What leads to food insecurity across the globe?

May 13
11:36

2015

Dominic Reigns

Dominic Reigns

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There are more than 6 million suburban households that are classified as food insecure. An additional 2.3 million households exhibited very low food security. Food insecurity can be particularly defined as a state of unreliable access to food which is nutritious as well as affordable to satisfy one’s hunger. Food insecurity could be categorized as seasonal or temporary and even at regional or household level.

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Across the world,What leads to food insecurity across the globe? Articles there are millions of people who are suffering from hunger. United Nations (UN) reported more than 800 million people being undernourished. Food insecurity always exists when there is an economic constraint to acquire food in sufficient quantity. It may also occur because of physical constraints such as a physical disability. Studies show that food insecurity has an unfavorable impact on health and mental development in both children and adults. Primarily, the health impact is caused due to inadequate intake of core nutrition that is important for a human body.

Poverty, war, political instability, civil war, government policies and corrupt business environment are few of the root causes of food insecurity in developing countries. It acts as a barrier to enable access of equal food distribution for all in the economy. Many third world countries are agrarian but yet their ineffective agricultural policies never help to lower the gap of food sufficiency. Further reasons that gives rise to insecurity of food includes high population growth, gender inequality, social inequality, natural disasters, increased number of people with poor health and low educational level.

Internally displaced people and refugees in one’s country also increase the food insufficiency in the economy. The demographics of the country also play a crucial role in prevailing food shortages. If the demographics of a country depict a higher number of dependent populations then also the food will be insufficient and increases the insecurity. Malnutrition would lead to human suffering in catastrophic amount. According to World Health Organization, around 60 percent of children face death in infancy period due to chronic hunger. In developed countries like United States of America, moderately malnourished children also suffer poor health status and are immune to headaches and fatigue.

In 1996, World Food Summit was organized to work on eliminating food insecurity. Around 186 countries participated and pledged to reduce food-insecurity to 400 million people by year 2015. Some innovative programs were developed to help with under nutrition yet the progress is too slow to fulfill the objective. Food insecurity still persists and is an international problem with developing countries facing maximum problems and effects of food insecurity such as social and psychological problems.