Healthy diet too pricey for most Namibians

A shocking 1.4 million people in Namibia - more than 56% of the country’s population - cannot afford a healthy diet, which costs about N$55 for a person per day. This is according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation last week. The 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition Report, titled ‘Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable’, provides fresh evidence that the world is moving further away from its goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030.The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the report highlighted.Projections are that nearly 670 million people (8% of the world population) will still be facing hunger in 2030 – even if a global economic recovery is taken into consideration. This is a similar to 2015, when the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition by the end of this decade was launched under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Billions to supportThe report noted as striking that worldwide support for the food and agricultural sector averaged almost US$630 billion a year between 2013 and 2018. The lion’s share of it goes to individual farmers, through trade and market policies and fiscal subsidies. However, not only is much of this support market-distorting, but it is not reaching many farmers, hurts the environment and does not promote the production of nutritious foods that make up a healthy diet. That&#039;s in part because subsidies often target the production of staple foods, dairy and other animal source foods, especially in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Rice, sugar and meats of various types are the most incentivised food items worldwide, while fruits and vegetables are relatively less supported, particularly in some low-income countries.With the threats of a global recession looming, and the implications this has on public revenues and expenditures, a way to support economic recovery involves the repurposing of food and agricultural support to target nutritious foods where per capita consumption does not yet match the recommended levels for healthy diets.The evidence suggested that if governments repurpose the resources they are using to incentivise the production, supply and consumption of nutritious foods, they will contribute to making healthy diets less costly, more affordable and equitably for all.

Healthy diet too pricey for most Namibians

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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Healthy diet too pricey for most Namibians

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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