Politics 15:24 12/10/2016 Armenia

Food security expert: We pay the cost for hunger due to incompetent management

Every Sunday starting from 2013 “Helping poor families” https://web.facebook.com/ognenqkariqavornerin/?fref=ts&_rdr Facebook initiative group members visit the families in need, providing food, personal hygiene, fuel, toys and money to them.  

“There were cases when children rushed to the food without paying attention to the toys. Those scenes are in front of my eyes, they were just hungry,” Sona Manukyan, the founder of the initiative group, who is also known as Sona Roberts, told Panorama.am. To her, after every such visit she thought that was the last case, however, the next family appeared to be even in more desperate need.
 
“Outside Yerevan, in the regions, the situation is awful with many people in hopeless situation,” Sona described her experience.

Pediatrician Armine Sakanyan, coordinator at Maternity and Child health service indicates to the increasing number of children suffering from malnutrition as witnessed over the course of 38 years of her professional activity. In 2011-2012 she initiated a comparative study of children’s weight and growth

“We put together the data of all 150 children under 1 year registered in Stepanavan policlinic and compared those data, which revealed that the problem in 15-20 children is related to their weight,” Sakanyan said.

To the specialist’s words at that age the issues of nutrition are mainly conditioned by a low awareness of their mothers and the adopted wrong methods. The monitoring helped them to raise the issues and address them.

In adulthood, not the mothers’ low awareness should be blamed for malnutrition in children. To her words, the number of poor families and the polarization in the society have significantly grown as compared with the Soviet times.

Davit Pipoyan, expert in food security explained that appropriate nutrition is not only about daily calories but also taking necessary amount of vitamins, food ingredient, micro and macro components.  

“If you eat only bread and take the necessary calories, it does not secure you form underdevelopment,” Pipoyan told Panorama.am

Pascale Micheau, World Food Program Country Director and Representative in Armenia, once reflected on a report by the Government of Armenia and UN agencies http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2016/03/23/Report/1549901 stated that the hunger has many costs.

She explained that malnutrition in children negatively affects the state GDP due to the growth in health expenses and low productivity. It also increases the educational expenses.

Davit Pipoyan noted: “We paying those costs due to incompetent management”
To the expert’s words, in Armenia malnutrition is explained by the absence of agrarian policy, namely food security and food safety.  

“These concepts are inextricably interlinked. Well-being for animals and plants is conditions with access and safety to food. If you have poor management, foot-and-mouth disease bring severe implications for animal farming, birds die from bird flu, pigs  - from swine fever, which means we record a decline in food,” the expert said.

With this regards, Pipoyan singled out the European experience after the World War II when in a situation of all around hunger the primary agricultural policy was fixed in the Constitution,  adopting a targeted policy to pressing issues.

Reflecting on the situation in Armenia, Pipoyan said it is unacceptable to develop simultaneously mining industry and the agriculture. The next important factor outlined by Pipoyan is the application of agricultural expansions through innovative methods. The expert does not downgrade the role of small and medium size farmers’ groups, yet he sees the application of expansion as pledge to decrease in operation costs and rise in productivity.

“Let us take the example of the fishery, where we wastelessly used the underground waters of Ararat valley, while in abroad, particularly in Denmark, water circulation systems based on closed cycles is used which allows to enrich it with oxygen and increase the productivity levels using the same quantity of the waters. I do not even speak of drip irrigation systems, etc.,” Pipoyan said.

In addressing malnutrition, Pipoyan also pays attention to the formation of the real price, suggesting a low price as a guiding policy is quite ineffective in the agricultural sphere, since it creates unfavorable conditions for the small and medium sized farmers.

Pipoyan emphasized with regret that no steps have been undertaken to improve the situation.  The apricot is thrown away, while it is possible to organize the dried apricot production, instill refrigerator technologies.

To the expert’s words agricultural works become unprofitable and the villagers turn into migrants amid an absence of a state program.
 
“In Europe there is an adopted policy that if the local producers have the capability to produce something, the import is banned, since that hinders sustainable land development. The latter is pregnant with unwanted consequences, like the ones we witness in Armenia - increase in the number of children suffering from malnutrition. That is an issue of national security,” said Pipoyan.

