By Witness Radio Team.

In a recent report by the World Bank, staggering statistics have revealed that nearly one in three people, especially in developing countries, face precarious access to food. This reality poses a significant obstacle to progress on a global scale, hindering advancements in various areas.

The shocking statistics were revealed in the World Bank’s 2024 Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report released Tuesday, 9th January. The Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group Flagship Report that examines global economic developments and prospects with a special focus on emerging markets and developing economies.

Mr. Indermit Gill, the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group emphasized that in many developing countries, particularly among the poorest, nearly one out of every three people will face tenuous access to food.

“Near-term growth will remain weak, leaving many developing countries especially the poorest stuck in a trap: with paralyzing levels of debt and tenuous access to food for nearly one out of every three people. That would obstruct progress on many global priorities.” Mr. Indermit revealed.

The issue of food insecurity remains a formidable challenge, not only in Uganda but across the globe. The June 2023 edition of the Bank’s Global Economic Prospect report also, highlighted the intensification of food insecurity in Low-Income Countries.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2023 report estimates a rise in severely food insecure individuals globally from 624 million in 2017 to a staggering 900 million in 2022.

However, amid these challenges, the report identifies an opportunity to tackle the issue of food insecurity. It emphasizes the need for increased global cooperation to address the urgent challenges caused by mounting food insecurity.

Witness Radio – Uganda attributes the problem to the growing demand for land in developing countries for Land-Based Investments (LBIs). These investments most times target land for local and indigenous and displace them without providing alternative settlement and compensation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, says small-scale farmers contribute to 80 percent of the World’s food basket thus if supported would contribute enough food for the World.

Numerous individuals are facing forceful eviction under the pretext of large-scale farming aimed at boosting food production and other profit-driven, large-scale land-based investments. The above-mentioned cases are just a glimpse of the numerous incidents occurring. According to Witness Radio’s monitoring desk, the organization’s website logs and investigates over two cases related to violent land evictions for investments every week in Uganda.

Research from Witness Radio Uganda and other civil societies such as Grain and Oxfam among others has uncovered that investments in multinational companies or investors often bring about adverse effects. Many people are displaced, tortured, criminalized, sexually assaulted, and among others, all in the name of development and paving the way for large-scale business investments.

Take a look at Kiryandongo district, where close to 40,000 people were forcefully evicted, and currently live a destitute life by four multinational companies, just to carry out large-scale farming of coffee, maize, soya beans, and sugarcanes, which are all solely for export paradoxically worsening hunger.

Troublingly, the World Bank’s sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has recently contributed to the funding of one of these projects, despite being aware that the funded project is linked to violations of human rights within the affected communities.

While the fate of the 40,000 displaced individuals in Kiryandongo remains uncertain, a similar tale unfolds in central Uganda, specifically in Mubende district. Here, a staggering 20,000 people faced eviction to make room for monoculture tree-planting activities orchestrated by the UK-based New Forests company. Adding to the distress, in a bid to increase oil palm production, Bidco Uganda, a joint venture formed between Wilmar International, Josovina Commodities, and Bidco Oil Refineries evicted more than 100 people to give way for palm trees in the Kalangala district.

In an interview with Witness Radio – Uganda with Mr. Beryaija Benon who lost 10.1 hectares of land to Great Seasons smc limited which grows coffee in the Kiryandongo district, his response was kicked off by uncertainty. He explained that he and his family of 10 are navigating an unclear path to sustenance. Despite relying on God’s Grace, Mr. Beryaija holds resentment toward a multinational company that disrupted his life. In the past, he utilized his land for cultivating crops such as maize, cassava, and bananas, in addition to raising over 50 pigs, 75 chickens and 45 ducks. The proceeds from these endeavors not only earned him millions but also provided sufficient for his family.

Mr. Beryaija, a community land rights defender who was forcibly evicted from Jerusalem in Kiryandongo, is actively mobilizing his communities to reclaim the land taken by multinational companies in the Kiryandongo district. Due to concerns for his safety, he has relocated to the city center to earn a living for his family.

“Imagine buying food daily in a city center for a local man like me, who used to feed my family with fresh produce from my land and earned millions from the surplus. Now, I live like a pauper since my land was forcibly taken from me. I spend at least 20,000 Ugx every day on family food, translating to 60,000 Ugx monthly, despite having no stable source of income. I now have to toil casually every day just to earn enough for us to eat,” revealed the defender.

If the ongoing trend of irresponsible land-based investments, particularly in creating large-scale agricultural land perpetuated by powerful and resourceful global companies with support from government leaders continues an abated. The second goal of the 17, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development zero hunger will remain unattainable.

Witness Radio observes that under the call for global cooperation and investments, investors and their companies should protect and support smallholder farmers and prioritize people, the planet, and profits, not the reverse, rather than promoting large-scale land-based investments that threaten livelihoods of smallholder farmers.