Editor's Note [Volume 23 No. 5 (2023)]

Hunger and Climate Change: How responsible are we?

We are ready with our next issue of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND). As we continue to address issues of hunger and food insecurity and hope to achieve SDG 2 zero hunger by 2030, we should remember that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, severe weather events (climate change), and an increasingly ungovernable world are making it impossible to imagine us achieving SDG 2, zero hunger. I am always full of hope, and like to instill it in others, especially those who might be inclined to give up on this world. Over the past few years, I have been working with young children, in primary schools on agricultural projects. Some call themselves young farmers, and I call them hunger fighters. Children are very inspiring and do like the outdoors a lot. They are also keen to try new technologies even as they display their creativity. We need to inspire young people especially in a world that does not offer much to be happy about, and in a world where adults seem to be so unhappy. If I had more resources, I would do more in this space. But then, the resources available seem to be directed toward causing misery. There can never be peace where people hate each other enough to kill and destroy property. Meantime others are languishing in poverty and hunger. The climate change impacts are reminding us that as human beings we are at the mercy of a bigger force and that we cannot just do whatever we want and expect to get away with it. How disciplined have we been to ensure the world we have been entrusted with is well nurtured? There is a considerable blame game between different groups regarding climate change causality. Some argue that the changes we are seeing are natural, that these changes have been taking place since the beginning of the world. Whatever the case, mother nature is acting violated; so much else is going on that interferes with our efforts to address hunger issues for the more than 900 million world citizens who are affected.

The appeal here is that we need to take personal responsibility to value and protect nature. We should take time to enjoy aspects of it without destroying it. That is what we should do without any hesitation, and make an effort to involve our children.

In this issue, we have 16 well-reviewed manuscripts. Please enjoy.


Ruth Khasaya Oniang'o
Editor-in-Chief, AJFAND