Economy, Ecosystem & Livelihood Amid Scarcity Mayhems

Summary

Food is one of the necessities of a human. It feeds energy to the body for it to

function. Food shortage is a huge obstacle of every country. There are influencers

that may have caused this cataclysm. This may include the climate change, the

failure of supplying the essential materials for farming, and demand-supply

relationship. This proposal aids to address certain issues regarding the food

shortage and how to sustain the normal balance of the economy.

Background of the Problem

According to Challenges Facing the Food System (n.d.), it was predicted that

by the year 2050, the population will exceed 10 billion, thus causing more demand

of food. Even in this authentic era, the entire world is affected with food shortage

and scarcity.

Climate change also caused the withering of the soil, therefore losing the

important nutrients in sustaining plant growth. There are also situations wherein

there is a heavy rainfall, and the crops of the farmers are washed away. The fact

that climate change is the result of pollution caused by humans, it indirectly affects

the simple lives of the farmers. Farmers in general are fortes of weather because it

is the main component that will help their crops grow. Given that there are

unpredictable changes in the climate, hence making the environment unpleasing to

the plants and crops. In relation to the problem, wastes in general should be

disposed properly and avoid burning of garbage.

This problem does not end with the daily food supply of the people, but also

the livelihood of the dear farmers. In order to prolong the lives of their crops, they

need to have a regular supply of fertilizers. Gaining little to none, it is impossible

for them to keep up the supply of their auxiliary materials for their livelihood to be

feasible. Government officials are the utmost responsible ones when it comes to the

needs of the food producers. In connection to the effect of climate change on the

livelihood of the farmers, this proposal suggests collecting biodegradable materials

and process them to be manufactured as fertilizers. These organic fertilizers shall

be given to the farmers free of charge.

The economy is in its drastic inflation because of the surplus of demands

with very little supply. The hyperinflation of food supplies is the evidence that

edible materials in this world is decreasing. According to Venzon (2023), the

inflation rate in the Philippines increased to 8.7% in January. It is an undoubtedly

worrying situation, given that Philippines is still striving from poverty.

Beneficiaries

Farmers. This proposal aids to help farmers have their regular supply of essential

materials for farming.

Economy. This proposal suggests a course of action to help deficit the inflation

rate.

Ecosystem. This proposal suggests methods in diminishing the waste

dissemination while utilizing decomposing waste into manufactured organic

fertilizers.

Proposed Solutions to the Problems Presented

Problem No. 1: Climate Change

Solution No.1: It is a common knowledge that climate change is primarily caused

by pollution. Prior to that, pollution is the result of human activities, such as

burning fossil fuels, disposing of garbage on the sea and the like. In regards to this

circumstance, proper segregation of wastes is highly vital. There should be a

separate trash bins for every type of wastes (i.e., biodegradable, non-

biodegradable). The schedule of collection of the wastes shall vary on their type.

Problem No.2: Fertilizers

Solution No. 2: Fertilizers are expensive materials. Complete fertilizer was high in

CAR (Php 2,220.37) and low in Region XII (Php 1,793.50); Ammophos was high in

Region V (Php 1,948.55) and low in Region XII (Php 1,583.54); MOP was highest in

Region IX (Php 2,054.51) and lowest in Region II (Php 1,749.20); and DAP was

highest in Region VII (Php 2,944.30) and lowest in Region VIII (Php 1,883.33)

(Coronado & Mula, 2022). The prices of all sorts of fertilizers are no lower than

Php1,500. Local farmers earn very little despite their hard work. Their profit is not

enough to buy the essential materials that their crops need. In accordance to the

solution number 1, the biodegradable wastes can be used as compost. Government

sectors should provide organic fertilizers for the farmers, utilizing the decomposing

materials.

Problem No.3: Inflation Rate

Solution No.3: Economy—a simple demand and supply can affect its cycle. After

the pandemic, there is a drastic increase of the prices of goods, which is never a

pleasant news. Inflation is a normal phenomenon in the economy, but

hyperinflation on the other hand is difficult to control. It can be caused when there

is more currency circulating the market than normal, giving more cash to the

buyers, thus increasing the demand for supplies. But in food shortage, the
epicenter of the problem is the production. The flow of the economy is always being

forecasted. Knowing that there is a shortage of food, the exporting and importing of

products should be limited, so that the local market can buy from the local

products, thus growing the economy.

Method/ Details of the Proposed Solutions

Solution No.1: Waste segregation is the most practical way of waste management.

This waste management should start in every household, wherein there are two

garbage bins labelled as Non-Biodegradable and Biodegradable. The schedule of

collection of the different types of waste should not be simultaneous. In a week,

there is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The M-W-F schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) shall be intended for the

collection of BIODEGRADABLE wastes. The T-TH-SAT schedule (Tuesday,

Thursday, Saturday) schedule shall be intended for the collection of

NONBIODEGRADABLE wastes. On Sundays, there is no collection of garbage so

that the garbagemen will have their rest day.

https://www.google.com/search?q=segregation+of+waste+into+biodegradable+and+nonbiodegradable&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj2l5ie-4__AhWHat4KHVjYAYAQ2-

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Solution No.2: Government sectors shall collect the biodegradable wastes from the

households where that wastes were collected. Then, they shall process the

decomposing materials into ready-to-use fertilizers. According to Sudharmaidevi et

al. (2017), thermochemical waste processing is a quick solution for hygienic waste

disposal and processing of organic fertilizers. The organic fertilizers are then

distributed to the local farmers to help them sustain their livelihood.

Solution No.3: Imported products are always expensive in local currencies.

Exporting products when there is a shortage of supply may give the local market a

hard time coping from the loss, which may result to increase of inflation rate in

local economy. Limiting the import and export in accordance to circumstances is

one way of keeping the local currency circulating in the local economy, hence

making more job opportunities for the local citizens and local economy growth.

References
CHALLENGES FACING THE FOOD SYSTEM. (n.d.). Future of Food.

https://www.futureoffood.ox.ac.uk/food-system-challenges

Coronado, K. & Mula, M. (2022, July 4). Philippine fertilizer price outlook: A reality

for farmers and fishers. https://fpa.da.gov.ph/NW/index.php/information-

resources/publications/articles/454-philippine-fertilizer-price-outlook-a-

reality-for-farmers-and-fishers

Sudharmaidevi, C. R., Thampatti, K. C. M., & Saifudeen, N. (2017). Rapid

production of organic fertilizer from degradable waste by thermochemical

processing. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture,

6(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40093-016-0147-1

Venzon, C. (2023, February 7). Philippine inflation hit 14-year high of 8.7% in

January. Nikkei Asia.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Inflation/Philippine-inflation-hit-14-

year-high-of-8.7-in-January