World Hunger

Around the world, more than 690 million people go to bed hungry (“World Hunger”). The lack of food present today can cause death, malnourishment, and chronic diseases, which extend globally. What is this called, you may ask? World hunger. Various reasons cause world hunger, but the most apparent is the poverty that the country or demographic faces. Living in unsanitary environments and not having access to quality medications and necessities such as food can lead to poor health, resulting in a higher death rate. World hunger has been around for centuries, and there have been constant efforts to eliminate this problem. Although it is slow, these efforts are touching millions of people around the globe and instilling confidence and hope, among others. Therefore, world hunger is caused by many different factors, but if we all work together, we can do our part to stop this global issue and leave a positive footprint on the planet.

(Image from https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2018/11/07/world-hunger-fa)

 Did you know that enough food is being produced to feed everyone on the planet (World Hunger)? Then why is it not happening, and why do people still have to suffer from accessing food and keeping their families alive? Some people don’t possess the currency to buy their food and live in impoverished towns or cities where it is difficult to grow food. According to Actionsagainsthunger.com, “Small farmers, herders, and fishermen produce about 70 percent of the global food supply, yet they are especially vulnerable to food insecurity – poverty and hunger are most acute among rural populations.” This illustrates that farmers still face hunger despite the abundance of food production. Although often overlooked, war and conflicts between nations are another reason food shortages occur. For example, if one country places a tariff and embargo on another country, the food supply can reduce. The crisis in Yemen has left “over 17 million people in need of urgent action,” which proves that governmental conflicts affect world hunger (Jain). The environment and soil are crucial for growing food, and therefore climate change is also a deciding factor. The World Bank believes that “climate change has the power to push more than 100 million people into poverty over the next decade.” One factor leads to another, causing a domino effect leading to the same outcome, just prolonged. However, these are some of the many reasons world hunger is prominent. There are ways to fix this global crisis, and many people have begun experimenting with different solutions.

(Image from https://www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/world-hunger-facts)

Many nonprofit and government organizations focus on fixing this issue, and despite its difficulty, it isn’t as difficult as you think. To fix the problem, get people food when they need it. The USAID (U.S. Agency For International Development) has taken many precautions to reduce world hunger by improving agriculture and income for local farmers and fishermen. To ensure that these agricultural individuals are somewhat intertwined with economic opportunities and financial success, they have smallholders (a person who owns or manages an agricultural holding smaller than a farm) to teach them how to make the most of their situation. Fairtrade has also been established through this proposition, and smaller farmers can compete with larger manufacturers and get their name into the market.

Moreover, it is crucial to empower women in agriculture as they are not getting the same treatment as men. Supporting women and helping them start businesses can help increase the output for a country and help a woman learn life skills that will benefit them and their families. For example, in Uganda, only men take care of the livestock and focus on planting crops, whereas women challenge social norms and try to generate income by themselves (Reid). This will bring more money into the household and allow families to stabilize the economy and reduce the world hunger crisis.

World hunger might seem like a problem that can’t be fixed alone, but in reality, if everyone takes the proper steps, we will be able to make a difference. You don’t have to be on a special committee or part of an organization to help. One way to help is to shop and eat locally. If you are committed to shopping at local farmer markets, this will encourage them to grow their herbs and vegetables and make food more sustainable. This will then lead to proper and sufficient nutrition and good health. In addition, food waste is a global issue as restaurants throw out extra food. According to Al Jain from the Feed a Billion organization, about 1.3 billion tons of food go to waste every year. Still, if this food was preserved and given to the poor, it could restore almost a third of the world’s food production and feed millions of people.

Most importantly, we should take humanitarian action to aid at-risk communities in need of food and clean water. There are a few ways to display humanitarian action. One way is sponsoring a child, which helps reduce the hunger crisis for them and their family. Another way to act in a humanitarian manner is to donate to World Vision’s food program, which provides healthy meals to children in need. In conclusion, although your efforts might seem minuscule, it is a big stepping stone to getting rid of world hunger and inspiring others to take part as well.

In conclusion, I believe that the world hunger crisis we are experiencing is one of the most pressing issues. No one should ever go through the feeling that there is no food available when there is plenty. This is a learning experience for all of us and allows people to demonstrate how much they care for the planet’s health and others. With so many active campaigns and people donating money to world hunger organizations, it is only a matter of time as this problem will begin to show a gradual decline. I hope this article has brought attention to how important this issue is and that we all TOGETHER can make an effort to help it.

Bibliography:

“World Hunger: Key Facts and Statistics 2021.” Action Against Hunger, 19 July 2021, www.actionagainsthunger.org/world-hunger-facts-statistics. 

Reid, Kathryn. “5 World HUNGER Facts You Need to Know.” World Vision, World Vision, 29 Oct. 2020, www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/world-hunger-facts. 

Jain, Al. “Feed a Billion.” Feed a Billion, 2020, feedabillion.org/blog/#:~:text=Extreme%20climate%20patterns%20also%20tend,poverty%20over%20the%20next%20decade.&text=5%20years%20later%2050%25%20live%20below%20the%20poverty%20line. 

[By Arjun Bandyopadhyay, is Empower And Help Student Ambassador 2021 from North Carolina]