Building of Food Reserves Critical To Afghanistan

Building of Food Reserves Critical to Afghanistan
by William Lambers

In 1960 President Dwight Eisenhower signed a Food for Peace agreement that helped India develop substantial wheat and rice reserves. For India, a nation with a history of food shortages, the establishment of food reserves was crucial.
This successful initiative can serve as an example for the U.S. reconstruction policy toward Afghanistan. The Afghan government's goal is to establish food reserves as protection against frequent droughts, flooding, and harsh winters. The United States, with its international partners, needs to help Afghanistan establish these food reserves as security for the Afghan people.
The United Nations estimates that at least 6.5 million Afghans are at risk for hunger and malnutrition. This number only goes up with natural disasters or internal conflict, such as the ongoing struggle against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Just last year a severe drought struck Afghanistan. With no food reserve, the Afghan government was forced to issue an appeal for international donations.
Instead of waiting for donations to pour in, which can take months, the Afghan government must be able to act quickly to help its people. Putting food reserves into action will save the lives of Afghans. It will also bolster the reputation of the fledgling government, which has to show it can provide for its people. After all, one cannot expect a strong democracy to emerge in Afghanistan if its citizens suffer from hunger and want. The Taliban and Al Qaeda would like nothing more than to see the new government falter. Food for Peace will help sustain the young Afghan democracy in the face of challenges from the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Back in 1959 President Eisenhower called for an exploration of ways to use food for "reinforcing peace and the well-being of free peoples throughout the world." That effort was followed by the landmark Food for Peace agreement with India. Today, we must intensify our Food for Peace efforts by establishing food reserves within Afghanistan to strengthen peace and democracy.

William Lambers is an author and historian. He is featured in the February newsletter of the Friends of the UN World Food Program (http://www.friendsowfp.org)