Wasting one third of food production : Think and save, not just merely eat
- Sangai Express Editorial :: May 30, 2013 -

Think, just do not eat. Eat to live, not live to eat.

The profundity of this observation should be clear in the face of the fact that of the total world's food production, roughly pegged at 1.3 billion tonnes, one third goes to waste.

No wonder there is the philosophical belief that 'over eating is a sin' and gluttony has never been trumped as a benchmark of good etiquette or good behaviour.

A statement that in over eating, one is figuratively stealing food from someone else, who may need it more.

Add the fact that even as one third of the total food production in the world goes to waste, there are millions of people who go to bed hungry, that is if they have any structure that may be called a bed, and it is time for all to put on their thinking caps.

"Think, Eat, Save" is the theme for this year's World Environment Day, which falls on June 5 and before that last morsel of food is left untouched on the plate, just give a thought for the millions who go hungry.

This is at the global level and cut to Manipur and there is nothing much better to say about her people either.

On a larger canvass, time for the State Government and its agencies to seriously question why tonnes and tonnes of food go waste or rot away in Government godowns while many impoverished families are denied their due share. Sheer lethargy or incompetency or plain indifference to the issue at hand ?

Food security has become the fashion statement of quite a number of people who want to project themselves as activists or people with a conscience, but has anything concrete been done ?

As it is, scientists have been able to work out a link between climate change and food wastage and while this may be seen in the realm of the experts in their chosen field, what cannot be dismissed is the point that food wastage in Manipur is a reality, an ugly reality, if one may add.

No guests should be left unfulfilled is the credo and while this is fine and in line with accepted behaviour, piling the plates of the guests with an obscene amount of food, that will end up in the waste bin, is taking things a little too far.

Preparing food in excess of the needed requirement has become the de riguer in Manipur, especially during social dos. A status statement ? It may be this and more.

Left overs on the plate, again during social dos, is again a fashion statement for quite a large number of people.

The proof of such a culture taking deep roots can be seen at all the drains or khongbans of each and every leikai, whenever there is a social function that involves partaking a meal or a feast.

A sore sight it is, but in creating this sore sight lies the mentality of a people who do not think twice before wasting food, that too in abundance.

This sore sight again comes to the fore during times of festivities, especially during festivals such as Kang or Dol Jatra, when the drains or khongbans are turned into seas of yellow, from the left over Khichri and the accompanying dishes.

Experts may study and delve into the link between food wastage and its impact on climate, but to the others, it is time to seriously study the culture of rampant food wastage, when millions of people continue to lead a life of hunger and wants.

Criminal wastage is the term that comes to mind. For the theme 'Think, Eat, Save' to have any relevance on the occasion of World Environment Day, let's take a look at the waste bin every day and see how much food could have been saved if only a little application of the mind is done.

The next time one thinks about over loading one's plate, let the reality of hunger first register in the mind of every one.