World hunger has been an issue since ever,
malnutrition suffer had been increasing from year to year not because we’re
human ignore this issue. There are many
reasons for the presence of hunger
in the world and they are often interconnected. Here are six main reasons that
we think are important from World Food Programme, 5 November 2013.
1.
Poverty trap
People living in poverty can't afford
nutritious food for themselves and their families. This makes them weaker,
physically and mentally, so they are less able to earn the money that would
help them escape poverty and hunger. The effects can be long-lasting. Children
who are chronically malnourished, or ‘stunted’, often grow upto be adults whose
incomes are lower. They are condemned to a life of poverty and hunger.
Similarly, in developing countries,
farmers often can't afford seeds, so they cannot plant the crops that would
provide for their families. They may have to cultivate crops without the tools
and fertilizers they need. Others have no land or water or education. In short,
the poor are hungry and their hunger traps them in poverty.
2.
Lack of investment
in agriculture
Too many developing countries lack the
roads, warehouses and irrigation systems that would help them overcome hunger.
Without this key infrastructure, communities are left facing high transport
costs, a lack of storage facilities and unreliable water supplies -- all of
which conspire to limit farmers' yields and families' access to food.
Investments in improving land management,
using water more efficiently and making more resistant seed types available can
bring big improvements.
In fact, research by the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization shows that investment in agriculture is five times
more effective in reducing poverty and hunger than investment in any other
sector.
3.
Climate and
weather
Natural disasters such as floods, tropical
storms and long periods of drought are on the increase -- with calamitous
consequences for the hungry poor in developing countries. Drought is already
one of the most common causes of food shortages in the world.
In 2011, peristent lack of rain caused
crop failures and heavy livestock losses in parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and
Kenya. In 2012 there was a similar situation in the Sahel region of West
Africa.
In many countries, climate change is
exacerbating already tough conditions. The world's fertile farmland is under
threat from erosion, salination and desertification. Meanwhile, deforestation
by human hands accelerates the erosion of land which could be used for growing
food.
4.
War and
displacement
Across the globe, conflicts consistently
disrupt farming and food production. Fighting also forces millions of people to
flee their homes, leading to hunger emergencies as the displaced find
themselves without the means to feed themselves. The conflict in Syria is a
recent example.
In war, food sometimes becomes a weapon.
Soldiers will starve opponents into submission by seizing or destroying food
and livestock and systematically wrecking local markets. Fields are often mined
and water wells contaminated, forcing farmers to abandon their land.
Ongoing conflict in Somalia and the
Democratic Republic of Congo has contributed significantly to the level of
hunger in the two countries. By comparison, hunger is on the retreat in more
peaceful parts of Africa such as Ghana and Rwanda.
5.
Unstable markets
In recent years, the price of food
products has been very unstable. Roller-coaster food prices make it difficult
for the poorest people to get nutritious food consistently - which is exactly
what they need to do. Families need access to adequate food all year round.
Price spikes, on the other hand, may temporarily put food out of reach, which
can have lasting consequences for small children.
When prices rise, consumers often shift to
cheaper, less-nutritious foods, heightening the risks of micronutrient
deficiencies and other forms of malnutrition
6.
Food wastage
One third of all food produced (1.3
billion tons) is never consumed. This food wastage represents a missed
opportunity to improve global food security in a world where one in 8 is
hungry.
Producing this food also uses up precious
natural resources that we need to feed the planet. Each year, food that is
produced but not eaten guzzles up a volume of water equivalent to the annual
flow of Russia's Volga River. Producing this food also adds 3.3 billion tonnes
of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, with consequences for the climate and,
ultimately, for food production.
In my opinion, world hunger is a serious
issue. Even in our country in some province has this issue too. In our country
there are two thing that causes hunger such as uneven food distribution, and prolonged
drought. Government policy is the most helpful thing and efficient to help this
is issue, also our awareness is would help a lot.
