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Full Length Research Paper
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World food
scenario: Emerging trends and issues
Badar Alam Iqbal
Department of
Commerce, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (UP), India.
E-mail:
bai.chairman.comm@gmail.com.
Accepted 22 April, 2010 |
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Abstract |
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Global food scenario has been under heavy odds. This has been
due to spiraling food prices and scarcity of food grains all
over the world. The result is that the specter of a hungry world
that stood at 800 million roiled into unrest and political
upheavals. One of the contributory factors is more population
and lesser output of food grains. There is also a saying that
the Asian Economies and the US have also contributed towards
global food crisis. A lot of efforts have been made out both at
international and national levels. But there is some improvement
in trends and situation and it is hoped that worst may be over.
The need is to take more effective measures to tackle the most
alarming and burning issue that the world is facing. The present
paper reviews emerging issues and trends in respect of global
food situation and crisis. The year 2007 is considered to be the
worst year ever for global food crisis and prices in recent
past. In this year, increasing food grain prices and shortage of
food grains supply world over have resurrected the specter of a
hungry world, roiled with riots and political insecurity and
stability. One of the most relevant concepts has been given by
Thomas Robert Malthus two centuries ago in regard to causes of
food crisis. According to this concept ‘population would grow
till it outstrips food grains production, and then famines, wars
and epidemics would intervene to restore the balance’ (Varma,
2008). This is what is happening today.
Key words: Food scenario, emerging trend. |