Food & Nutritions Problems | Geography Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

• The issue of population growth and food security was first brought up by T.R. Malthus in 1798. He stated that population increases by geometric mean, while food production increases by arithmetic mean. Food and nutrition are closely connected, as food shortages can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
• Undernourishment refers to a lack of sufficient calories to meet basic energy needs, while malnourishment refers to a lack of essential nutrients, leading to diseases such as Kwashiorkor, Marasmus, and Beriberi. According to Broek, the world currently does not face a food shortage, as the global output provides approximately 450 grams per person per day. While this is enough to prevent starvation, it does not provide adequate calories for a healthy lifestyle - only around 2100-2200 calories. Hence, the world is facing a problem of "hidden hunger," where grains are available, but nutritious food is not.
• The United Nations Organization's Board on Food and Nutrition states that a country with an average availability of 2900 calories per person per day does not have food and nutrition problems. India, with 2385 calories per capita daily consumption, is a country facing the problem of hidden hunger. This issue is common in developing countries and can have long-term effects, as it creates a malnourished society rather than just an undernourished one.
• Another challenge is the distribution of food, both internationally and within countries. While countries like the USA and Canada have sufficient

Determinants
Thus, we can identify important determinants of food availability and nutritional supply to the population of a country.

• Agricultural productivity: It shares a positive correlation with food and nutrition. More the productivity less is the dependency on other factors. Agriculture productivity in turn is contingent upon various other factors such as climate, agriculture inputs, quality of land resource (soil), etc.
• Political and economic conditions: It is easier for OPEC countries to import food, although their agricultural productivity is poor, as they enjoy a greater say in world politics and have the purchasing power. At the same time the areas which are war struck or politically unstable (e.g. Central African countries), face difficulty in ensuring proper supply of food to its people <Try to correlate it with the purchasing power of people>
• Population pressure: If the population density is high, even those areas with high agricultural productivity might have to rely on imports to suffice the nutritional requirements.
• Natural Hazards: a region might be agriculturally productive, endowed with natural resources, and have an optimum population, but still natural hazard may pose interruptions into the required supply of food. E.g. droughts and floods in Haiti, Bolivia, Western African countries.

Regions of food insecurity
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has categorized countries into three groups based on their availability of calories and proteins, using data from 1995:

• Low calorie (<2500) and low protein (<60): This group includes South Asian countries, most African countries (excluding Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritius), most Southeast Asian countries (excluding Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei), China (which has high calorie intake but low protein intake), Peru, Bolivia, Suriname, and Central American countries.
• Medium calorie (2500-2900) and medium protein (60-80): This group consists of Eastern European countries, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Central Asian countries.
• High calorie (>2900) and high protein (>80): This group is comprised of all developed countries, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Brunei, and others.

From this classification, it can be concluded that food and nutrition problems are mainly faced by developing countries. The World Bank states that not all social groups in developing countries face these issues; rather, those with an income of $1 per day are the most affected.

Countries experiencing food shortage and malnutrition are predominantly developing nations, as indicated in the above data. On the other hand, food surplus regions include major exporters like the USA, Canada, Argentina, Ukraine, and Australia. In countries such as China, India, and Brazil, high food production is balanced by high domestic consumption, resulting in no surplus.

Causes of the Problem

The World Development Report 1995 featured an article titled "Overcoming global hunger," written by the president of the World Bank. In this article, he identified three main causes of global hunger:

1. Political reasons: Food suppliers often do not prioritize ethics or humanitarian values in their practices. For instance, they may not be concerned about the humanitarian crises in countries like Syria or Iraq, focusing instead on their own economic and political interests.
2. Social factors: Marginalized groups often face limited access to food, resulting in regional disparities in terms of hunger and malnutrition.
3. Economic issues: Economic development and agricultural development disparities contribute to the problem. For example, Ethiopia attempted to adopt high-yield variety (HYV) maize, which is suitable for their environmental conditions, similar to those in Utah, USA. However, the USA refused to provide support for this technology for various reasons.

In addition to these factors, there are also geographical causes of global hunger:

• Rapid population growth, along with an increasing demand for better and more nutritious food.
• Slow growth of food production, which is unable to keep up with the rising population.
• Insufficient diversification in food production, with a lack of focus on fish, milk, meat, mutton, fruits, vegetables, and forest-based food products.
• Low agricultural productivity in many developing countries, primarily due to insufficient capital and technology.
• Transit problems, such as significant losses of food during collection, transportation, and storage.
• Epidemics like crop diseases, as well as natural hazards like floods, cyclones, and droughts, which negatively affect crop yields.
• Limited investment in agriculture, particularly in developing countries.

Low purchasing capacity of people: For instance, in India, families spend around 33% of their income on food, yet still suffer from malnutrition (a hidden hunger problem). In comparison, British and Japanese people spend only 10% of their income on food and are over-nourished. People in the USA spend 12% of their income on food, while those in Indonesia and Turkey spend 28% and 25% respectively.

