Increasing Food Security Through Farming

Most farmers are affected by economic and weather factors. A majority of farmers receive government subsidies to support the growth of certain crops like corn and soy. The government does this to ensure there is enough for the country. Without the subsidy, most farmers would grow other crops they deem beneficial to them economically. Growing corn takes time, and if the farmers are not supported, they will find it hard to grow some crops. Mass production of some crops keeps the production high and ensures the price stays low (Hanh et al., 2017). Therefore, food prices will also be low, which benefits the economy and ensures food security. Government support is vital as it ensures the farmers will always have a ready buyer for their crops. The farmers will receive support in terms of fertilizer and seeds, which lowers their farming costs. Low farming costs result in reduced food prices. There are crops the government will encourage farmers to oversupply. Such crops are used for generating money for growing processed foods.

The global market has a direct effect on farming (Ivanova et al., 2018). When the global farmers sell their produce at lower prices than American farmers, people will buy more of the international crops due to the low costs. Therefore, local farmers must ensure they reduce their production costs to remain competitive in the global economy. The global market determines commodity prices. Therefore, farmers should ensure they remain competitive if they are to make profits and not losses.

Technological Factors

Farming practices are evolving as technology changes. There are new and better ways of farming aimed at reducing the labor costs for farmers (Scanniello, 2018). Technology has made it easier for farmers to determine when to plant and how long the crops would last in the field. There are advancements made in seeds that give farmers the edge. Better seeds mean crops are less affected by extreme weather or pests. However, the costs to purchase some of these seeds can be prohibitive for farmers. Technology can be expensive initially, but the costs can be recouped back faster as time passes.

In terms of marketing and selling farm produce, farmers now directly link to consumers due to e-commerce. Buyers can place orders in advance directly to the farmer, ensuring that crops are harvested when ordered. This reduces wastage and ensures that only the ready crops are harvested. Prices are kept low since there are no middlemen involved in the supply chain. Food security is promoted as consumers directly link to farmers, and farmers are incentivized to continue farming since there is a ready market. Farmer’s market is a good example of the use of technology. Farmers are informed in advance about an upcoming event, and consumers can be alerted using technology on when the market will be and its location.

Political Factors

Farmers pay low wages, and the only people willing to take up farming jobs are immigrants living in the country illegally. The migrant laborers accept lowly-paying jobs that other American citizens would not take up. With immigrant labor, the farmers can keep their production costs low and ensure they can deliver their crops at competitive prices. Americans enjoy low food prices, and the only way to keep the prices low is by using workers who will accept low pay. Immigration laws have a direct impact on farming. With a reduced workforce, farmers are forced to hire expensive laborers, which results in increased farming costs and eventually high food prices.

When policies are made without involving all stakeholders, some effects will result in reduced production from farms or increased farming costs. Immigration laws affect the availability, meaning farmers have to seek expensive labor. The current policies restricting and hindering the immigration of people will result in a reduced labor force for farmers. The likelihood is that food prices might increase. Increased food costs will lead to reduced food security as many people will struggle to buy food relying heavily on food banks.