FOOD WASTAGE – A CRIMINAL ACT !
‘While the rich people have excess food to waste, the poorest have none and die unnoticed’
The food production in the country with over 230 million tons is claimed to be adequate to feed the population but the hidden truth is that about 30% of the food is wasted in different forms, namely grains, fresh and processed items. The economic loss incurred due to food wastage is seldom highlighted and its implication in addressing the problem of chronic hunger is rarely understood.
We have good statistics on the production of overall food items like cereals, pulses, oil seeds, millets, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and fishes on All India and State basis. The production scenario is impressive in many sectors with world ranking. The estimates show that there is enough buffer stock to meet the demands of the public even in adverse situations like drought and floods. This means that the availability of food to the citizens is satisfactory as claimed by the Government, but the fact remains about the non- accessibility to the poorest of the poor. The food crisis does not only mean the increase in prices but also the quantity of food items wasted due to different causes. The record high food inflation reflects on the non- affordability of essential commodities to the poorest of the poor.
In addition to the post harvest loss ranging from 25 to 35% among the food grains both as fresh and dry materials, the wastage of perishable items like vegetables and fruits also add to the overall food basket lost in the system. The main reason attributed to loss of quantity and quality of grains is the poor storage and transport facilities in the country. Even the major go downs like Food Corporation of India lack infrastructure facilities to protect the valuable food items. The wastage also includes the processed food items at domestic, community and large scale sectors which are ignored though essential in the context of quantum of food wastage. It may be difficult to quantify the wastage as the data are seldom maintained properly as wastage occurs at different levels. The variety of food items prepared on different occasions involve many ingredients of high value like spices and thus add to the quality. Although the domestic wastage may be negligible, especially from lower and middle strata of the society, the rich class and the community based preparations in marriages, seminars and high level meetings account for substantial wastage of food items. Several tons of food preparations in marriages are thrown as leftover food in the garbage cans collected later by the poorest of the poor. The wastage in the hotels and restaurants are no less in the country.
Although there is no authentic data to substantiate these huge wastage it is reasonable to presume that several tons of ready to consume food are wasted in the country. In a marriage party of 1000 people the sumptuous food consumed will be less than 60 to 65%, the remaining going as colossal wastage. Either the several food items served on the plate or collected in buffet system, only less than 10% of the guests consume all the items, while others leave out partially tasted food ranging in quantity. If a plate meal in a middle to rich class marriage costs Rs. 200/ to 500/ with an average of Rs.350/ plate wastage of 25% accounts for Rs 87500/time/marriage and for 1000 persons the economic loss will be huge. When multiplied with thousands of marriages per day the loss would run to several crores of rupees. Even a middle class family feels it is a prestige to provide lavish food, incurring lakhs of rupees taken on loan. ‘I wanted to arrange a decent feast but not very expensive, but my sambandi insisted on extravaganza to protect his prestige and image’ bemoaned a middle class parent and ‘ at the end many guests did not turn up, leading huge wastage’ he grumbled. The food wastage in corporate parties will be very high accounting for further loss. The fabulously rich people contribute to wastage of food since they will have less time and concern to realize the implications of valued food that can feed several thousand hungry people
In a country where over 400 million people go without food every day, out of which more than 50% are chronically hungry such huge wastage of food is a criminal act. The poverty and hunger increased in the country since independence as there was no clear vision to rescue the hungry people. In terms of the financial loss due to food wastage it is equivalent to feeding lakhs of hungry people. The wastage of tons of processed food can combat hunger of millions of people in chronic stage. Although some organizations help in pooling the unused food items for distribution to the hungry people still it is a pathetic sight to see many children and women collecting food left over and thrown in the bins in the marriage and hotel surroundings. It is estimated that Rs.730 crore will be required to feed one million hungry persons per year at the subsidized rate of Rs.20/ per person twice a day.
The solution lies in minimizing the food items in marriages and big parties, as many guests do not even touch some items. A package deal for processed food in hotels, restaurants, marriages with provision to supply the non-consumed items to the chronically hungry will be the right step. General public should be conscience of the wastage of food that can fill the stomach of hungry persons. The mindset of the citizens have to change with the awareness that millions of children and elders suffer from chronic hunger leading to malnutrition and various diseases. It may be made mandatory that all marriages and other parties set apart at least 20% food items for feeding the hungriest in the country to make India hunger- free by 2020, as a moral and social responsibility with divine blessings. The social activists have a great role to play in educating the public on the value of food to the poorest who has the right to live as others do.
Dr.V.Rajagopal, Founder, Hunger Elimination and You movement, TIRUPATI- 517 501, A.P
rajvel44@gmail.com
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