Published on 15th April 2022.
What Changes Can Impoverished Nations make to Improve Life for Their People?
For many of us, food stability is a non-issue. Although we may not have everything we want, the average person can go to any store and purchase food. In developed countries, even those who fall below the poverty line have government options for necessities such as food. However, not everyone resides in a developed country.
Food instability is on the rise due to food shortages, natural disasters, and a variety of other economic deficiencies. Today, there is approximately 828 million people worldwide facing hunger. With a global population of just under 8 billion people, that number amounts to approximately 10% of our total population. That is a significantly high number and as prices rise, that number will only grow higher.
There is hope, food stability can be an option for everyone if we all work together. Here are some ways even impoverished nations can help support their people and enhance their region’s food stability.
Increase Agricultural Education
We live in a unique world. At the touch of a button, you can watch your favorite television show, purchase goods from across the world, or keep an eye on your home from anywhere you are from your phone. What we have gained over the past 50 years is truly impressive, but what have we given up?
Farming used to be a way of life and for many countries, it still is. Technology is amazing, but if we raise a generation that does not understand the symbiotic balance between man and the earth, we have failed as a society. Emphasis on agricultural education is essential for everyone on this earth. Developed countries can empower underdeveloped nations by investing in agricultural technology education.
Microelectromechanical Systems or MEMS, are some of the most advanced technologies available for modern farmers. Although this technology has been developed in areas that are less prone to food instability, it can positively impact other countries facing food shortages. The technologies are being made available to underdeveloped nations to help scan the ground and analyze soil from the air to find the most fertile fields. Innovations in agricultural technologies have a positive impact on world-wide poverty statistics.
Traditional farming techniques in underdeveloped nations still work, but it is the inability to find quality soil that often limits the potential for these traditional values to produce food. MEMS has the potential to vastly improve crop yield across the globe.
Pulse Crop Investment
Pulse Crops are plants that allow for harvesting the dried seed rather than a fruit or vegetable. These crops are easier to manage and cultivate. They tend to grow in areas that are prone to drought and provide a full circle means of proper nutrition. Pulse Crops are those in the legume family, so they are widely used in a variety of cultures as a base food to enhance nutrition. These foods are excellent sources of iron, protein, and various minerals the body needs.
Countries that invest in Pulse Crops empower their economy in 2 ways. The first, naturally is by providing a stable food source for their own people. Both residential and commercial farms can plant Pulses as they are easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions.
The second way Pulse Crops can help reduce poverty levels in developing countries is by providing an additional export. Pulse Crops are widely used across the globe due to their long shelf life. Virtually every developed country invests in some level of Pulse Crops for additional food stores. It can take a few years to develop a system that works for the country, but Pulse Crops are among the most important, healthy foods every nation can invest in.
Proper Irrigation Techniques
Evidence of ancient irrigation practices date back to as far as 6000 BC. Even then farmers new the value of bringing water in and regulating the amount of water that comes into the field. Drought prone areas are particularly vulnerable when it comes to irrigation requirements. However, by investing in proper irrigation techniques, improved crop yield is possible. Digging wells and bringing water from neighboring reservoirs and water sources is an essential tool for improving food stability.
Combining irrigation techniques with the use of specialized technologies such as MEMS, with the use of Pulse and diversified crops is possibly the best way underdeveloped nations can bolster a farming rich community in which everyone can enjoy a good meal on a regular basis.
Food stability is not something that will improve overnight. Underdeveloped nations have a long hill to climb, but it all starts with a single step. Government agencies presiding over underdeveloped countries need to take food stability seriously if they intend on improving their global status. A country is only as strong as its poorest individual.
