Prevention of Famine and the Attention of Various Disciplines - Essay Example

?To What Extent Can Famine be prevented? Introduction Famine can be defined as large-scale scarceness of food, and a number of factors such as crop failure, people’s inability to access food and the failure by authorities and international organizations to respond cause it. In Africa, the civil wars escalate the dimensions of famine by hindering expedient and fast response to reduce its effects on the population. The accompanying features do include malnutrition, starvation, disease and mortality (Sen, 1981). Throughout human history every continent on earth has experienced a period of famine, however, certain regions in Africa and especially the horn of Africa continue to experience severe cases of famine. Prevention of famine has been a major concern for both international organizations and academic institutions. Several strategies have been employed to counter famine and its effects throughout affected regions. Prevention of famine has always attracted the attention of various disciplines, with historians giving account of its occurrence in the past. Famine situations are complex and when it hits a region, the response can be daunting to the people and institutions involved. Various researchers have attempted to develop theoretical as well as comparative interdisciplinary approach to understanding the preventive measures. In order to understand the interlink ages between starvation, disease and starvation and death. Most researchers acknowledge that famine is preventable, compared against other issues such as poverty and food insecurity. This paper will look into the extent to which famine can be prevented and the strategies that can be used to fruitful. Extent to which Famine can be Prevented Famine has been attributed as a massive social failure, and should not be perceived merely as a natural tragedy. Stated differently, famine signals that institutions, organizations, governments and policies have failed. According to Dre?ze & Sen (1989), there should be people who are criminally liable to deaths of millions. Prevention, however, is essentially concerned with the protection of entitlements (Fine, 1997) Most institutions and governments develop policies and programs that minimize the impacts of famines. The most important though should be those that lay enough groundwork for future development. The policies should ensure both famine prevention and long-term food security assurances. The policies must promote and enhance agricultural growth, especially among small-scale farmers. In addition, infrastructural development should take centre stage in the global efforts to combat famine. Environmental rehabilitation programs and effective markets should be developed in the fight against famine alleviation. More importantly, each political geographical region must develop capacity to design and implement proper food policies and programs at all levels. Widespread famines have ravaged Ireland, China, India, and the horn of Africa. Famine situations are very complex and to mitigate against them requires a great deal of human commitment across several institutions and individuals. This is often a regional, short-term extreme food shortage, thought of as caused by drought, ecological extinction, and a sometimes accompanied by conflicts. A number of factors including poverty, inequality, commerce that is not regulated, and insufficient food schemes often fuels famine. Malthusian theory predicts that food will grow at a much lower rate than the growth in population, which will put a strain on the existing stocks of food (Madeley, 2000). However, there are writers who have faulted this theory by asserting that modern technology can actually lead to food increasing by more than the proportional increase in population. Dre?ze & Sen (1990) who wondered why in world where certain regions produced food that is more than enough yet other regions experienced severe food situations noted this paradox. Environments are increasingly becoming with the movement of people in the form of rural to urban migration, catalysing a speedy rise in diseases. According to Dyson & O? Gra?da (2002), there is a relationship between famine mortality and diseases attributed population movements. Early warning Signs Famine is caused by severe environmental situations mentioned above and this necessitates early warning signs. Monitoring of weather and climatic condition s are vital in predicting and forecasting the likelihood of crop failure since most of the areas currently affected by famine are prone to using rain in agriculture. Early warning signs are instrumental in creating the first buffer zones in the mitigation process of prevention. This is a short-term solution to counter against the adverse effects of famine, this will greatly aid in the provision of rapid emergency response to the affected areas. An example in case is the situation that happened in United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization predicted that nearly eleven million people in the horn Africa were facing famine situations. In the 1980s, Green Revolution was widely touted as the primal frontier in countering famine in much of the world ravaged by famine. Researches were conducted on hybrid strains that were resistant to famine and are high yielding. These were later faulted to cause severe destructions to the environment. These were later faulted to cause severe destructions to the environment as they involved usage of high quantities of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The policies offered hope, albeit technically, of