Hunger and Food Inadequacy Problems - Essay Example

Food Scar Introduction Hunger and food inadequacy are common problems that people from developing countries have to deal with everyday. Without the proper resources to put food on the table, the hunger normally leads to malnourishment of children as well as adults. With this kind of crisis being faced by numerous nations across the globe and particularly in the Middle East, it is crucial to focus on why food shortages occur even in oil rich countries. Food is one of the basic needs that everyone is entitled to. This means that in order for a country or nation to exist proficiently, its agricultural sector should be able to produce ample food supply to feed its respective population (Hong, 2008). Unfortunately, the increasing prices of food and fuel in the global market are making poor people poorer. Food and water shortages often plague developing countries within the Middle East and African regions. It is for this matter that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) advised governments to address the problem of water control. FAO also commented that the barrier of climate change must be considered where short and long term solutions should be implemented to counter its adverse effects on the overall economy of the country (Hong, 2008). The ever growing problem of water scarcity is negatively compromising the agricultural development of most countries located in the world’s arid regions. Added to this predicament is that most agricultural lands for cultivation are becoming limited due to the expanding development of infrastructures and other industrial needs. Water is a very important component in agriculture. Once it becomes limited or short in supply, it impedes the agricultural growth of any country whose main source of livelihood comes fro the goods produced from its lands. But with the current economic problems and a shift in the global market, these problems regarding water supply efficiency and land degradation takes a back seat to political conflicts and wars in the Middle East. Background For a country to become adequately urbanized in economy, it must have the capacity to sustain food efficiency in its territory (Hong, 2008) without depending on other nations for this particular need. It is essential to consider that after the two World Wars, most developed countries enforced the “necessity of self –sufficiency of food during war time and have developed their respective agricultural industries (Hone 2008).” Learning from past experience, these developed countries at present became food-exporting countries. While the developing countries concentrated on an export-oriented kind of industry in order to keep their economy pace at par with the industrialized nations. Consequently, what happened was that the agricultural countries that were former food-export oriented became food importing countries, and this is where the Middle East countries are categorized at present. Historically speaking, said countries were formerly agricultural states that were able to produce the demand of food their inhabitants need. But at present, these states face serious problems like (Hong, 2008): 1. Starvation 2. Insufficient food 3. Scarce water followed by a poor harvest, and 4. Drought coupled with the expensive prices of oil and food. Body/Discussion According to Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli (2008), “the Middle East is the world’s most water-stressed region.” This statement is based on the fact that the availability of water in the said region is one thousand two-hundred (1,200) cubic meters per person or individual per year. This figure is forecasted to become one-half (1/2) by the time the year 2050 comes around. Meaning it would soon become 600 cubic meters per person per year in 2050 (Raphaeli, 2008). Currently, the average global water supply per person yearly is marked at eight thousand nine-hundred (8,900) meters, which is predicted to become six thousand (6,000) cubic meters per person per year in 2,050). Taking all these figures at hand, it could be deduced that in the Middle East, a person’s water share at present is lacking or deficit by seven thousand seven-hundred (7, 700) cubic meters. Some other research studies also show that the Middle East has the highest rate of total renewable water resource withdrawal that is approximately seventy-five (76%) percent in comparison to Latin America and the Caribbean which has only two percent (2%). The loss of water resources within the Gulf Region is more compounded by the following factors: 1. Population growth which has quadrupled since 1950. 2. Drought 3. Desertification The inevitable occurrence of drought and desertification indicates that the underground water reservoir of these arid countries will not be replenished. The shortage of water supply reduced the agricultural production of most Middle East nations. And the countries replenish and provide the demand for food by importing grains such as wheat and rice, which is the staple or most basic food within many countries in the Middle East. Below is an illustration of some Middles East countries struggling with food shortage (Raphaeli. 