The expert wonders over the fact that most of the malnutrition cases is recorded in villages, while those are the places where food is produced.  

He suggests involving the villagers in agricultural works, which will contribute to the sustainable development of a state and food safety. Pipoyan outlines three factors to start with – legal acts, financing means and a timetable.

“The agrarian right is one of the unique spheres, where amateurs may bring nothing, while the professionalism and the best international experience may generate a result,” he said.

Ahead of the World Food Day to be marked on October 16 assistant to Representative of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Armenia Gayane Nasoyan said “ The agriculture and food production systems should be changed to have zero hungry generation, which implies wiser use of the natural resources, more harvesting from the same portion of a land, decrease in food loss and promoting the diversity in livelihoods”.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:12
Armenia to face Georgia in Nations League play-off
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off ties have been confirmed following the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday....
16:36
Hayk Marutyan agrees to debate with Tigran Avinyan
New Power party leader Hayk Marutyan has agreed to a TV debate with incumbent Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan. Marutyan, a former Yerevan...
15:45
Opposition politician: Pashinyan leading Armenia to 'final collapse'
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is leading Armenia to the “final collapse” and Turkification, opposition...
15:05
Caretaker deputy justice minister sacked
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decree to dismiss Armenuhi Harutyunyan as Acting Deputy Minister of Justice....
14:35
Armenian parliament speaker confirms MP's resignation
National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has issued a statement on the resignation of Narek Zeynalyan as an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil...
14:06
Visa restricts media access to key event in Yerevan
Visa has restricted the media access to the Cashless Forum 2024 to be held in Yerevan for the first time on November 22. Only...
13:36
Orban says he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee...
13:11
Temps to plummet in Armenia
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
12:32
Alexis Ohanian showcases rare Armenian coin
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has showcased a rare Armenian coin from 95 BC featuring Tigranes the Great, a famous Armenian king....
12:16
German foreign minister criticizes Azerbaijan's human rights record
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the human rights record of Azerbaijan during her first appearance at the UN Climate Change...
12:06
Minister shares new images captured by Armenia's first satellite
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has shared new satellite images from orbit captured by ARMSAT-1,...
11:36
World Cadet Chess Championship passes its halfway mark
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark in Montesilvano, Italy. After 6 rounds, in the Open 12 category CM...
11:15
Iran to launch 'new and advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that...
11:00
Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi....
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025. The...
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...
16:33
Belgian politicians call for immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku
In the backdrop of the COP29 currently taking place in Baku 20 members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon...
16:06
Armenia thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt
Officers of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) have foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1,600 grams of cocaine into the country as part...
15:33
Armenian government reduces financial aid for Artsakh refugees
The Armenian government on Thursday approved a decision to reduce financial aid for the displaced Artsakh Armenians. Starting from...
14:45
Percival Everett wins National Book Award
Percival Everett has won the $10,000 National Book Award for fiction, one of the US’s most prestigious literary prizes, for James, his...
14:35
Pyunik v West Armenia match canceled
An Armenian Premier League match between FC Pyunik and West Armenia has been canceled. The 17th round match was scheduled for November 21....
14:06
Armenian Foreign Ministry denies cooperation with Azerbaijan on water management
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims of cooperation with Azerbaijan on transboundary water resources management. In a social...
13:36
No rain in sight for rest of the week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions from Thursday to Sunday.  Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
13:06
Pashinyan thanks dismissed officials for cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the dismissed top government officials for joint work and wished good luck to...
12:36
Armenian church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, November 21. According to tradition,...
12:15
Luxembourg's parliament demands immediate release of all unlawfully imprisoned persons in Azerbaijan
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government’s sanctions against the freedom of...
12:00
Davit Khudatyan appointed minister of territorial administration
Armavir Governor Davit Khudatyan has been appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Armenian President Vahagn...
11:45
Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and...
11:30
Armenia's Andranik Avetisyan wins gold at World Military Wrestling Championships
The 37th World Military Wrestling Championships kicked off in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday, bringing together 400 participants...
11:10
Leopard missing for two years spotted in Armenia's Tavush
A leopard, that lost its front paw and disappered from Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province in December 2022, has been spotted in...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}