food production - shortage, Sahel

Question 1

what are some general causes that are natural?

Answer 1

• soil exhaustion
• drought
• floods
• tropical cyclones
• pests
• diseases

Question 2

what are some general human causes?

Answer 2

• low capital investment
• rapidly rising population
• poor distribution
• conflict situations

Question 3

what is the specific cause of food shortage in Sahel?

Answer 3

drought

- lack of water, below average in that area, for an extended period of time

Question 4

where is Sahel?

Answer 4

in africa

• north of Africa, south of desert
• west coast to east coast

Question 5

what are some countries the Sahel region goes through?

Answer 5

sudan, niger, chad, etc

goes through ten countries

Question 6

what is the Sahel?

Answer 6

an area of ecosystem transition between desert and savannah

Question 7

how much rainfall does the Sahel get?

Answer 7

100mm/year of rainfall

- very concentrated, single season of 2 weeks to a few months

Question 8

how wide is the Sahel region?

Answer 8

1000km wide

Question 9

why has the drought gotten worse in sahel?

Answer 9

• Climate change is making rainfall more unpredictable

Question 10

how has the drought effected grains?

Answer 10

grain production had decreased by a 1/3

so prices have increased

Question 11

how many people have been forced to migrate?

Answer 11

2 milion

Question 12

what is happening to the children?

Answer 12

1 mill suffering from acute malnutrition

Question 13

what is happening to the land?

Answer 13

arable land is shrinking bc people move onto the good land

Question 14

what other case study details are there?

Answer 14

• competition for land and sources

- because people are moving to already resource poor areas, it worsens the area as well

Question 15

how many people faced a food crisis in 2012?

Answer 15

18.7 million

Question 16

what is the solution in emergencies?

Answer 16

food aid

Question 17

what are the different types of food aid?

Answer 17

Relief food aid
- Delivered directly to people in times of crisis
Programmed food aid
- Provided directly to the government of a country for sale in local markets (conditions from donor country)
Project food aid
- Targeted at specific groups of people as part of longer term development work

Question 18

what is a sustainable solution?

Answer 18

great green wall

• Trees
• Measures 8,000 km long
• Spans 11 countries

Question 19

what do trees do to help?

Answer 19

○ Trees = prevent soil erosion, CO2 -> oxygen, protection to the soil from wind, make environment more moist, shade, leaves provide compost

Question 20

how long is the great green wall?

Answer 20

8000 km long and spans 11 African countries

Question 21

what are the three projects devoted to stopping desertification?

Answer 21

1. sustainable farming methods = planting trees to reduce loss of fertile soil
2. using more fuel efficient wood stoves, smaller amounts of wood = allows more trees to grow and less smoke inhalation
3. laying low stone bunds. form a barrier that slows down water runoff = rainwater seeps into ground and makes soil fertile, nutrient rich etc

Question 22

what is desertification?

Answer 22

land that was fertile but became a desert due to lack of water + other things