Famine still persists even in this, the 21st century. However embarrassing this may seem to be, it is still a fact. Scientists have tried to coming up with different ways, that even led to the introduction of genetically modified food, but famine still persists in most parts of different countries. One might be asking what causes famine: it is caused by severe shortage of food. It is among one of the top three threats of the world along with drought and flooding. After the cold war was over most people had increased hope of the world’s political and economic system would changing for better. There are several factors that might cause famine these are; overpopulation, government policies, crop failure and even poor infrastructure. This event is usually followed by malnutrition, starvation, epidemic diseases, and an increase in the number of deaths. In history every continent in the world has experienced famine. But still many countries in the world have continually been having extreme cases of famine.
Difficulties in food distribution and lack of food are the major factors that can cause food shortage. One might be asking what makes it worse. Food shortage is worsened by natural climate and political conditions as a result of oppressive government and warfare. The largest historical famine was in Ireland it started in 1845 due to potato disease. Volcanism are also results of famine, in 1815 an eruption occurred on mount Tambora that was in Indonesia this eruption was caused by crop failure. Failure of harvesting in good time or the change in conditions such as a dry period of weather can bring up circumstances in which a big number of people continually live in temporary lands that have drastically dropped. Famine is mainly associated with subsistence of agriculture. Total absence of agriculture in an economically strong area can not cause famine. Some places like Arizona and other wealthy regions depend on imported food. Majority of their food is produced by sufficient economic trade.
Due to imbalance in food production compared to the largely populated countries whose population has exceeded the regional carrying capacity. Famine has been brought about by, due to agricultural problems like long periods of dry weather, crop failure, or plague. Changing climatic conditions, incompetence of governments in dealing with crisis, wars, and pandemic diseases has brought about the death of hundreds of people from different races. Crop failures and pandemic diseases have reduced the population by almost two-thirds in some worst hit countries.
Long term measures have been taken to reduce famine such as modern agriculture techniques such as use of fertilizer, improvement in irrigation schemes this has largely eradicated starvation in the developing world. The famine relief representatives have been used by different aid groups give cash or even vouchers to the people affected by hunger. There are also emergency measures that have been taken which include provision of deficient micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are therefore packed in fortified sachets powders. Emergency methods that have been used in stopping famine mainly include providing micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. These nutrients have been packed in sachets in form of powder.