Food Aid Benefits Rich Countries as Much as It Does for Poor Countries? Essay Example
Food Aid Benefits Rich Countries as Much as It Does for Poor Countries? Essay Example

Food Aid Benefits Rich Countries as Much as It Does for Poor Countries? Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (512 words)
  • Published: November 8, 2017
  • Type: Research Paper
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There are essentially three methods for providing assistance: bilateral aid (direct from one country to another), multilateral aid (from a country via the World Bank to another country), and NGO aid (from non-governmental organizations such as Oxfam and Red Cross). Additionally, food assistance may be classified as either short-term or long-term based on the circumstance and necessity.

On the 2nd of May, cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar, a poverty-stricken LEDC country in Asia with ineffective infrastructure and appalling housing. The disaster resulted in over 80,000 fatalities and two million survivors desperately seeking food aid and shelter. In response, NGOs like the Red Cross and governments of MEDC countries provided short term food aid to address the immediate needs of the affected population. While this act may not significantly benefit wealthy MEDC nations, it will certain

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ly improve the nourishment and dietary balance of the receiving LEDCs. This aid will offer a wide variety of free or very cheap food choices, many of which may be new to their population.

Providing various food items (such as chocolate, biscuits, and bread) to impoverished individuals who usually only have access to one or two staple foods is a common practice. However, North Korea receives ongoing food assistance due to political reasons. North Korea lacks the capability to produce enough food to support its population and would experience a significant famine without aid. The United States has provided North Korea with food aid for an extended period as part of a political exchange to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons.

Both donor (MEDC) and recipient (LEDC) benefit from food aid, but there are advantages and disadvantages. MEDCs can control their food prices b

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giving excess food to LEDCs as aid, while also gaining a reputation for being helpful and generous in the international community. Additionally, food aid can be used as a tool for advertising a MEDC's own food, as seen in Nigeria where people first tasted wheat through aid and then developed a taste for it, leading to increased demand of 1.5m tons of wheat imported per year in the 80s.

Nigeria would have to import aid once it stops since growing it locally is not feasible due to the need for imported technology such as fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. The situation benefits MEDCs as they can export more and establish trade agreements involving LEDC resources in exchange for food. However, LEDCs face debt and a decrease in income from increased imports. The government might subsidize wheat farming to encourage self-sufficiency, but this would require additional government spending.

The issue of food aid has both positive and negative impacts on LEDC and MEDC. Local farmers in LEDCs often struggle to compete with free or cheap food aid, resulting in decreased demand for their locally grown food. This can lead to business losses and unemployment. However, food aid also provides much-needed nutrition for LEDC populations. In MEDCs, food aid can increase exports and sales of products. However, reliance on imported non-staple MEDC food can harm LEDCs, resulting in reduced incomes and an imbalance of imports over exports.

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