Hunger Project: Kingdom of Thailand
The issues that affect food security and nutrition in Thailand are:
· The inequality and distribution of production between women and men.
· Continued consequences in the poor areas because of the Tsunami of 2004.
· High food prices that affect accessibility of people living in rural areas.
· Continuous drought and flooding during the last years.
- Is agriculture able to feed the population? Is there sufficient water?
Thailand’s agriculture could be able to feed all the population, but its high prices affect accessibility to the poor people. Thailand has been presenting problems with potable water because of drought and flooding, there is neither clean water nor large water reservoirs to supply the Thai people and its crops.
- Does the country rely on foreign food? What are the implications of this?
Most of the country is consuming the agricultural product from within. This means that Thailand is implementing a sustainable agriculture and economy. Only few people in the big cities have access to foreign products.
- How do the causes of hunger in these countries compare with the causes of hunger in the United States? What is similar, and what is different?
It is difficult to compare Thailand with The United States because of their economies. Even though, the income of their people is a big factor when discussing hunger in both countries, Thailand has many other problems as few clean water, high food prices, and among other things.
- What are the different strategies which could be used to combat hunger in each of these countries? Which ones will be easier to implement? Which will be hardest? Why?
The Thai government could reduce food prices to make them more affordable to the poor people, and equalize the work payment for men and women. It will be easier for Thai people to pay for their food if women and men received equal salary for their jobs. This could be an effective strategy because if women and men have enough money to pay for their food, it could be easier for them to feed their families. It will be harder to reduce the prices of national products because of the continuous flooding and drought that Thailand is having currently.
- What is the extent of hunger in this country? How has the extent of hunger changed during the recent history of this country?
The extent of hunger in Thailand last year decreased to 8.1 from 9.5 in 2000, in the Global Hunger index. It has been changing dramatically during the last centuries with its program of sustainability economy, exporting many of their products, and many other projects that the Royal Government of Thailand with other international institutions are implemening to help Thai people receive supplements.
- What are the economic, social and political factors contributing to hunger in this country? Which reasons are the most pressing (ex. population size; war; climate, etc.)?
There are many factors contributing to hunger in Thailand. One of them is the reduced income that women received for their job, the high prices on their own food products. Also, Thailand had a Tsunami in 2004 that the poor people are still living through the consequences. Annual floods reduce clean water supplies for both human consumption, crops and livestock.
- What is likely to happen in the future with regard to the hungry in this country? How can the problem best be addressed?
It is uncertain what is going to happen with the hunger in Thailand because of all the projects going on. I think it is good to have a sustainable economy but they need to pay fair wages, acknowledging that female labor has the same worth as male labor, and reduce food prices to make it more affordable. Hopefully, Thai future will improve in the next years as it has been happening so far.
I like to show some graphics about all Thailand’s improvements based on mortality rage.
References
1. 2011 Global Hunger Index; The Challenge of Hunger: Taming prices spikes and excessive food price volatility. (2011). Retrieved July 7, 2012, from International Food Policy Research Institute: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/2011-global-hunger-index
2. Agriculture in Thailand. (2012, May 14). Retrieved July 7, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Thailand
3. Konuma, H. (2011, August 29). Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved July 7, 2012, from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/rap/home/about-assistant-director-gen/speeches/detail/en/?speech_id=254
4. Reducing Poverty and Hunger throught Food Policy Research. (2011). Retrieved July 7, 2012, from International Food Policy Research Intitute: http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/brochure_gates.pdf
5. Suwal, S. (2011, April 7). Water in Crisis - Spotligh on Thailand. Retrieved July 7, 2012, from The Water Project When Water Comes.... Everything Changes: http://thewaterproject.org/water-in-crisis-thailand.php
6. Thailand: Throwing mud at floor water. (2011, November 17). Retrieved July 7, 2012, from IRIN: Humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.irrinnews.org/Reprt/94224/THAILAND-Trowing-mud-at-flood-water
Pretty cool graphics :)
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