feeding large number of people. Famine situations are aggravated by political and conflict in the affected areas and these are often the first strategies that should be used to overcome them. Strategies The ultimate solution to mitigation of famine is putting proper systems in place to ensure food security. These strategies even though they can be applied to mitigate against famine, they all end up in shoring more foods in the reserves. The key to preventing famine in area is production of sufficient food to mitigate against the ravaging effects. Apart from the involvement of governments and other agencies, the next important personality in the equation is the farmer. Sufficient food productions directly lower effects of famine such as malnutrition. Several strategies can be employed to prevent famine situations occurring, however, of importance is the deep knowledge of the specific area affected and then applying a strategy that is appropriate to the region. The strategies that can be used include; use of modern agricultural methods, staple foods. Use of Modern Agricultural Methods Majority of the areas that are feeling the severe effects of famine are regions that have low agricultural potential, majorly due to soil degradation, insufficient use fertilizer and over reliance on rain. Provision of basic agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and other modern farming equipment can help in increasing agricultural productivity not only in the present but also for future use. To ensure ultimate success in these initiatives, agencies and governments must employ appropriate technologies, coupled with correct agro-ecological conditions together with existing farming techniques. These techniques to be used should be easy to apply and require very meagre training and little maintenance. Production of Stable Crops Staple food has been frequently mentioned as the best bet to combat frequent famine. In several regions of the world, rice, wheat, corn, potatoes form a majority of diet to most populations on earth. Farmers in these regions should be encouraged to reduce the production of commercial crops and instead focus their energies on the production of food crops. This is a strategy that moist food experts have mentioned can have a massive effect on alleviating the extreme impacts of famine. Strengthening Institutions to Enhance Farmer’s access to and adoption of new technologies Food prices have been known to escalate famine situations, therefore private markets for agricultural inputs and technologies must be strengthened in order to aid farmers reduce the administrative burden placed upon the governments experiencing drought. This will also lead to creation of a long term agricultural development agenda. In addition, proper mechanisms should be in place to establish formal, yet affordable credit programs to the folks in the frequently affected regions. These credits are very important as they allow poor households to purchase agricultural inputs, as well as buying foods during periods of shortages. Additionally, pastoral communities can replenish their livestock using the credit, which they dispose of during periods of drought. End of Conflicts and Political Situations Prevention of famine greatly depends on the eradication of conflicts and genocide and other political situations. Sound governance has an effect on long-term food security programs in a country or in a region. A responsible political system that practices responsible governance that is transparent and accountable will realize food security. Most countries that constantly experience famine have been known to experience wars, civil unrests, wanton corruption, poor policies putting further straining on the vulnerable communities. Conclusion Prevention of famine is the key to mitigate against the severe effects of famine, short term goals have been continually used but to very little effect. Provision of relief foods to those in dire need has been the major pre-occupation amongst relief agencies working in areas prone to extreme famine. The best way to counter famine must involve the procedures that can be applied to predict weather conditions in a region. Several strategies have been employed to counter famine and its effects throughout affected regions. Despite repeated interventions to prevent famine in Africa and Asia, it remains a chronic threat to much of these regions. Prevention of famine has always attracted the attention of various disciplines, with historians giving account of its occurrence in the past. Famine situations are complex and when it hits a region, the response can be daunting to the people and institutions involved. Various researchers have attempted to develop theoretical as well as comparative interdisciplinary approach to understanding the preventive measures. In order to understand the interlink ages between starvation, disease and starvation and death. Most researchers acknowledge that famine is preventable, compared against other issues such as poverty and food insecurity. References Dre?ze, J., & Sen, A. 1990. The Political economy of hunger. Oxford [England], Clarendon Press. Dre?ze, J., & Sen, A. 1989. Hunger and public action. Oxford [England], Clarendon Press. Dyson, T., & O? Gra?da, C. 2002. Famine demography: perspectives from the past and present. Oxford [England], Oxford University Press. Fine, B. 1997, Entitlement Failure?. Development and Change, 28: 617–647 Madeley, J. 2000. Hungry for trade: how the poor pay for free trade. London, Zed Books. Sen, A. 1981. Poverty and famines: an essay on entitlement and deprivation. Oxford, Clarendon Press. Read More