“There is enough for everybody’s need, but not for everybody’s greed.”

Mahatma Gandhi

American psychologist Abraham Maslow in his theory of “ Hierarchy of Needs” put the physiological needs-food, water, air, shelter etc. at the base of the hierarchy pyramid. It signifies that unless these needs are met, the higher needs can not be pursued.

Emphasizing the need for adequate provision of food for the growing population of the world, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed the right of every one to have adequate food. Though the governments of the world reaffirmed the right to food again in 1996, the growing poverty and hunger reflect that this right has a long way to go.

It goes without saying that water is the key to food security. The crops and livestock need water to grow. In fact, agriculture sector uses 70% of water consumed by humans. Emphasizing the value of water resource to human life, United Nations General Assembly declared access to clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right on 28 July 2010.

According to Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition, food security exists “when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life”. The four pillars of food security are Availability, Access, Utilisation and Stability. Right to food is protected under International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

Water security is defined as “ the reliable availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks”. Water security emerged as a concept only in the 21 st century probably due to the gravity of situations triggered by climate change. The increased frequency of extreme weather events and pollution of water bodies caused by human activities made it necessary.  Water security differs from food security in the sense that it covers not only the absence of water but also its presence, that is, when there’s too much of it. ex. floods.

In global terms, the biggest food-related problems are observed in the continents of Africa, Asia and South America. Similarly, a reduced water security is surfacing in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, small island nations and the Arctic.

Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its sixth assessment report found that increased occurrence of weather and climate phenomena is exposing millions worldwide to food insecurity and reduced water security. Changing rainfall patterns and scanty rainfall affect both water quantity and quality as well as food production. Heavy rainfall and consequent flooding also result in a similar scenario.

Unprecedented crisis like the COVID-19 threatened the food security of nations and populations around the world. It led to disruption in free flow of trade due to the pandemic measures. It unfolded a scenario where many nations found themselves struggling to get food supply to feed their populations. The below poverty line populations found it difficult to buy food because of the high prices and low availability. The economist called it an unprecedented food emergency. It forced even the well-off nations, who could afford importing most of their food stuff, to develop a food strategy of import substitution and indigenous food growing for long-term food security.

The present crisis seems gargantuan but is not insurmountable. Collective measures, co-operative policies and a sustainable mindset can set the world on road to recovery.

Water conservation should be put at the centre of sustainable development. Water-effective irrigation of agriculture, disaster-risk reduction brought about by developing an increased resilience of water systems along with localised solutions catering to region-specific needs would help. Food security can be achieved by reducing food waste, enhancing infrastructure, promoting more efficient production techniques, and  paying attention to diversification of food crops.

Needless to say, both food and water security can not be achieved by any nation in isolation. It calls for regional alliances, international co-operation and a global strategy framework.  Food and water for all would translate into food and water for each one.