Remedies

• In the 18th and 19th centuries, European countries faced similar problems to those currently experienced by developing countries, such as population growth, industrial development, and technological advancements. These issues were addressed in Europe by controlling population growth, stimulating industrial growth, and fostering technological progress. Developing countries must adopt similar approaches to overcome these challenges.
• Firstly, it is crucial to manage population growth in developing countries. Many African nations have a population growth rate of over 3%, which is considered a population explosion when the rate exceeds 2%. Controlling population growth is a key factor in addressing the problem of hunger and malnutrition.
• Secondly, it is essential to significantly increase agricultural productivity. Developing countries must focus on multiplying their per-hectare crop yields to produce more food for their growing populations. Diversifying agriculture is also important, as it helps to provide a variety of nutritious food options for the population. In some cases, such as India, diversification may already be in place, but food habits may need to change to accommodate this variety.
• Improvements in transportation systems, as well as controlling natural hazards, epidemics, and crop diseases, are also necessary to ensure food security in these regions. International cooperation is crucial in achieving these goals. Developing transparent norms for providing food to starving countries, as well as sharing technology, nutrition, and clinical knowledge, can significantly help in alleviating hunger and malnutrition.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can play a vital role in providing nutritious meals to those in need. The World Health Organization (WHO) organized the World Nutritional Conference in Rome in 1992, which aimed to support food and nutrition for infants and children. This initiative has led to the provision of condensed milk from Australia and New Zealand to India, for example.
• Lastly, there is a need to develop alternative economies, such as industrial economies, to raise per capita income in developing countries. This economic growth would contribute to the overall improvement of living conditions and help address the pressing issue of hunger and malnutrition.

Scenario in India

• India is one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of both population and economy. Although the nation is considered food secure, it still faces sporadic food-related issues, with malnutrition being a significant concern. The coexistence of poverty and rapid economic growth in India has led to the simultaneous emergence of undernutrition and overnutrition.
• Over the last decade, the World Food Program and M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) have observed a decrease in stunting among children in rural India. However, the levels of inadequate calorie intake and chronic energy deficiency remain unchanged. In comparison to other countries, child malnutrition is more prevalent in India, affecting 43% of children under the age of 5, as opposed to 7% in China and 28% in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Starvation deaths have been reported in India, with some economists stating that the per capita food grain consumption in certain regions is worse than it was during the Bengal famine. This situation is closely linked to agrarian crises in various parts due to structural defects.
• The problem of food in India can be summarized using the four A's: Availability, Affordability, Accessibility, and Absorption. These factors contribute to the ongoing challenges faced by the country in addressing malnutrition and food security.

Some hope

• In recent years, the issue of hunger has gained significant recognition, with the Supreme Court actively addressing the problem. 
• Indices such as the Global Hunger Index have been instrumental in highlighting the prevalence of hunger in different regions worldwide. 
• Furthermore, the issue of hunger has become a primary focus in election campaigns, with successive governments emphasizing the importance of economic growth coupled with equity and justice. 
• Additionally, campaigns advocating for the right to be free from hunger and public hearings exerting pressure on governments have contributed to a growing sense of hope in addressing this pressing issue.

Conclusion

Food security refers to the ability of individuals to access and consume enough safe and nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life. The issue of food security is closely linked to population growth, as the increase in the number of people leads to a greater demand for food. Undernourishment and malnourishment are significant problems associated with food insecurity. Undernourishment results from a lack of sufficient calories to meet basic energy needs, while malnourishment results from a lack of essential nutrients. Factors affecting food availability and nutritional supply include agricultural productivity, political and economic conditions, population pressure, and natural hazards. The problem of food insecurity is mainly faced by developing countries, while developed countries generally have a food surplus. The main causes of global hunger include political, social, and economic factors, as well as geographical factors such as rapid population growth, slow growth of food production, insufficient diversification in food production, low agricultural productivity, and transit problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Food & Nutritions Problems

What is the difference between undernourishment and malnourishment?

Undernourishment refers to a lack of sufficient calories to meet basic energy needs, while malnourishment refers to a lack of essential nutrients, leading to diseases such as Kwashiorkor, Marasmus, and Beriberi.

What is "hidden hunger"?

Hidden hunger is a situation where there is enough food to prevent starvation, but not enough nutritious food to provide adequate calories for a healthy lifestyle. This can lead to a malnourished society rather than just an undernourished one.

How many calories per person per day are considered sufficient to avoid food and nutrition problems?

According to the United Nations Organization's Board on Food and Nutrition, a country with an average availability of 2900 calories per person per day does not have food and nutrition problems.

Why is the issue of food distribution a challenge in addressing hidden hunger?

The distribution of food, both internationally and within countries, can be uneven, leading to some areas having an excess of food while others are left with insufficient amounts. This can contribute to hidden hunger, as those in areas with less access to food may not receive the necessary nutrients for a healthy lifestyle.

What long-term effects can hidden hunger have on a society?

Hidden hunger can lead to a malnourished society, which can result in increased rates of disease, reduced cognitive development, and lower productivity. This, in turn, can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and hinder a country's overall development.