One school of thought holds that countries should try to become food-independent. While acknowledging the reasons for this proposal, I would argue that it is not practical in many parts of the world.
On the one hand, there are good grounds for advocating the policy of food independence. First, increasing domestic food production can lead to more employment opportunities in the field of agriculture, thereby reducing the unemployment rate. This can be seen in rural regions in Vietnam, where an emphasis on agricultural development has helped ensure year-round production, creating thousands of jobs for the locals and preventing jobless periods. In addition to this, depending on foreign food supplies can be risky, especially during global crises like pandemics or trade conflicts. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, disrupted global food chains, leaving countries heavily dependent on food imports, such as Saudi Arabia, struggling to secure stable food supplies.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned arguments, I am convinced that solely depending on domestic food production is far from a realistic goal for many nations. To be more specific, geographic and climatic conditions in many regions are simply not suitable for agricultural practices. Japan is a case in point. Its infertile soil, coupled with a hostile climate, severely limits its agricultural capacity, making self-sufficiency in food production a hardly attainable goal. By the same token, in light of prolonged droughts, it would be virtually impossible for South Sudan to produce enough food to feed its citizenry. For these countries, avoiding food imports could actually be tantamount to causing national food shortages.
In conclusion, while there are justifications for supporting the proposal of food self-reliance, I am of the opinion that it is not a feasible option for all countries. Particularly in regions where natural conditions are unfavorable for agriculture, food imports remain an indispensable means to ensure national food security.