The reality of today is that the agricultural sector is plagued with several challenges in different countries. Farmers are protesting, farmers bitterly complaining and farmers diverting to make ends meet. In all of these situations, stakeholders are coming together to find a lasting solution to the lingering challenges (in which the impacts of climate change cannot be ruled out). Sadly, the situation in many developing countries is very different. Efforts to support farmers have been so minimal or non-existent. Therefore, self-help is the only option to remain in business for the majority of the farmers.

Unfortunately, we cannot build something on nothing, it will definitely collapse. It is the challenge of our food system. We don’t have an efficient infrastructure for data management, no verifiable data to diagnose our key challenges in the agricultural sector and still, we develop interventions that are not data driven and we hope that MIRACLES happen. Then if a miracle happens, how do we sustain it? It is important we have more policymakers who understand the plight of farmers and the challenges faced, stakeholders who are interested in developing a food system that works for every actor, and a blueprint or roadmap that we can journey through to food security. Without this, every idea or intervention is just a mere wishful thinking that leads to nowhere.

Wishful thinking cannot solve the enormous challenges we are facing in the agricultural sector, we need a more strategic plan that can diagnose and prioritize the needs of various actors in the food chain. We need data infrastructure that can provide constant verifiable data to assess and monitor our progress. Interventions are good but if they are not data-driven, they are just mere wishful thinking that solves nothing (maybe symptoms rather than root cause of the problem). Food security is not a destination but a journey that can bring more shared prosperity to the farmers and other actors in the food chain. So, let us plan for prosperity today and let wishful thoughts be the past we have outlived. Today is the only opportunity we can take to have a tomorrow that is food secured. Let us utilize it well!