The latest U.N report on global food insecurity revises down its original estimate of the number of hungry people in the world from 1 billion. According to the latest data, the number of those suffering from hunger is closer to 870 million.
The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012 (SOFI) was published on Tuesday. The report, put together by the FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), reveals that the original estimate made in 2009 was based on unsound information and improper methodology.
It further adds that the figure of 1 billion is more correct for the period 1990-1992, or 18.6 percent of the population. This dropped down to 925 million in 2010.
Several countries and organizations have been working to alleviate hunger. But, the efforts slowed down after 2008-2009 due to the global food crisis of 2008 and the ensuing financial fragility.
"Most of the progress in hunger reduction was made until 2006, as food price levels continued to decline. With the rise in food prices and the economic crisis that followed, there have been many fewer advances," said Jose Graziano da Silva, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), according to Reuters.
'One in Eight Hungry'
While the number of people suffering from hunger has been on the decline, one in eight people in the world are still going hungry every day. This is an "unacceptably high figure."
Out of the 870 million hungry, around 852 million live in developing countries, particularly in Africa and some parts of Asia. The report found that 14.9 percent of the population in these countries is severely undernourished. However, hunger rates went down by 30 percent in Asia. On the other hand, the number seems to be going up in Africa, where the figure has risen by nearly 20 million.
Improvements in Agriculture Sector
According to SOFI, growth in the agricultural sector could reduce hunger.
"Agricultural growth involving smallholders, especially women, will be most effective in reducing extreme poverty and hunger when it generates employment for the poor," said FAO, WFP and IFAD.
An increase in the quantity of food must be accompanied by the same in the quality of food as well. While growing food, the focus must be on nutrition content and diversity. Moreover, safety nets and social protection systems for the vulnerable are also called for.
The Millennium Development Goals
One of the goals in the MDG is to halve the rate of hunger by 2015. Graziano da Silva still believes that it is possible. But he believes that "we need to start looking beyond the MDGs and towards the total eradication of hunger, answering the call made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his 'Zero Hunger Challenge' at the Rio+20 Summit. It links the achievement of food security to the elimination of childhood stunting through sustainable production and increased small-scale productivity."