Feeding The Hungry
Feeding the world’s hungry is a goal that can be attained with programs to teach farmers in poor countries how to fertilize depleted soil and produce larger crops.
Some 900 million people are suffering from hunger and malnutrition at this very moment. The United Nation estimates that every day some 50,000 starve to death. Genetically modified crops seemed to promise to save many of the worlds starving people at one time but now a new report by experts from 60 nations say it does not work. In GM foods genes for desirable traits are spliced into a plants DNA but these crops have been found to be unpredictable and often yield less food than seed without the genetic interference. Also GM seeds cost more and poor farmers cannot afford them. The know how to raise GM foods does not exist in Africa or South Asia where the poorest and hungriest people live. It seems that aid with common farming practices, not cutting edge science has the best chance at this time to reduce world hunger.
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Doctors Without Borders is starting a movement to provide a fortified supplement like a spread that is packed with required nutrients that does not require refrigeration. “For forty years there has been little done to find out what works and what doesn’t, or see how to improve the effectiveness of food aid,” said, Buddhima Lokuge, of Doctors Without Borders. Wheat and corn flour which is provided now is a disaster, it inhibits the kids from absorbing nutrients such as zinc, and buying food at home and shipping wastes money which could be spent for food. Raymond Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America said, “Half of what you spend for the needy goes for shipping”.
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In Africa just 5% of the land that could grow high yielding rice is doing so. The soil is so depleted it cannot grow the high yielding grain. Fertilizer is beyond the means of the farmers, but with education there are answers. Trees can be planted to supplement the soil with needful nutrients. Agents to advise farmers on when and how to plant new high yield crops and how to improve and fertilize the soil must be provided. It has been done. With such a program in Sauri,Kenya, maize production has risen from 1.9 tons per hectare in 2004 to 6.2 tons today.
http://socyberty.com/activism/helping-others-has-health-benefits/
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User Comments
deepblue
On September 28, 2009 at 5:38 am
Very well thought Ruby, given our state of technology and if it could be diverted to other purposes. A squadron of grounded B-2 stealth bomber\’s maintenance budget could address such need or 2 dozens of Patriot missiles market value. Ironic isn\’t it, it takes less to feed the hundreds but billions of dollars to thwart a threat which could otherwise be agreed on a bargaining table.
Katien
On September 28, 2009 at 5:54 am
Good article. Old fashioned common sense hands-on farming is the best way.
ken bultman
On September 28, 2009 at 5:59 am
Global hunger has been a problem for decades because governments have been trying to solve it. Take government out and allow producers to work out the problem as is now occurring and eventually the hungry will be fed.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
On September 28, 2009 at 7:51 am
A very relevant piece. If only agriculture is given extra attention by many countries, hunger could be alleviated.
Papa Sparks
On September 28, 2009 at 8:14 am
Well written my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Christine Ramsay
On September 28, 2009 at 8:20 am
This article has made me much more aware of the problems there are with providing enough food to feed the hungry. Excellent work.
Christine
mo hoyal
On September 28, 2009 at 8:28 am
This is a good article, Ruby.
At one time Monsanto was genetically engineering seeds so that they would not reproduce after the life of the plant, esp. corn. Then this spread to other plants would make all exposed sterile and non-seed producing. I think it’s time for government to stay out of a lot of things, seems like they want to own everything and treat us as those who suffered for many decades under communism, socialism, etc. They should pull all forces out of Afghanistan and Iraq and let them all duke it out themselves. Take care of the people in our country, stop taking from Social Security and other funds and then maybe there would be enough money so people could have food in a great many places. I am so sick of the political scene-it’s all gain for them and all strain for us!
Southgate
On September 28, 2009 at 9:47 am
Such techniques to improve the farming as well as their yield is the need of the hour.Nice article.
Kris Snow
On September 28, 2009 at 10:46 am
Good on you for getting this out there.
We need more people like Ruby who know what the options are and want to help by spreading the word.
Sourav
On September 28, 2009 at 11:50 am
Well written… yes we can’t feed the whole world… yet we send some rockets to the Mars… what you say… waste of money?
Phill Senters
On September 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm
A nice article Ruby. It’s good that more people learn of the problem. I think that sending food to the people of poor countries is only a small stop-gap for the problem. Along with it, they need to be taught how to make the best use of their farm lands.
papaleng
On September 28, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I agree with your points. God will always provide the needs of the human race , it is only for us to know how to cultivate and harness them.
