe 90% of their harvests for this year. India too suffers crop losses.

So what should we do?

Step 1 : Are our politicians even  aware of these problems? This is Step No. 1. If they dont know then they will not do anything. Even if they know do they know what to do?

Step 2 : We have to focus on increasing food production starting from yesterday. Forget about government subsidies, government spending taxpayers money etc. It will possibly go to waste with nothing much to show for it.

This is an emergency situation. It will last a few years. What should we do? Just free up the agricultural sector. Let the most efficient farmers and producers produce more and more. 

If you can give them financial assistance then good. If you cannot give them financial assistance its ok too.  But remove obstacles, remove unnecessary regulations, remove silly licensing and permit regulations so that the more efficient farmers and producers can increase thir productivity.

Free up the sea for fishing and fish farming, free up more land for farming including in the highlands.  Improve fish landing facilities (jetties, new roads) which can be used / accessed by all fisherman. NO MONOPOLIES. No GLCs. 

Encourage joint ventures between efficient farmers who do not have land and land owners who are less efficient at farming.  Marry fallow land with efficient farmers. Kalau ada tanah sawah / tanah ladang yang kosong bagi sewa kepada orang lain untuk bertanam dan berternak.

We need to increase the food output. We do not need the politics.   

Encourage the more efficient farmers to become big corporations. Tak kira agama, bahasa dan bangsa. We need to increase the food output. We do not need the politics.

We do not need quinoa (what the hell is it?) or sturgeon in Taman Negara funded by taxpayer's funds. We need rice, vegetables, fruits, fish, chicken, eggs, meats (local kambing, no kambing Jamnapari, beef and that other animal as well). 

We really need to increase the food output. We do not need the politics.  

Otherwise just one thosai, one roti telur, two eggs, one tea and air panas may go beyond RM10.00.

Politicians dengar baik-baik.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.