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Footsteps 77

FOOD SECURITY

Photo: Gyanu Kumar Shakya / Share and Care Nepal
Photo: Gyanu Kumar Shakya / Share and Care Nepal

Food is a basic human need and right. If we do not have enough good quality food we will become ill and eventually die. Yet the number of people around the world who are undernourished continues to grow. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN, 850 million people in the world are affected by food insecurity, of whom 820 million live in developing countries.

Since mid-2007 the price of food and fuel has increased considerably. Across the world, in countries such as Burkina Faso, Haiti and Indonesia, there have been riots and protests against the price increases. The effects of climate change, such as droughts and floods, are also increasing food insecurity and this is likely to get worse in the future.

In this issue of Footsteps we consider important topics related to food security and look at practical ways to improve the situation. On page 10 we consider the important relationship between farmers and traders. There are also articles about grain banks (page 7), natural pest management (page 8), conservation farming (page 12), and floating gardens (page 16).

Please find below articles from Footsteps issue 77 in html.

To download a pdf version of Footsteps issue 77, please click here (541KB).


The book of Ruth is set at the time of a famine in the area around Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1). Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem in search of food and went to Moab, where they lived for at least 10 years (Ruth 1:4-5). Following the deaths of her husb... More >>

by Joan Mute In many countries in southern Africa, food insecurity is increasing. Drought is a key factor, but farming practices are also a major cause. Food insecurity is a particular issue in rural areas, where agriculture is the main economic ac... More >>

by Abdoul-Azize Sarki The economy of Niger relies mainly on agriculture. However, over the last 30 years, drought and environmental problems have led to poor harvests. Poor people have little to eat between harvests, which have caused them to leave... More >>

Food is a basic human need and right. If we do not have enough good quality food we will become ill and eventually die. Yet the number of people around the world who are undernourished continues to grow. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisa... More >>

Many people around the world experience flooding. Where there is frequent flooding the growing season is affected and crops become damaged or even washed away. Another problem for poor communities is that there is little land available for growing fo... More >>

by Dr Ruvimbo Mabeza-Chimedza Food security exists when people have enough basic food at all times to provide them with energy and nutrients for fully productive lives. When poor people are asked what their highest priority is for themselves and th... More >>

by Pastor Eduardo Barja In the mountainous area of Chuquisaca, central Bolivia, communities are discovering the nutritional benefits of vegetables. The traditional meal for the indigenous Quechua people was a hot broth made from wheat and potatoes ... More >>

A comprehensive programme to address food insecurity in a Dalit village in Nepal by Luma Nath Adhikari The district of Mugu is located in the Himalayan region of Nepal. Only five per cent of the land in the district can be used for agriculture. T... More >>

Extracting oil I am writing in relation to Abbé Kussa’s letter in Footsteps 75. I teach Appropriate Farm Technologies at the Agricultural Training Institute in Zambia. From my experience the best way of extracting oil from Jatropha curcas (also kno... More >>

Article compiled by Rebecca Dennis ‘Natural pest management’ is a method of controlling pests without using chemicals. Instead, other insects, birds, animals, plants or mechanical techniques are used. Chemical pesticides have many disadvantages. ... More >>

by Nigel Poole Agriculture has been neglected by many governments and organisations over the last two decades. Most development policies have promoted broad economic growth in the hope that it will bring widespread benefits. However, according to t... More >>

Trading up: Building cooperation between farmers and traders in Africa This book looks at the role of traders in the food chain. Examining issues that affect both traders and farmers, the book reinforces the message that the different groups should... More >>


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