Final Project - Restoring Food Security in Eritrea

Final Project
Bethany Sheppard
Humans of New York
What is food insecurity like in Eritrea and what type of agricultural developments can be used to change it?

The year is 2050 and my home country of Eritrea has never been better. With a steady population of 3 million, we have turned the trajectory of our country’s progress around through hard work and dedication. In the early 2000s, my country had more than half of its people living below the poverty line, all while suffering from food insecurity. Our long history of wars and border conflicts only helped to displace those who lived on lands fertile enough to produce food. Unfortunately, the climate brought droughts and harsh climates, only enforcing our poor living conditions and lack of food. All of this was our reality until a group of like-minded individuals and I decided it was time for change. Because I grew on a small farm, I knew that agriculture held the key to the change I wanted to see. First, we elected officials that were a part of the organization so that they would implement policies that would use the humanitarian aid to develop positive infrastructure. Because water access is a big problem, these developments were used to help establish better irrigation systems. Rather than ineffective practices, they established drip systems that allowed a more precise application. Along with the actual agricultural systems, these policy makers helped to create laws that made it easier for citizens to obtain and own land. Land ownership in Eritrea used to be a troublesome process but now, it has become a much easier process. With more people owning land, our agricultural products have diversified. A select few grow cash crops that we can export to help stimulate our economy on a global scale but there are still many subsistence farmers that help to grow crops to sell in our local economies. With this balance, we are able to prosper and grow enough food to eradicate food insecurity.

Resouces

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"Food Insecurity in the Horn of Africa." FAO Corporate Document Repository. Web. 01 May 2017. <http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x8530e/x8530e02.htm>.

Kayouli, Chedly, Tzeggai Tesfai, and Assefaw Tewolde. "Eritrea." FAO. Halhale Research Centre, 2006. Web. 01 May 2017. <http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/counprof/eritrea/Eritrea.htm>.

Rena, Ravinder. "Challenges for Food Security in Eritrea: A Descriptive and Qualitative Analysis." African Development Review, vol. 17, no. 2, Sept. 2005, pp. 193-212. EBSCOhost.

"World Food Day 2016: Notes on Food Security in Eritrea." Shabait. 19 Oct. 2016. Web. 01 May 2017. <http://www.shabait.com/categoryblog/22752-world-food-day-2016-notes-on-food-security-in-eritrea->.