Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 16
Is Food the Answer to
Malnutrition?
David E. Sahn
Introduction
Widespread hunger and malnutrition are perhaps the most egregious manifestation
of deprivation. The fact that approximately one billion people, primarily children, suf-
fer from undernutrition is not only an affront to notions of social justice, but also repre-
sents an entitlement failure with large economic and social costs (Behrman, Alderman,
and Hoddinott 2004). These costs are not just contemporaneous, in terms of compro-
mising productivities of those currently affected by the ravages of malnutrition, but
inevitably persist across the entire life course of individuals and from one generation
to the next.
Although there is little disagreement on the magnitude and importance of the global
malnutrition problem, its causation and control continue to be the subjects of debate
and research. Part of the search for solutions to alleviate malnutrition emanates from
confusion over terminology, for example, incorrectly defining malnutrition as synony-
mous with the problems of food shortages and food insecurity. There has also been a
general failure in terms of response by governments, international organizations, and a
range of stakeholders; their efforts to purportedly reduce malnutrition have often been
inconsistent with existing evidence on what is really required in terms of policy and
programs. In this chapter, I will argue that the persistence of the global reach of mal-
nutrition results, in part, from the distorted response to this enormous challenge; and
even worse, the growth of institutions and programs that have failed to address the root
causes of the problem. This misallocation of resources may have indirectly contributed
to the perpetuation of malnutrition, especially among the most vulnerable groups—
women and children.
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