Ruby Hawk
On September 28, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Thank you my friends for your interest and comments. Hunger is a world problem . Here in our own country are hungry people. The only food some children have is school lunches which are provided free for those in need. Many people after paying rent, utilities, car expenses, which have to be met to get to a job, have no money for groceries. they must depend on food pantry’s which do not have enough for all who apply. Many seniors have to choose between food and medicine. Poor people do without medicine or a doctors care because they cannot afford insurance. We are all in this together and the politicians would do well to stop all the pork barreling and do something constructive. I’m sorry, I got completely off track here.
Phil, I agree, you made the very point I was trying to get across.
Uma Shankari
On September 28, 2009 at 12:30 pm
This is a point I have been writing often too, Ruby. You have done a great job with your article. Enjoyed reading it. GM food profits the multinationals who produce and market them; they have monopolized the global food market with tacit government support, and they would happily teach how to use their products. Only, it will make the problem worse. If you don’t mind here’s a link to what I have written on GM food.
http://socyberty.com/issues/impact-of-genetically-modified-food-on-health-and-environment/
agriculi
On September 28, 2009 at 2:37 pm
It’s such a sham that there is so much money wasted on shipping costs.
Shirley Shuler
On September 28, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Excellent article, Ruby, thank you for sharing!
Lostash
On September 28, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Hunger IS a world problem, and lets face it, if our Governments pulled their fingers out and actually wanted to do something about it, it would no longer be a problem.
PR Mace
On September 28, 2009 at 5:42 pm
There should be no reason anyone should go hungry but sadly they do. My husband and I often help our son and his family buy food. As you said he can pay his bills so it is a roof over their heads or food. We make sure they have the food. This was an outstanding article, Ruby. We should all be aware of this world wide problem.
sunshine926
On September 28, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Great article. It so sad that there are so many hungry people in the world today. I also agree that if the government would do something it could be resolved.
CA Johnson
On September 28, 2009 at 7:43 pm
This was a very interesting article Ruby. It really is a shame that there are so many hungry people in the world. I agree that the government should do more to end it.
mystery61
On September 28, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Excellent article, well written. I liked it!
thestickman
On September 28, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Nice.
chitragopi
On September 28, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Chemical fertilizers deplete the soil of its nutrients. It is better to return to the old ways of using organic fertilizers which helps the soil retain its goodness.
RJ Chamberlain
On September 29, 2009 at 2:01 am
Hi Ruby,
You have highlighted another important issue.
Regards,
RJ
Mythili Kannan
On September 29, 2009 at 3:56 am
Very important article for current world’s situation
Eunice Tan
On September 29, 2009 at 5:04 am
More vegetarians will be good for this earth. We have to think about hungry animals as well, not only hungry human being.
lillyrose
On September 29, 2009 at 6:21 am
Its a long term problem. Brilliant article Ruby!
If everyone became vegetarians all the farm animals would become extinct because farmers would not be able to keep them if they made no money from them. I have been a veggie for 31 years but understand how important it is to eat flesh to keep the world going round.
Unofre Pili
On September 29, 2009 at 6:47 am
To see a person die of hunger is a grim indignity of the whole human race. This an article of very strong relevance, maam.
Luffy12
On September 29, 2009 at 9:07 am
WOW. very informative Article
kindly visit my site pls if you could help filipino victims
http://pinoynewsworld.blogspot.com
sweetie1
On September 29, 2009 at 11:33 am
Very thought provoking post.. thanks
Tlchimes
On September 29, 2009 at 11:37 am
Well written…. thank you.
Doaa Abdelfattah
On September 29, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Very thoughtful article .Thanks for sharing.
Jacques Berkeley
On September 29, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Interesting.
Chris Stonecipher
On September 29, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Hi Ruby,
Excellent article and well written. thanks for sharing.
Blessings to you,
Chris
athena goodlight
On September 29, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Very strong points, indeed! It is ironic that even in our country where agricultural technology is well researched, sometimes there is no political will to implement the proposals of scientists. It’s so sad.
Steven West
On September 30, 2009 at 12:28 am
Excellent posting on an area that is often neglected.
Jacques Berkeley
On September 30, 2009 at 7:50 am
I often feel like the more government there is, the less likely it is that we can feed the hungry. Many farmers in the midwest U.S. feel that way, too. Our government has often paid farmers to produce less. That’s one policy I don’t understand.
Holly J. Yarrington
On September 30, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Ruby I couldnt agree with you more. This is a fantastic article and I couldnt have written one better. Thank you for saying what all of us feel is common sense to the world. Helping people to help themseleves and their people(s).
God Bless.
Friendly.Gummy.Bear
On October 3, 2009 at 3:51 am
Great article. Very truthful and honest about real problems facing humanity today.
Natural disaster wreack havoc as well, causing untold suffering and hardship on common people, like the brutal force of tsunamis.Read the following article on this crazy force of nature
http://scienceray.com/earth-sciences/tsunamis-crazy-force-of-destruction/
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