After WWII farming became more industrial with higher efficiencies, increased use of chemicals, and increased use of machines. What should have lead to an abundance of food for everyone has resulted instead to poverty, starvation and suicide. The increased costs of farming bankrupted small farmers and they lost everything to banks and big agricultural businesses. These farmers migrated to the cities where they found poverty and no hope.
Some country's agricultural industries are being destroyed by globalization and dumping of products by larger industrialized countries. Third world countries borrow money which comes with strings attached which are meant to force the country into the 21st Century of trade and globalization. The farmers are forced to compete on a global scale and many are unable to, so their production decreases or stops altogether. Theoretically globalization is a sound economic objective but when larger countries with cheaper production export their products to third world countries at lower prices, it kills the local market which cannot compete. In reality this practice creates dependence and a cycle of poverty in the Third World.
If industrialization and globalization has indeed bankrupted the small farmer and reduced self sufficiency in 3rd world countries, then it is killing people through poverty and starvation. Killing people by any means is a crime, killing large amounts of people is a crime against humanity.
I don't believe that was the intent or is the intent of the powers that be that have changed the way the world looks at food production. I believe the objective was to produce more food then the world needed. Unfortunately, this is not the result as the increased costs of farming, importing and exporting have driven up the prices of food.
It is time for many 3rd world countries to go back to sustainable farming practices on a smaller scale. Instead of the cycle of sending aid to these countries, developed nations should be helping families grow their own food to support themselves. Sending money is a quick easy band aid that makes our governments feel good about themselves. However, the aid ends up lining the pockets of corrupt government officials and people continue to starve. Investment in the country to develop agriculture would be a better solution to aid. Although not an easy one.
What can we do to help feed the world and end global starvation?
