Prof. Uzochukwu Anelechi Ubaferem Onyebinama of Agricultural Economics at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, has posited that a hunger-free world is unattainable, despite efforts by the United Nations through the Sustainable Development Goals No. 2 (SDG No. 2).
Onyebinama recalled that in 2023, while 733 million people faced hunger, 2.33 billion experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, explaining why land cannot be available for grazing in the South East.
The 63-year-old made the comments while presenting the university’s 63rd inaugural lecture titled “Tales in Quest of Freedom from Hunger”, saying that even “the scripture tells us that we must always have the poor with us, and that the poor will not cease out of the land.”
Noting that Goal 2 sought to end hunger (zero hunger), achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture, he said it “should have been reversed as: promote sustainable agriculture, improve nutrition, achieve food security, and not end hunger (zero hunger).”
Buttressing his position, he said that when God cursed Cain, He (God) said, “when you till the land, it will no longer yield to you her increase,” which means that no matter how we struggle, we can never get the full potential of the land from it. “So my position is that an end to hunger is not achievable.”
However, Onyebinama noted that freedom from hunger can be achieved if it means having at least two proper meals a day. “I think we can achieve that,” he said.
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