Food is the basic necessity of human life without which one cannot survive. Our food mainly comes from agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. Modern patterns of agriculture are unsustainable and polluting the environment with excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. 16th October is declared as World Food Day.
World Food Problems:
Production of food is not keeping pace with the growing demand.
There are great disparities in the availability of nutritious food. Some tribes still face serious food problems leading to malnutrition especially among women and children.
Our fertile soils are being exploited faster than they can recuperate.
Forests, grasslands and wetlands have been converted to agricultural use, which has led to serious ecological problems.
Our fish resources, both marine and inland, show evidence of exhaustion.
Global food production has increased by using more soil, water, plant, animal and energy resources and causing more pollution and environmental damage.
More than 100 countries regularly import food from US, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Western Europe, New Zealand and Thailand.
With 30-40% of the calories coming from animal products, current world agriculture system would support only 2.5 billion people to have typical diet of a person in any developed country.
40% of people in India suffer from malnutrition because they are poor to buy or to grow enough food to meet their basic needs.
2/3rd of India’s land is threatened by erosion, water shortages and salinization.
Women and children are mostly underfed and malnourished compared to men.
Last modified: Wednesday, 28 December 2011, 9:40 AM
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