food shortages in Lesotho

1. Food shortages in Lesotho

2. GROUP 3
TEST 1
CHITJA T
MAPHATHE
2018

3. INTRODUCTION
Lesotho is one of the developing countries in the African continent and
composes of the estimated 2 million population (UNDP). The food
security in the country used to depend more on Agriculture. The 2003
report of Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee indicated that
poor households covered only 20% of their food energy requirements
from own production (FAO/WFP, 2005). Most households depend on
the market to meet their food requirements. The declining maize
harvest accelerate the country’s already-high level of on going
vulnerability (WFP - Countries, Lesotho). The highlands are particularly
vulnerable because of lack of roads and reliable transport facilities with
consequently justify high food prices (LVAC, 2006a). With low incomes,
unemployment and increasing food prices, most people are left
with very low purchasing power and cannot afford to buy enough food
(FAO/WFP, 2005; FAO/WFP, 2007).

4. In Lesotho, access to food through own
production or purchase remains a constant
challenge for many
households especially in rural areas, who are
struggling to develop or maintain sustainable
livelihoods
(FAO/WFP, 2007)
Other factors affecting food security are climate
change, severe land degradation, lack of
resources in agricultural production and
migration of powerful human resources to South
Africa.

5. Challenges of food shortages
• The main challenges of food shortages are:
World population growth
The increase in demand of food
Food price
The disappearance of the variety of
agricultural plant species and

6. World population growth
• High population growth across the developing
world means there are more mouths to feed,
but with smaller farm sizes to produce food.

7. The increase in demand for food
• The increase in worlds population results in
the further growth in food demand. At
present, the global food production
guarantees the consumption of 2796 kcal daily
by each inhabitant of Earth. However due to
unequal access to food, 25% of the worlds
population is undernourished and about 10%
of the worlds population is starving.

8. continuation
• The level of food consumption strongly relates
to external environmental (the economy). The
higher the level of economic development,
the higher the level of food consumption. The
higher the level of food consumption.

9. Food prices
• Global food prices that began with sudden
increase in food prices all over the world at
turn of 2007/ 2008 resulted in an increase in
the costs of food product imports. ( especially
in developing countries depended on
imports), and had catastrophic effect on the
household budget.
• The increases in prices is felt the most by
millions of the poorest people.

10. continuation
• It is estimated that the global food prices can
increase by 70-90% by the year 2030, and
that’s without calculating the impact of
climate change, which could cause prices to
double.

11. The disappearance of the variety of
agricultural plant species
• Biodiversity in agriculture includes, in addition
to natural habitats and worlds species of
plants and animals, including genetic
resources for agriculture, which consists of
local crop varieties and livestock breeds.

12. continuation
• Diversification of agriculture is the only and most
important method of achieving food security in a
changing climate. The greater number of species
and varieties in one field or in a single ecosystem,
the greater the likelihood that’s some of them
can cope with the changes in the environment.
The diversity of species also decrease the
probability of occurrence of diseases and pests,
reducing the number of organisms-hosts on
which they could develop.

13. How agriculture contribute to food
shortages
1. As agriculture is providing inputs to large number of industries
involved in production, processing and distribution of food, it has the
greater impact on the usage of land as follows;
2. Deforestation- as more land is needed for production of food for the
growing population, the trees are cut to create more space for
agriculture, which will promote climate change that will directly affect
the food production on the existing farmlands.
3. Soil erosion and depletion of nutrients – raindrops on the bare soil
results in soil erosion and as erosion occurs the nutrients on the topsoil
(where most of the soil nutrients are present) erode the fastest.

14. 4. Fertilizers related problems – high yielding varieties need a
lot of fertilizers and pesticides to grow which increases
micronutrient imbalance, pollution and eutrophication.
5. Pesticides related problems – include creating resistance in
pests and producing new pests, death of non-target
organisms, biological magnification.
6. The carrying capacity of land for cattle depends on the
microclimate and soil fertility and if the carrying capacity is
exceeded, the land is overgrazed. Because of overgrazing, the
agricultural land gets affects as follows: the reduction in
growth and diversity of plant species, reduction in plant cover
that leads to increased soil erosion and trampling of the cattle
leads to land degradation resulting in reduced land for
agriculture production.

15. EFFECTS OF THE CHALLENGE
1. Hunger: a condition on which a person does
not have the physical or financial capability
to eat sufficient food to meet basic
nutritional needs for sustained period.
Hunger is often understood as an
uncomfortable or painful sensation caused
by insufficient food energy consumption.

16. 2. Malnutrition: it results from deficiencies,
excesses or imbalances in the consumption of
macro/micro nutrients.
The vast majority of malnourished individuals in the
developing world experience under nutrition (a
deficiency of proteins, carbohydrates and fats and
or vitamins or minerals) as opposed to over
nutrition( an excess of certain food components
such as saturated fats and added sugars in
combination to low levels of physical activity,
normally resulting in obesity)
The consequence of malnutrition is poor in infants
and child growth and an excess of morbidity and
mortality in adults and children alike.

17. 3. Poverty : encompasses different dimensions
of deprivation that relate to human capabilities
including consumption and food security, health
education, rights, voice, security, dignity and
decent work.
Poverty is understood as having many
dimensions. It is not defined purely in economic
terms but includes a variety of non income
components which interacts with and reinforce
each other.