Directions: Read the text below and answer question according to it.
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FOOD SHORTAGE CAUSES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS
Food shortage is a serious problem facing the
world and is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The
scarcity of food is caused by economic, environmental
and social factors such as crop failure, overpopulation
[5] and poor government policies are the main cause of food
scarcity in most countries. Environmental factors
determine the kind of crops to be produced in a given
place, economic factors determine the buying and
production capacity and socio-political factors determine
[10] distribution of food to the masses. Food shortage has far
reaching long and short term negative impacts which
include starvation, malnutrition, increased mortality and
political unrest1. There is need to collectively address the
issue of food insecurity using both emergency and long
[15] term measures.
Causes of food shortages
There are a number of social factors causing
food shortages. The rate of population increase is higher
than increase in food production. The world is consuming
[20] more than it is producing, leading to decline in food stock
and storage level and increased food prices due to
soaring2 demand. Increased population has led to
clearing of agricultural land for human settlement
reducing agricultural production (Kamdor, 2007).
[25] Overcrowding of population in a given place results in
urbanization of previously rich agricultural fields.
Destruction of forests for human settlement, particularly
tropical rain forest has led to climatic changes, such as
prolonged droughts and desertification. Population
[30] increase means more pollution as people use more fuel
in cars, industry, domestic cooking. The resultant effect
is increased air and water pollution which affect the
climate and food production.
Environmental factors have greatly contributed
[35] to food shortage. Climatic change has reduced
agricultural production. The change in climate is majorly
caused by human activities and to some small extent
natural activities. Increased combustion of fossil fuels
due to increasing population through power plant, motor
[40] transport and mining of coal and oil emits green house
gases which have continued to affect world climate.
Deforestation of tropical forest due to human pressure
has changed climatic patterns and rainfall seasons, and
led to desertification which cannot support a crop
[45] production. Land degradation due to increased human
activities has impacted negatively on agricultural
production (Kamdor, 2007). Natural disasters such as
floods, tropical storms and prolonged droughts are on the
increase and have devastating impacts on food security
[50] particularly in developing countries. There are several
economic factors that contribute to food shortage.
Economic factors affect the ability of farmers to engage
in agricultural production. Poverty situation in developing
nations have reduced their capacity to produce food, as
[55] most farmers cannot afford seed and fertilizers. They use
poor farming methods that cannot yield3 enough, even
substantial use. Investments in agricultural research and
developing are very low in developing nations. Recent
global financial crisis have led to increase in food prices
[60] and reduced investments in agriculture by individuals
and governments in developed nations resulting in
reduced food production.
Effects of food shortage
There are a number of short term effects of food
[65] shortage. The impact on children, mothers and elderly
are very evident as seen in malnutrition and hunger
related deaths. Children succumb to hunger within short
period as they cannot stand long period of starvation and
they die even before the arrival of emergency
[70] assistance.
There are also long term effects of food
shortage. These include increase in the price of food as
a result demand and supply forces. Increasing cost of
food production due to the increase in fuel prices coupled
[75] with persistent drought in grain producing regions has
contributed to the increase in the price of food in the
world. Increase in oil price led to increase in the price of
fertilizers, transportation of food and also industrial
agriculture. Increasing food prices culminated in political
[80] instability and social unrest in several nations across the
globe in 2007, in countries of Mexico, Cameroon, Brazil,
Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Egypt and Bangladesh among
other nations (Kamdor, 2007).
Solution to problem of food shortage
[85] There are some solutions to the problem of food
shortage. There is need to reduce production of carbon
emissions and pollution to reduce the resultant climatic
change through concerted and individual efforts. There
is need to invest in clean energy such as solar, nuclear,
[90] and geothermal power in homes and industries, because
they don’t have adverse effects on the environment
(Kamdor, 2007). Rich nations should help poor nations to
develop and use clean and renewable energy in order to
stabilize green house emissions into the atmosphere
[95] (Watson, nd). Government need to work in consultation
with climatic bodies, World Bank and the UN to engage
in projects aimed at promoting green environment.
Conclusion
Causes of food shortage are well known and
[100] can be solved if appropriate measures to solve the
problem are taken and effectively implemented.
Environmental causes of food shortages are changes in
climatic and pollution due to human activities such
overgrazing4 and deforestation which can be controlled
[105] through legislation.
(Adapted from http://www.paypervids.com/food-shortage-causeseffects-solutions/Acesso em:14 fev 2017)
Glossary:
1. unrest – disagreement or fighting between different groups of people
2. soaring – something that increases rapidly above the usual level
3. yield – to supply or produce something such as profit or an amount or food
4. overgrazing – excessive use of land where animals feed on grass
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