cyberROTH Interactive Solutions

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger

The nations of the world committed to reducing by half the percent of people suffering from hunger by 2015 (from 1990′s numbers).

Progress: Some, but insufficient

The world has made some progress toward ending hunger, reducing the percent of undernourished children under five, for example, from 33% in 1990 to 26% in 2006. This still leaves more than 140 million children in developing countries underweight in 2006, though, and some of this hard-won progress is being eroded by today’s higher food prices. Bottom line: The current rate of progress is insufficient to achieve the MDG target.

What else is needed

It would take only $30 billion USD a year to eradicate the scourge of hunger – about what the world spends every year on Disney merchandise.

Success story: MALAWI

In 2005, Malawi suffered a major famine, requiring food aid for some 5 million of its people. Since then, a targeted government subsidy program has so strengthened the country’s agricultural situation that the 2008 maize harvest of 2.6 million metric tons was the highest on record—improving hunger and income for more than 1.7 million farming families.

The Malawi government, with support from donor agencies, distributed hybrid maize seed and fertilizer vouchers to poor small farmers. allowing them to buy two bags of fertilizer for 20% of their market price.

The program has enabled Malawi’s farmers to double their average yield per hectare, and it immediately tripled national grain production from 1.2 million metric tons in 2005 to 3.4 million metric tons in 2006 and 2007—a surplus of more than one million metric tons. This has allowed Malawi to become a net food exporter and save the country millions of dollars in imported food aid. Even the Seed Traders Association has benefited from the program, selling 40% more seed since the start of the program. The program is so successful the government is budgeting approximately $14 million for it this year, expanding it to provide pesticides and storage space.

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See the other articles in the MDG Snapshot series:

• Where Are We on Education?
• Where Are We on Maternal Mortality?
• Where Are We on Health?
• Where Are We on Climate Change?