Short & Long-Term Consequences of Famine
Since the dawn of agriculture (at around 10,000 B.C.), human beings have lived predominantly in large, settled communities and have relied primarily on the cultivation of crops as a food source. While our agrarian lifestyle has provided us with the abundance of food that was necessary to reach our current, world-dominating stature, it also left us vulnerable to famines, which have been a brutal and recurrent theme throughout most of human history.
Fortunately, farming loans and ag loans for land might be able to protect your food security. In this article, we’ll discuss the short and long-term consequences of famines and how ag loans can help you maintain a stable food supply.
What Does a Famine Look Like?
A famine occurs when a significant percentage of a population within a given area dies as a result of hunger. Famines can be the result of malicious government policy (as was the case in Ukraine in 1932-1933) or the consequence of climate change, natural disaster, or plant-born diseases (as was the case in the Irish Great Famine of 1845-1849).
Short-Term Consequences of Famine
In order for a food crisis to officially be declared a full-blown famine, there must be more than 2 hunger-related deaths each day within a specific population. A death toll as high as that has devastating consequences on the virility and productivity of a population as a whole. When a food-shortage has reached the critical stage of famine, the vast majority of the population is either dying or dangerously weak. In these circumstances, diseases also tend to arise to take advantage of the frail population.
Long-Term Consequences of Famine
Large-scale starvation and disease are certainly the most gruesome aspects of a famine, but there are certain long-term consequences that can haunt a region and a population long after a famine has swept through.
For one, it’s believed that famines can actually halt the physical growth of survivors, so that the physical stature of famine-stricken population remains stunted for years after the fact. For another, famines can inflict a huge psychological trauma on an entire population that becomes deeply embedded into their cultural memory.
Solutions for Food Security
It’s important to take action to protect your food security now. Thankfully, ag loans for land can help. With the right financing, you can start your own hobby farm or expand your current farming operations. That way, there will be plenty of food to go around in the future should a famine occur.
Protect Your Food Security with Ag Loans for Land
If you’re concerned about the possibility of a future food crisis, you may want to consider starting a small farming operation. At MSF Agriculture, we have the experts and resources that you’ll need to secure ag loans for land and to help get you started. Contact a loan officer today!