A local Arabic paper revealed that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is giving recommendations to address the impact of price hike and food security in the country. The Council of Ministers received the report of food security submitted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry recommending immediate ways to limit the effects of the surge in the price of foodstuffs. This approach would require quick implementation and seriousness of the matter to avoid adverse consequences that would bear upon the stability of the domestic market.
A food security strategy is in the works that involves developing a comprehensive system that enables sustainable food production. It was also recommended to increase financial support for government food companies such as the Kuwait Catering Company, the Flour Mills Company, and the Livestock Transport and Trade Company, with the state bearing the price difference for its products in case of high prices while selling it to citizens and consumers at a reasonable fixed price. The Ministry urged for the state’s expansion of international agricultural investment by owning agricultural lands outside of Kuwait, specifically in fertile areas.
On the other hand, the Ministry stressed the need for Kuwait to adopt an integrated strategy for food and water security for the following dimensions:
On the other hand, the Ministry of Commerce stressed the need for the country to adopt integrated strategies for food and water security that include the following:
1. Strengthening the national food basket by expanding regional and international agricultural investments, and owning agricultural land, livestock and fisheries in the countries of the fertile regions.
2. Working on diversifying import sources and developing the country’s supply chains.
3. Reconsidering the distribution of land, agricultural holdings, livestock breeding and fodder support on the basis of achieving self-sufficiency in the state.
4. Connecting agricultural holdings with a network of factories for food products through small and medium enterprises to achieve an integrated agricultural economic cycle that ensures stability in the medium and long term in the face of fluctuations in global markets.
5. Paying attention to the water resources management system in the country and ways to diversify its sources to ensure the achievement of water security locally by using advanced technological techniques and applications, which constitute a major requirement for achieving agricultural production and sustainable food security.
6. Expanding the role of private sector companies, investment companies, and commercial and industrial banks, to enhance food security in the country and provide border markets to ensure the availability and diversity of food products in more effective ways.
7. Increasing financial support for food security companies (Kuwait Supply Company, Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company, Livestock Transport and Trade Company) to contain the repercussions of rising prices of basic food commodities in global markets, and the government bears the difference in prices for basic commodities.
8. Activating the role of commercial control to control prices, prevent any artificial increases in food commodities, and take the legal procedures followed.
9. Determining the national food basket, which must be produced locally in cooperation with international organizations, companies and expertise, and in coordination with the relevant local authorities.
10. Develop the integrated national strategy for food and water security, its programmes, projects, indicators to measure its performance, and draft laws and decisions related to food and water security in Kuwait.
Moreover, the Council of Ministers established a higher committee, called the Higher National Committee for Strengthening the Food and Water Security System, which is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil, and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Al-Faris, and includes members from competent authorities from the public and private sectors, as follows: the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the General Authority for Investment, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry, Electricity and Water, the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, and the Institute Kuwait for Scientific Research. The committee shall have an advisory body that includes competencies from inside and outside the country to prepare and direct technical activities and recommendations regarding food and water security.
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