Sri Lankan scholars, professionals, experts, and several international organisations, including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), have outlined alarming revelations about an imminent food shortage in Sri Lanka. Adding fuel to the fire, these institutions warn of a forthcoming global food crisis that could impact almost every country in the world. The most distressing factor for Sri Lanka is that the global food shortage will collide with food imports as Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on some essential food-related imports.
In light of this impending food crisis and the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, a group of scholars, perhaps the best brains in Sri Lanka on the subject, from three state universities, have come up with a proposal and presented it to the Government. They have prepared these short, medium, and long-term remedies as a proposal for food security and other agricultural activities. In unison, these university professors are confident that implementing the actions suggested in the document can successfully overcome the food crisis in the country.
Not only scholars but also others who are engaged in food production and agriculture and experts keep requesting the general public to grow food-related plants in their home gardens, irrespective of the size of the space. Most electronic media institutions have also introduced various programs to draw the attention of the masses to home gardening.
Imminent danger
Because of the warnings by distinguished scholars, the general public is seemingly enthusiastic about home gardening. They seem to have taken the situation seriously as they too are convinced of the imminent danger of food shortages as the price of essential food items in the market keeps escalating and has already reached intolerable levels.
The opinion of experts is that people have to get accustomed to a change in food habits. In particular, due to the anticipated enormous drop in paddy harvests, the citizenry has to switch to alternative crops. They say that farmers must be encouraged to grow varieties of peas in all the fields abandoned due to the unavailability of chemical fertiliser.
Even if a food shortage does not exist, home gardening can mitigate many problems. Home gardening can help with economic gains, environmental challenges, pollution and food contamination. Home gardening can also provide greater access to nutritious and healthy food that can lead to a sustainable system.
They also strongly advise that everyone who has space, even a small one, must start home gardening to help face the challenge of the forthcoming food shortage. Home gardening can easily be done in both rural and urban areas successfully. Small garden plots around the household can persistently provide uncontaminated, healthy food for the family.
In simple terms, home gardening refers to the cultivation of a small portion of a household garden. Usually, it can be further illustrated as a mixed cropping system that predominantly includes vegetables and fruits grown primarily for domestic consumption. However, commercially viable crops such as medicinal plants, herbs, or ornamental plants can be grown on a small plot of land.
Gardening of vegetables and other plants used for daily consumption at home allows families to produce their own food organically. This is a huge benefit to those who recognise the benefits of organic food, which is considerably expensive in the grocery market. Home gardening of organic vegetables and fruit, particularly for low-income groups, can be economically beneficial.
The most obvious financial benefit of home gardening is that it can save money spent on groceries. If the growers are conscious enough and choose wisely, apart from saving money spent at the market, they can earn extra money by selling the excess harvest. For example, if a person grows plantains or coconut trees inside the home garden, he or she can sell them to the market easily as everyone prefers homegrown organic food.
In addition to many economic benefits and advantages, home gardening is recognised as an extremely effective ‘mood booster”. In particular, at this stressful time, for those who are engaged in regular employment, being out in the open environment and engaging in gardening can be a valuable stress-reliever. Those who are engaged in gardening feel less depressed and have lower anxiety levels after a busy day at work.
In an article published in 2019, the American Institute of Stress (AIS) states that if someone is lucky enough to live in a home that provides a garden, a sense of tranquility can be obtained. The article says that in a world that simply refuses to stop turning and continues to demand more, it is important that everyone has a place to relax and unwind. The place they mean is the home garden.
The idea is most suited to Sri Lankans today, who are under tremendous pressure from many directions, particularly, the skyrocketing cost of living and inflation. Time spent in an outdoor garden can greatly enhance mental and physical health. Every element of time spent in the garden, even a simple stroll, can be relaxing to reduce anxiety.
Food shortages
Home gardening may not be a complete solution to the oncoming food crisis by any means. However, such a concerted effort can minimise the impact of food shortages as part of the consumption of every family can be successfully supplemented by home gardening. There is no doubt that the crisis has worsened due to ill-timed and uncalculated decisions that were taken by the highest authorities in the country based on bad advice.
Obviously, the media can play a pivotal role, perhaps the most effective, in promoting home and community gardening. Several television channels have already presented programs to encourage and inspire the general public about home gardening. One such channel has introduced a home gardening competition to the masses and is seemingly already a huge success.
In an era where the entire citizenry discards politicians for blatantly misleading the public, people are turning towards the media, electronic, print, and social, for accurate information. Creditably, similar to the extremely effective role during the Covid-19 crisis, the media is seemingly coming together to inspire people to grow food.
In contrast, some politicians, both ruling and Opposition, are making panicky public statements to gain popularity. Even a top politician in the country keeps saying the severity of the food crisis, even giving timelines, without giving a plan to combat the crisis. Instead of inculcating fear in the masses, politicians must also encourage people to engage in home gardening.
However, in this calamitous situation, the more important task of the whole citizenry is to come together as one and give maximum assistance without wasting time on whom the accusations should be leveled.
State institutions
The consoling fact is that State institutions, schools, temples, and various other social organisations are seemingly getting involved in food production efforts consciously. Specifically, temples and schools that often possess large spaces have come forward to join the efforts with or without the auspices of their hierarchy. A segment of conscientious community leaders has already proactively started such community gardening projects throughout the country.
The impending food crisis, forecast by experts, is a national disaster. Therefore, everyone in the country is affected, irrespective of social class, race, religion, or any other social or political criteria. Hence, scholars, intellectuals, professionals, and particularly politicians, must inspire and encourage the masses to be united in combating the crisis.
If the prevailing public enthusiasm could be maintained unhindered, the country would be able to successfully confront challenges and win, as was done on many occasions in history.