Let’s brace for the harshest of times

You might have thought that the Russia-Ukraine war was far removed from our shores, but now with the food shortages hitting Europe, and the likelihood of the spill-over reaching us, you might want to think again!

Already food prices have skyrocketed. Just two tomatoes and you part with a cool P20! Add to this misery the price of fuel and you know we have a disaster in our midst. So how do we get out of the rut, given that we are so used to buying?

We hardly produce anything for ourselves. The food on our plates is imported from outside, even from as far as Europe. In fact, we have seen how some African countries are completely dependent on Russia for their wheat needs!

Now imagine asking such a country to vote for the expulsion of Russia from the Human Rights Council at the United Nations! That is complete madness! Then again, most African countries that fought wars of liberation remember how Russia stood by their side when some of these Western powers were calling them ‘terrorists’!

But that is beside the point! My point of departure is that we need an escape route and a quick one for that matter! If we are going to survive the triple menace of Covid-19 aftermaths; Russia/Ukraine war and the impending drought – we must at the earliest think of producing our own food.

I spoke to one gentleman, a think tank if you may – Oduetse Mphahudi of Modika Polytechnic. Now, this is the man who has the answers to our food security challenge.

He reckons that every household, every school across their levels; every municipality; every government and private sector office – must start growing vegetables in whatever space they find.

As for water shortage, he reckons that every household and office must start a water harvesting scheme, to make the best use of the rainwater whenever it rains. Those who can dig holes and line them with plastic bags to use as water storage facilities are encouraged to do so.

These can be replicated throughout the country. The next step is for the government and companies to donate seeds or seedlings to everybody so that we begin growing these veggies on a large scale. The students at primary to tertiary schools will be assisted by expert students from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN).

Let’s all try this to avoid the impending catastrophe! Everybody needs food – rich or poor, wise or foolish we all need to eat. This should be our number one priority – to make our own food. We can no longer be looking to our neighbours. They have their own needs as well.

When hit with a food deficit, Europe will hoard whatever little it has for its own people. Likewise, South Africa will do the same when Europe emerges from the doldrums – it will look after its own before it considers the needs of its neighbours.

That is why a wise man thinks first about food selfsufficiency or food security before anything else! All these other needs are secondary!