I think there are several facters for the world hunger.Or shall I say myths.
MYTH : There isn't enough food
There isn't enough food to go around, as evidenced by the fact that there is hunger everywhere. And if there isn't enough food, then some will inevitably go hungry. Even where there is, population growth inevitably eventually outstrips food production (which increases only linearly, even assuming that farmland continues to be available).
In fact, the "carrying capacity" of the earth is less than today's population.
Why is this a myth?
There's plenty of food now. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) requirements: 2700 cal/day (US male, 155 lb, "not very active") and 2000 cal/day (US female in her twenties, 127 lb, "not very active") But world grain production is already 3600 cal/day/person,( Iam not very positive about the current figures) not counting other sources of nutrition: fish, game, nuts & berries
Growth is rapid: Production is increasing beyond population in every region except Africa. There is also plenty of room for further growth in the food supply.
There's lots of unsold & stockpiled grain, and grain is used to produce gasohol.
Many countries export food despite need. For example: There is hunger even in the United States, where there is plenty of food. India exports food. Bangladesh produces an (official) average of approx. 2000 calories per day in rice, but the poorest eat 1500 cal/day max.
Now what can be done
Any or all of the following:
#1: Use the market, but disperse purchasing power! The market works fine in some ways. It does provide an automatic adjustment mechanism. . The problem arises from inequality, not the market
#2: Stop debating how much government should be involved in the market (since every society has large government involvement) and start looking at the nature of government involvement (
#3: Make food a right, e.g., as is done in Kerala, India, where the ration has high literacy, life expectancy, infant survival rates, etc.
#4: Where land is the basis of production, remove land from the commodity market.
Should we give more aid?
We should guarantee food & basic necessities, as in Kerala. Providing toothbrushes cures more people than providing dentists for the rich. Remember that we do have a rationing system, except that our lines are invisible: people who can't afford to go to the dentist. I can't afford to see an eye doctor yearly.
Edited by dolly - 19 years ago