2008)/ (Save the Children, n.d.): Iran Iran bought 1.8 million tons of American hard wheat that is used for bread and pasta. Iran is projected to import an additional 1.5 million tons of wheat from other countries. Egypt The rising food prices and general cost of living led to violence and protest in Egypt. Wheat prices tripled, oil, fruit, vegetables and meat increased approximately twenty-five percent (25%). Families struggle to afford the basic goods and the increase of food prices added to the desperation of the Egyptians, who are mostly living on a budget of two dollars ($2.00) or less daily. The malnutrition rates have further increased along with other kinds of health risks associated with poor living conditions due to the increased cost of health services. The Egyptian government reacted by having a subsidy program – but there is doubt if this will last long to cover the increasing demand of food and other needs of the populace. Most of the imported wheat goes to bread that are sold for subsidized prices. In common economic scenarios such settings would differentiate the price between the subsidized flour and those ones commonly available at the local market. The price gap will result to grain price escalation because millers will direct the government subsidized flour to private bakeries in order to get larger profits since these are lower than the commercially made wheat flour. As a consequence there would be a shortage of bread in the market. Another contingency measure drawn up by the government is the plan to stop the export of some goods and commodities like rice and to reduce the tariff rates on imported goods. However, if the budget deficit does not improve by July 2008, salaries of public sector workers would be increased by fifteen percent (15) in order to reinforce the buying power of the local currency used by the citizens. But it remains to be seen whether this type of solution could improve the living conditions and standard of families who are currently living on or below the poverty line. Tajikistan Another Middle East country – Tajikistan, is currently suffering for the rising globe food and fuel prices which is more compounded by other economic and environmental problems that adversely affects family and individual finances. The on-going energy crises, increasing inflation and rising food rates have lessened the purchasing power of money, and makes it hard for everybody to make both ends meet. The scarcity of cash forces decision to be made about “whether to seek medical care or to send children to school.” The causes of the crisis in Tajikistan are: 1) the below average crop harvests yield in 2007 and 2) the recent severe winter temperature that let to the destruction of wheat seeds and commodity stocks. Wheat seed is unavailable in the early spring (planting season) due to the hard winter, thus, majority of the households have shifted to barley planting and production. Barley in general is used for animal fodder. Hence, the individual household production is not reliable or fit for human and personal consumption. The Tajikistan government said that the agricultural loss is at 250 million and “across the nation, families have already resorted to extreme coping strategies like: 1. Selling and slaughtering livestock 2. Cutting trees and fruits trees for fuel 3. Borrowing from lenders with high interest rates 4. Selling the few precious possessions within the household. Most families do not have money saved up. Seventy-seven percent (77%) sold an animal to buy food; fifty-one percent (51%) had a bad health; and ninety-seven percent (97%) were eating food atypical to what their families are used to. And it is predicted that the worst is still to come. Iraq Iraq at present is more or less self-sufficient because it has a long term contract with France, Australia and the United States. Syria Is an exporter of wheat but was forced to import wheat form Bulgaria recently. This may be due to low agriculture production and yield that is likely affected by weather change and other environmental factors. In relation to the above and in response to the reality that the Middle East cannot feed itself, the following were and are currently being considered (Raphaeli, 2008): 1. Buying of Surplus Agricultural Land and Water from other Countries The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council comprised of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, rely on food imports since they have little water and small arable lands. And since this is the case, the aforementioned states started negotiations with countries that have surplus land and water like Sudan, Uganda, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, etc. to purchase farm land where they could produce required food necessities. This strategy is conceived to produce a regular food supply and at prices that are not subjected to monetarial fluctuations. The partner countries that may close the deal do have an advantage in the fact their offer of land for cultivation means a steady supply of oil and gas or cash. This will also open jobs for local employment within the partner country. 