Man & Environment Case Study: Famine and Food Insecurity in Ethiopia Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa, is home to about 75 million people.
The country has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by wide topographic-induced variations. With rainfall highly erratic, Ethiopia is usually at a high risk for droughts as well as intra-seasonal dry spells.
The majority of the population depends on agriculture as the primary source of livelihood, and the sector is dominated by smallholder agriculture. These small farmers rely on traditional technologies and produce primarily for consumption.
Famine vulnerability is high in Ethiopia. With the rapid population growth of the past two decades, per capita food grain production has declined. Cereals constitute the largest share of food production in the country.
Today, with recurrent famine threats, food aid is an important source of cereal supply.
1. What does "food security" mean?
2. What are Challenges to achieving food security in Ethiopia?
3. Are there solutions to food insecurity in Ethiopia?
Recommend a set of short and long-term policies and programs to improve food security in Ethiopia.