Societies reaching the level of ensuring food security, not only will they avoid dependency, hunger, immigration but also they would be able to develop in other aspects of their social and economic life such as industrialization, trading, cultural activities, scientific researches, philosophizing and related areas.

Societies that have ensured food security are able to exert maximum effort and knowledge on modernization. Ensuring food security is not producing enough of what you consume, however. It is about storing part of the product and exporting a large part of it. How can societies ensure food security? By increasing the size or through proper use of land?

The increasing population size and the demand for more food caused the cutting of trees in order to use the land for cultivation. But, it doesn’t mean that those who cultivate a wide area and who exert a lot of effort harvest much; because the cutting of trees causes deforestation of fertile farmland. So, Eritrea, as a nation that strives to ensure food security, should follow the modern farming system so as to reach its ultimate goal---export oriented farming.

In the last half century, the agricultural production of China and other South Asian countries increased by three folds while the land cultivated increased by only 10 percent. In contrast, despite the 100 percent or so increase in agricultural land, production didn’t show any increase in Africa. As a result, the continent has been victim to natural disasters, repeated draught, poverty…more than any other continent in the world. About one third, more than one billion, Africans are victims of continuous famine. And from 60 to 80 percent of all Africans depend on agriculture. In the developed countries, only about two percent of the population are agriculturalists and yet produce surplus production.

During the last 50 years, Africans have been producing below 10 quintals per hectare. Taking Latin America on the same years, production reached above 20 quintals per hectare and in Asia it reached 30 quintals, and in the developed countries it is 40.

We can learn a lot from such an experience. Agricultural development in Eritrea was limited due to the colonial policies, long liberation war and continuous draught. Hence, the Government took swift measures to improve the farming system by encouraging and helping citizens who would like to invest in agriculture by providing farming land and monetary loans. The Government by itself, as part of its development strategy of ensuring food security, is working to provide adequate agricultural infrastructure. The main objective is to transform the traditional way of farming into modern.

So as to achieve the desired goal, what we have invested---by the Government and private sectors---on agricultural development should continuously be evaluated. Because, if trees are cut in order to use the land for agriculture, but fails to appropriate usage, its negative effect would be greater. In the Gash Barka Region, for instance, there is a tradition of preparing vast land for agriculture and changing to another after two or three years saying that the land lost its fertility. The more you prepare a land for agriculture, the more you cause deforestation.

As aforementioned, the main obstacle against surplus production is the inefficient use of land that produces low harvest. So, the focus should not be put on the size of the farm land, rather it should be on the amount harvested per hectare. Evaluating the amount of production annually, and encouraging those who harvest much and professional farmers seems to be a good alternative.

The Government’s initiative of granting loans to farmers and providing necessary infrastructure is a sound measure in agricultural production development. Many people have improved their livelihood benefiting from small scale loans. What about those who receive a large amount of money? Some could have benefited from it; but there are also those who just ask loans with out having knowledge of managing it or hiring an expert. Since there are many people who put themselves in debt, continuous supervision and training is advisable. We should remember that the main reason for the world economic crisis is credit and its interest.

Similarly, efficient use of water is another very important factor in the development of agriculture. Thanks to the vigorous effort of the Government, the people, members of the defense forces, and the national construction companies in building major dams, diversion canals, terraces, micro dams etc. Now, Eritrea is in a promising water conservation stage. What is basically required is public awareness in efficient water use and introducing irrigation systems. Since our country is located in a region that is repeatedly hit by draught, building major water reservoirs, introducing modern irrigation systems, improving water management skills is an important factor.

Another significant factor in the agricultural sector is efficient use of human resources. It is not easy and affordable to run major agricultural projects using only man power; advanced machinery is required to facilitate and enhance production. Realizing the importance of heavy and sophisticated machinery in agricultural development, the Government imported many of them. Similarly, the establishment of research centers that would transform our farming systems in a scientific way is another significant initiative.

The development of livestock breeding, vegetables and fruits cultivation is as important as crop harvest. Citizens who invest a large amount of money on agriculture should always consider livestock breeding. Introducing modern systems of livestock fattening and increasing its produces could be more benefiting than crop cultivation. Luckily, Eritrea is a country with a climate suitable for livestock, vegetables and fruits. So, livestock breeding and cultivating a large land with grass will have a big plus in the food security ensuring endeavors.

Reducing the amount of crops spent on food and making our meal a variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish…is a good alternative we have in ensuring food security.