UACE S101 General Paper section A: Famine in Uganda (causes, effects and solutions)

Definition

Famine refers to acute food shortage in an area over a long period of time resulting into mal-nutrition, starvation and sometimes death. Famine usually occurs after drought or armed conflicts. In Uganda famine is common in semi-arid regions especially North-eastern Uganda, Nakasogola, Masaka corridor and so on. Countries in Africa that commonly experience famine are Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.

Cause of famine

Human factors

1. Political instability in many parts of Uganda such as Kasese has kept the population on the run this failing to carry out productive activity including farming.
2. Subsistence production where whatever food is produced is for consumption. This limits production of excess food for storage and consequently famine in case of delayed rainfall.
3. Poverty/ unemployment leading to insufficient resources and becomes worse of the head of the family is unemployed.
4. The over and population explosion leads to shortage of food and there by off-setting famine.
5. Poor storage facilities also contribute to famine in a sense that many homes do not have ways of keeping the dry ration. Food is lost during seasons of harvest and shortage follows shortly after.
6. Poor technology and poor farming methods such as use of rudimentary tools lead to poor crop yields and lack effective preservation means lead to high post-harvest losses.
7. Poor land tenure system where majority lack land to plant food crops and hence famine
8. Rural urban migration drains farmland of labour leading to low farm yield
9. Poor government policies like taxation and the failure to plan for the agriculture ministry, failure to produce and sustain enough skilled manpower, and provide extension services.
10. Corruption and embezzlement by government official and failure to implement government policies.
11. Poor transport network hinders movement of food from its source in remote areas to the market or where it consumed. Therefore surplus food cannot easily reach places of scarcity.

Others factors /Physical factors

1. Pests and diseases damage and destroy crops and animals leading to inadequate food production
2. Poor and unfertile soils lead to limited agricultural and food production.
3. Rugged terrains that do not support mechanization and limit the sizes of farms affecting food production.
4. Natural calamities such as landslides on Mt. Elgon, flooding e.g. in Kasese. Earthquakes etc. These destroy crops and property leading to low food production
5. Climate vulnerabilities such variable seasons and frequent droughts.

Consequences of famine

1. Famines result in malnutrition, starvation, disease, poor health and high death rates. Malnutrition leads to physical and mental development delays and disorders and is a major cause of high infant mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
2. Famine leads decrease economic productivity, lower educational attainment, and increase healthcare costs. Famine perpetuates poverty and inequality, creating a cycle of deprivation.
3. Famine has led to increased child and women abuse. For example girls are forced into early marriage in return for food.
4. Famine escalates social vices such as thefts and prostitution
5. Famine promotes rural urban migration in an effort to find means of survival.
6. Famine has perpetuated over dependence of African countries to developed nations for foreign aid to meet the food shortage
7. Famine has promoted insecurity because opposition group often take advantage of the situation to destabilize the country.

Solutions to famine

1. Land tenure system reforms to increase access to farm land by farmers. Proper land planning is necessary to demarcate land for settlement and agriculture and to resist land fragmentation.
2. To promote research in agriculture so that farmers are provided improved seeds that are high yielding and resistant to diseases and drought.
3. The government should provide credit facilities at low rates to enable farmers purchase farm equipment and chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to increase their farm production
4. Distribution of food and water to people in camps and where people can grow food the government should distribute seeds and farm tools.
5. Population control measure should be put in place to reduce on food demand in the country.
6. Government should increase the budget for disaster preparedness to protect people from starvation in case of calamities.
7. To generate employment opportunities so that people can earn money and buy food.
8. Reduce corruption and increase the budget for agriculture such that there is an increase in food production.
9. Mechanisms should be put in places to ensure political stability and smooth transition of power and minimize civil wars and frequent coups. This will minimize the problems of refugees and allow people settle for agriculture.
10. Modern food storage and preservation facilities should be put in place to minimize post-harvest losses.
11. Irrigation facilities should be provides to safeguard agriculture from climate vulnerabilities.

 

 Relevant  Questions

1. To what extent is famine in the various parts of Africa a result of human factors?

Mark allocation.

Definition = 05mark

Spellings = 05 mark

General impression 10 marks

Any 5 human factors (agreement) (each 3 marks) = 15 marks

Any 5 other factors (disagreement) (each 3 marks) = 15marks

Total = 50 marks

Note that when writing a point

• State the point in full sentence (1mark)
• Explain/discuss the relevance of the point (1mark)
• Give a relevant example (1mark)

Total of 3 marks per point.

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Thank you

Dr. Bbosa Science