2. Higher Prices Provide Incentives to Farmers Higher food prices may give the local farmers incentive or would encourage them to produce more and rejuvenate the rural economies. It is preconceived that high food prices can help generate increases in overall production and domestic production in agriculture. But since the Middle East is quite dry or arid, governments are encouraged to increase water efficiency by “producing more crops per unit of water.” But realistically speaking, the countries in question need to continue to rely on imports from other nations in order to regulate their food supply. Because producing basic staples like wheat, cereals and grains amidst a scarce water resource will result to water impoverishment that can never be not be replenished due to the current usage of available and underground water tables. Conclusion Hundreds of thousand of families in the Middle East are having a hard time coping with hunger, malnutrition and safety risks because they are forced to increase their spending money on food with high prices. Hence, poor families are further plunged into poverty since they cannot make ends meet (Colin, et al, n.d.). It was also noted that there is a serious humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to rising food prices, failed crops and market access that is menacing thousands of poor families. Once considered as the “largest refugee hosting region in the world (Colin, et al, n.d.),” the Middle East at present regard basic staples like milk or fruit as luxuries. The increases of food prices will continually destabilized the region and make it more vulnerable to current surges of unrests and political conflicts that have been present as long as history can remember (Colin, et al, n.d.). The probable way to solve mass food problem in the Middle East is to develop the agricultural industry and secure sufficient water supply by introducing new technology under the support of international organizations and aid (Hong, 2008). In this regard the international community is called on to (Colin, et al, n.d.): 1. Prioritize prevention of hunger and malnutrition in respond to the current crises. 2. Provide immediate funding to protect the food security of vulnerable communities and children. 3. Coordinate globally to address the structural causes of food uncertainty. In support of the foregoing, the article “Food may Break the Middle East Back” writer Rami G. Khouri stated that “the Arab world lack credible, equitable, efficient safety nets to cushion the vulnerable and the poor.” This is supported by data provided by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization which claimed that thirteen percent (13%) of Arabs are undernourished and that the Arab countries’ agricultural sectors contribute a meager six point two percent (6.2%) to GDP. The article further pointed out that “the region’s current weakness reflects policy incompetence at high levels over many years (Raphaeli, 2008).” It is quite a foreboding fact that some grain producing countries may use their ability to supply grain as a means of leverage against countries it wishes to dominate politically. The Kuwait Times which was published in August 03, 2008, have accused Russia to be using its grains as a means of political power because according to the article, Russia “does not supply any country with grain that it would necessarily want to politically pressure or that could not turn elsewhere for grain supplies.” The change emanating from these events are uncertain. And dependent on the kinds of crisis and conflicts the world has to go through. Since the collapse of the socialist states, there was free trade under the World Trade organization. It should be remembered that the resistance to free trading and economic globalization rose from the poor countries who were dissatisfied with the wealth distribution gap between the industrialized countries and themselves. This kind of difference cannot be totally eradicated since it also exists within any kind of society, even in the poor and developing countries. But changes do occur based on the high technology resources, natural resources and human resources that each country could offer. Significantly even though the Arab states may be suffering from starvation and hunger, they play a vital role in the process of changing the world economy through their huge energy resources and agricultural prospects (Hong, 2008). But to be able to gain international competitiveness despite the on going crisis, it is imperative for nations to seek ways on how they can survive. The mere creation of jobs does not justify being able to compete internationally, what is needed is the creation of high paying jobs that would provide better purchasing power and which could generally improve the overall standard of living in a country. The reality is, international trade provides a nation with the leeway to increase its production capacity by eliminating the need to produce all goods and services within the nation itself. In view of everything, it should be considered that since oil producing countries need to import grain in order to nourish their people, grain producing countries on the other hand need oil and gas to produce their electricity and run their whole industry. “It is a fact that one cannot exist without the other.” As such a symbiotic relationship should be established to promoted “mutual dependency” (Raphaeli, 2008) and understanding within a common ground of need. References Colin, C., Calamusa, C., Parodi, A. (n.d.) Middle East Food Crisis Escalates: Children at Greatest Risk. World Vision, Building a Better World for Children. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/about/20080430-food-crisis-mideast Hong, Seong Min. (2008). The Summary of Food and Water Resources in the Middle East: Koran Institute of Mideast Economies, KIME Middle East Studies. Raphaeli, Nimrod. (2008). The Food Crisis in the Middle East: The Memri Economic Blog. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from http://memrieconomicblog.org/bin/content.cgi?article=241 Save the Children. (n.d.). Food Crisis in the Middle East and Eurasia. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from http://www.savethechildren.org/prgrams/hunger-malnutrition/food-crisis-Middle-East-Eurasia.html Read More