DThe goal of eliminating malnutrition and hunger worldwide is still unachievable. On the occasion of the millennium, United Nations Set a goal to eradicate hunger by 2030. However, the latest report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on hunger and food security predicts that if current trends continue, the number of hungry and undernourished people will reach about 660 million by 2030. According to FAO, the Covid 19 pandemic has made the situation worse. Even by 2030, there will be 30 million more undernourished people than previously predicted. FAO estimates that due to the 2020 pandemic, the number of undernourished people has increased by 161 million from 2019.
FAO estimates of the number of undernourished people in various countries show that between 2018 and 2020, 683.9 million people will be undernourished, accounting for approximately 8.9% of the world’s population. In 2020 alone, the number of undernourished people is estimated to be 765 million, accounting for approximately 9.9% of the world’s population. FAO’s national statistics on malnutrition show that the 18 countries with the most hungry people account for approximately 70% of the world’s malnourished population. At the top of the list is India, a populous country, with an average of 208.6 million people undernourished from 2018 to 2020. Somalia has the highest proportion of hungry people at 59.5%, followed by the Central African Republic (48, 2%), Haiti (46.8%), Yemen (45.4%), Madagascar (43.2%) and North Korea (42.4%).
According to the FAO report, supplies in the People’s Republic of China have improved significantly. From 2004 to 2006, it was still listed as one of the countries with a large number of undernourished people, with 94.3 million undernourished people, accounting for about 7.1% of the total population. At the same time, as in Western industrialized countries, the number of undernourished people has shrunk to less than 2.5% of the total population, so it is no longer recorded separately.
FAO-led by China’s Director-General Qu Dongyu since 2019-only a few days ago reported that the long-term prospects for global agriculture are good, with slowing population growth and increased productivity leading to long-term declines in food prices. But there may be problems and bottlenecks in the short term, FAZ chief economist Maximo Torero Cullen told FAZ. On the one hand, import demand from important countries has increased, and Brazil, an important exporter, is suffering from climate impact. change.
“The world’s food supply is highly concentrated on a few key exporters and a few large importers. Every change in one of these countries—such as climate shocks, export restrictions, or a large increase in import demand—will have immediate effects. Price impact,” Torrero Cullen said. However, overall, the current situation is much easier than the shortages and high prices during 2007 and 2008. “The greater the reserves, the better the world can withstand crises,” said FAO’s chief economist.
According to FAO data, in 2020, nearly 2.37 billion people will not receive adequate nutrition on a regular basis, an increase of 320 million from the previous year. Permanent damage caused by malnutrition was found in 149 million children under five years of age. The situation will be more difficult without many governments taking action against the consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic, but there are many other causes of malnutrition.
According to FAO’s judgment, the most important causes of hunger are armed conflicts, climate fluctuations and extreme weather conditions, economic crises, insufficient purchasing power for healthy diets, and poverty and inequality. FAO lists six key elements for improving food security: First, the conditions of peace in all countries are a prerequisite for improving the food situation. Second, food supply must be more adaptable to climate change-through nature protection, but also through insurance. FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torrero Cullen said that it is also important to invest in early warning systems everywhere.
Third, the economic fluctuations of fragile countries should be reduced, including through individual countries’ social assistance programs. Fourth, this is a question of making food supplies cheaper. It is recommended to intervene in the retail chain or avoid crop losses. Fifth, this is a general problem of reducing poverty. For example, by growing high-quality products, former subsistence farmers can increase their income and afford better food. “It’s about increasing the productivity of high-quality food. More trade can also increase the productivity and income of farmers,” said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torrero Cullen.
Sixth, according to the FAO report, this is usually a question of directing food consumption towards sustainable goals. In 2020, the percentage of obese people on the planet is estimated to be 5.7% of the total population. This autumn, FAO, together with the sister organizations of the United Nations IFAD, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund, hopes to promote more participation in the fight against hunger at the World Food Summit.
