ZERO HUNGER is the second goal of US Sustainable Development Goals. Zero Hunger means no any food shortage, improvement in agriculture and nutrition, and food security. Hunger and malnutrition are one of the major causes of death in the world.
Looking at the facts relating hunger around the world, one realises how crucial the plan of action has become. Developing countries are bearing the brunt of hunger problems. Every ninth children in the world is undernourished. Asia and Africa are facing greatest hunger prevalence. Starvation has increasingly become a leading cause of death; half of the deaths of children under age 5 are due to malnutrition. In Africa, about 66 Million children go to their classes hungry. Agriculture sector is providing food to 40% of world’s population. Increasing population puts pressures on food and resources required to meet exponential needs. Current consumption patterns are compromising on the reserves for future generations. Moreover, extreme hunger and malnutrition are huge barriers in the development of many countries. Corrective measure could be as simple as encouraging women to come out as farmers in small-scale farms. Such a measure could reduce hunger to 150 Million people, according to projections by some experts. Beginning with simple steps and eventually making hard choices could be a viable strategy to respond to issue of hunger and malnutrition.
Zero Hunger Goal provides us with an imperative guide on how such a sustainable path can be actualised. The US Sustainable Development Goal has set some deadlines to bring an end to hunger all over the world. It envisions end to hunger by 2030; access to food by everyone at every place, and especially food access to children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and older people. Furthermore, societies need to account for climate changes such as disasters, floods, drought, famine, extreme weather conditions in order to properly respond to reduced hunger. Resources ought to be exploited with sustainable provisions and productivity ought to be increased. The SDGs are working on this goal and would end hunger from the world by 2030 provided precautionary measures are taken by nations, societies at large and by us-as individuals.
Published in Daily Times, January 27th 2019.