The aim of this research paper is to examine and give factual remedies to global food insecurity caused by global population growth and poverty in Somalia. The three sections that this paper will cover will include the background, technologies that can reduce hunger and improve food security in Somalia and specific factors that disrupt the flow and distribution of food in Somalia. According to Kassam et al. (2021, p. 67), the major causes of food insecurity in Somalia are persistent drought, famines, flooding, violence and conflicts. Irregular rainfall and poor harvests in Somalia have persisted over the years (CARE International-Somalia). Somalia is in-depth food crisis worsened by growing population and chronic diseases like Cholera and measles fueled by inadequate access to clean water. Kassam et al. (2021, p.80) argues that in Somalia, 4.8 million people remain food insecure, including more than 180,000 adversely malnourished children under the age of five. According to Otsuka et al. (2021), about 2.6 million people in Somalia remain displaced as they leave their homes in search of food in cities like Mogadishu and Galkayo. The adoption of community-led borehole drilling to aid irrigation and livestock farming by the help of civil groups and the government is the probable remedy.
Background
Otsuka et al. (2021) defines food insecurity as the state of being without constant access to sufficient quantity, affordable, safe, nutritious and safe food. In Somalia harsh environmental conditions, violence and constant growing population has fueled food insecurity in the region. A number of civil groups in the Somalia have minimized the menace of food insecurity, but population growth necessitates timely strategic programs to tackle food insecurity in the near future. Persistent food insecurity has caused a major harm to Somalia children (Otsuka et., al 2021). Food insecurity leads to severe malnutrition and ultimately fatality if left unresolved. Birth defects, anemia, cognitive problems, aggression and anxiety are the major adverse effects food insecurity. Famine in 1992 in Somalia led to 260,000 deaths; more of the half were children (CARE International, Somalia).
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Afam (2020) asserts that constant increasing population often drives up demand for food, which in turn results to increased and intensive use of arable land and water. Growing population has been attributed to faster depletion and use of food reserves. According to World bank, in 2019 Somalia had a population of fifteen million people. The population growth in Somalia not only affects food security and food demand, but also has a negative impact on food availability, pricing and access. According to Kassam et al. (2021, p.85), population growth is associated with increasing population density hence leading to land disputes, fragmentation and subsequently settlement of poor people to arable lands for farming; semiarid area, wetland areas and arid lands. Land fragmentation enables ineffective and destructive farming methods, cultivation of marginal lands and riverbanks. Continued cultivation of marginal lands and riverbanks leads to drying up of water sources (CARE International, Somalia). In the long run, crops will dry up because of limited supply of water from dried water sources; hence people will lack access to farmland food crops, thereby opting to buying processed food from shops which are quite expensive.
Technologies That Can Reduce Hunger and Improve Food Security in Somalia
According to Nyiwul (2021), combating severe food insecurity in Africa requires technological turnaround strategies in modern agricultural methods. In bore drilling, technology plays an important role. Technology enhances drilling of hard rocks and soil penetration to reach water bases. Drilled community-led boreholes in Somalia will not only help quenching the thirst of people but also crops and animals. Technology driven drilled boreholes are long term investment because water depletion in these boreholes is rare. Nyiwul (2021) confirms that drip irrigation that maximizes boreholes, not only produces sufficient food to the people, but also acts a source of income generating activity for the people in that community.
Smart phone Apps and drones cab be utilized by Somalia community in timely dissemination of information related to agricultural produce, livestock price tags and sale, locust invasion, and available market for their produce. Recently locust invasion in Somalia has resulted to loss of important food crops (Nyiwul, 2021). The locust menace was first reported in Yemen and its first spreading among other countries like Somalia. Technology aided Apps and drones can be used by respective government authorities, community, civil groups and other stakeholders in eradication of this disaster that will thrive food insecurity in the place. According to Otsuka et al. (2021), technology aided drones can foster monitoring of vast farmlands which in turn eradicates crop theft.
According to Kassam et al. (2021, p. 97), efficient irrigation strategies, water harvesting and conservation techniques can address water constraints and ultimately solve water menace in developing countries. Available enough water access makes irrigation easier hence food security is realized. Technology can aide in water harvesting methods. Technology aided machines helps in harvesting of vast rain water which in turn helps in various farmland uses. Conserved water can be used to irrigate crops, used by livestock and drunk by people. Good harvest can help eradicate the problem of hunger (Nyiwul, 2021). Well-nourished society has good health, energy to continue performing their daily activities of nation building.
Post-harvest losses on crops dure to poor environmental and storage conditions can be eradicated by used of technology. Moisture meter machines helps in establishing moisture content in maize, therefore before storage, this technological aided machine helps in informing the farmer to dry the maize before storing (CARE International-Somalia). When a farmer stores maize that has moisture, the maize will eventually develop aflatoxins which is harmful to human consumption and in some cases causes cancer.
Specific Factors That Disrupt the Flow of Food in Somalia
According to Kassam et al. (2021, p. 105), the first obstacle that disrupts the flow of food in Somaliland is the constant attacks from outlawed Militia like the Alshabab and ISIS. Threats and gun attacks to targeted non-Somali civil groups, has made free food distribution a challenge in Somaliland. The government has instituted mechanisms that can allow civil groups to safely distribute relief food to the affected communities and camps; but this has been challenged by the ever-growing Militia group, which leaves affected hungry groups to starve to death. According to Afam (2020), Militia groups in Somalia have continued to block relief food provided by both the civil groups and government due to belief that these civil groups who are non-Somalia instill westernization to the indigenous Somalia people.
The second obstacle that disrupts the flow of food in Somaliland is the harsh climatical conditions and terrain. Distribution of food by camel and donkeys to vulnerable hungry people in Somalia is a challenge. Majority of roods in Somalia are made up of loose sand, willowing wind and visibility is not guaranteed in some places. Camel and donkeys are popularly used to transport food to the market and targeted communities; this usually takes a lot of time before the food reaches the recipient. Civil societies like the CARE international use trucks to distribute food to the vulnerable because of their financial capabilities. But also, these trucks are prone to breaks due to the poor muddy and loose soils in Somalia (Nyiwul, 2021).
The third obstacle that disrupts the flow of food in Somaliland is human displacement. Due to constant search of food, households don’t stay in a place for long due to their pastoralism nature (Nyiwul, 2021). This remains a challenge to civil groups in the country who offer and distribute relief food to these ever-moving households. Usually mapping and identification of those in need of food is done is done one week prior the distribution of food begins. When the date for the distribution reaches, logistics teams are left stranded because they cannot locate all the mapped households that can benefit to the relief food.
Summary
According to Kassam et al. (2021, p. 145), food insecurity in Somalia will continue to be pegged at population growth rate, utilization of modernized technological agricultural methods, government influence in eradication constant Militia attack on civil groups offering relief foods, and prudent water harvesting strategies. According to Afam (2020), Militia groups in Somalia should be eradicated in the near future; this will enhance ease and safe distribution of relief food in Somalia. CARE International-Somalia suggests that Somalia should allocate most of its budgetary allocation to construction of roads, drilling of boreholes and irrigation which will in turn facilitate modernized farming methods thus ensuring Somalia is food sufficient in the future. CARE International-Somalia suggests modern trapping methods to eradicate the menace caused by the devastating locust invasion in Somalia; believed to have originated from Yemen. The international civil group also suggests modern pesticide spraying of the locust invasion. Continued locust invasion may propel the existing food insecurity in the region.
References
Afam I. O. Jideani. (January 01, 2020). Research, development and capacity building for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa . International Journal of Food Studies, 9.
Kassam, A. H., & Kassam, L. (2021). Rethinking food and agriculture: New ways forward . Duxford: Woodhead Publishing.
https://www.care.org/our-work/disaster-response/emergencies/somalia-food-insecurity-crisis/#:~:text=Somalia%20is%20already%20facing%20a,well%20as%20violence%20and%20conflict. (Accessed 16 th February 2021)
Nyiwul, L. (January 01, 2021). Climate change adaptation and inequality in Africa: Case of water, energy and food insecurity . Journal of Cleaner Production, 278. s
Otsuka, Keijiro, ed.; Fan, Shenggen, ed., & http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2658-4863 Fan, Shenggen. (2021). Agricultural development: New perspectives in a changing world . International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI.
