Fighting Hunger: The Deadliest Weapon of Mass Destruction in Africa discusses the ongoing food crisis in Africa and proposes innovative solutions. [1] Africa may not be able to feed 3 out of 4 people by 2025 according to UN reports. [2] Most African countries rank poorly in the Global Hunger Index. [3] A history of famines and droughts have devastated the continent. The document then proposes a range of solutions including unified global action; employing factory farming; short-term land leasing; subsidies; a global relief fund; microcredit; and industrialization to combat hunger in Africa.

1. Fighting Hunger : The Deadliest
Weapon of Mass Destruction( In
Africa)
A presentation by
Ahnaf Rashik Hassan.
Bangladesh University of
Engineering & Technology (BUET)
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2. Africa might not be able to feed every three out
of its four people by 2025, according to United
Nations University(UNU)’s Ghana-based institute
for natural resources.
 Most of the African countries have terrible
position in Global Hunger Index(GHI).
 Africa has a very long and painful history of
famines, deaths and droughts. How long will we
have to watch Africans dying like insects before
our own eyes? Are they not human beings? Does not
this problem require serious attention?

3. Why African Food Crisis?
 A long painful history
of famines.
 Terrible position in
child mortality
rankings.
 African lives battered
by natural calamities
like droughts, floods
etc.
 Almost 50% child
deaths of developing
countries occur in
Africa.

4. Is That True? Is There Any Case
History?
 From 1920 to 2011
almost 23 ‘gigantic’ YEAR DISASTER LOCATION
famines vandalized 1998-2000 Famine Ethiopia
African lives and killed 1998-2004 3,80,000 died Congo
countless priceless lives.
2003 Famine Darfur(Sudan)
 Some recent food crises
are shown on the right. In 2005 Food Crisis Malawi
most of the cases people 2005-06 Niger Famine Niger
starved to death. 2006 Famine Djibouti, Kenya
 In the latest GHI ranking 2008 Food Crisis Kenya, Somalia
34 countries were
declared having “serious” 2008 Food Crisis East Africa
GHI rating. These 2009 10 million faced Kenya
countries include starvation
Djibouti, Swaziland, Lesot 2010 Food Crisis Sahel
ho, Mauritania, Senegal,
2011 Horn of Africa Somalia,
Namibia, Congo etc.
famine Ethiopia

5. To combat this colossal disaster, I propose a panoply of solutions that will vanquish hunger.
 The whole world should be united as if we all were Africans as indicated by the name of my
solution “7 Billion Africans”. Africa can not win this battle fighting alone. Social networking
sites such as facebook ,twitter,myspace etc. and print and electronic media should be used
to unite people as they were used in Egypt, Libya and Yemen to dethrone the monarchs.
 Africa has a long history of droughts. Hence agriculture can not be the only solution to
alleviate food crisis. One out of the box solution may be to employ and proliferate “Factory
Farming” for livestock which will be affected by natural catastrophes less than agriculture.
 Our ultimate goal should be to build an Africa that does not rely on the rest of the world
for its food. Another new solution may be “ Short-term Lease”. African countries may lease
their land to developed countries who will get cheap labor of Africa plus a percentage of the
crop produced. In exchange, they will teach techniques of cultivation, provide seeds,
fertilizers and other tools and a percentage of the crop produced. So both sides are
benefitted.
 The governments of different African countries should provide subsidies for
seed, fertilizer, tools and machines.
 For preparedness, a global fund should be formed right now so that in case of natural

6. disasters and famines we can respond immediately. In this regard I have an
innovative policy named “ Take Oath”. In this system an African family will
only get relief from different organizations only if they swear to keep their
family small, be aware of AIDS and other waterborne diseases, send their
children to schools and train themselves for agriculture, animal husbandry
and computer outsourcing which are very handy sources of income.
 Governments of developed and developing countries should make it
mandatory for different banks, business organizations who made good
profit to work for Africa for a small period of time. The governments can
allure different companies in exchange of tax exemption or reduction and
advertisement. In this context, I propose to these organizations to use
“Social Business” concept which was developed by Dr. Muhammad Yunus
[Nobel Peace Prize,2006].
 Another out of the box solution may be “ Micro-Credit for Farming” which
will also ensure empowerment of women of Africa.
 Small-scale industrialization of Africa is also a possible solution to fight
hunger in Africa. In this regard, world business giants and famous
organizations can be attracted by the low cost of labor in Africa.
 ‘Work For Food & Cash’ run by both the government and organizations
may also be very helpful for Africa.

7. MORE SOLUTIONS
 The role of international media and influential personalities may also play a
vital role. Although it may sound stupid ,a role model or a sports or a media
personality can reach and influence his or her fans and general mass.
Movies, songs, documentaries will also be a useful part of this process.
 With a view to building a healthy Africa, a comparatively new concept may
be introduced. People have to pay to send their children to schools. That is why
the number of dropping-out children from schools in Africa is increasing in
leaps and bounds. We can do the opposite. Why will people have to pay? We
will pay them to send their children to school!!! Now a question may arise-
what has education got to do with hunger? The answer is simple. Besides a
small amount of money, we can also provide them at least one meal a day with
nutritious foods to build a nourished African population.
 I have another new concept of WFF(Work For Food). Why should such
programs be run by the government only? Business giants and companies
from every nook and corner across the globe may also do it! This applies
greatly for technological companies. For instance, if Google, Microsoft or IBM
or any other company set up a center where they will train and then engage in
outsourcing and other works. They will provide food and an amount of money
to run their families.

8.  My proposed subsidy policy for agricultural and animal farms has a strong history of
success and still neglected! In 2005, Malawi government initiated a fertilizer-subsidy
program. The result was astoundingly positive. In 2006, maize production in Malawi
doubled. In 2007, it almost tripled allowing the country to export 300,000 tons of maize to
Zimbabwe that year.
 I developed the idea of “Short-term Lease” policy from a Chinese company who made an
agreement to lease 2.5 million of land in the Philippines to grow rice, corn and sugar. It set
off a huge protest in Philippines that had temporarily stalled the project. The same will not
happen in Africa because after 5/10 years when the deal expires, Africans will be able to
produce their own crops due to the short term nature of the lease.
 Although micro-credit is generally used for small business, my proposed idea to
broaden the concept for agriculture and animal husbandry in Africa will obviously work
because micro-credit is a widely accepted weapon to combat poverty and hunger.
 My idea of “Exploiting Low-Cost Labor” of Africa will definitely work for both Africa
and the rest of the world. One possible proof is the instance of the south Asian country
Bangladesh. Currently, the textile mills provide 70% of the national export of Bangladesh.
 In my solutions at the very beginning I emphasized on unity. Unity is the stepping stone
to work for Africa. Efforts merely from UN,WHO,FAO and other organizations are helpful
but can not entirely eradicate the problem.

9.  My factory farming policy can turn most of
the African countries into one of the world‟s
most milk,meat,leather exporting countries.
 After 15-20 years, all the deals with
developed countries will expire under my
“Short-term lease” policy (if implemented)
and mother Africa will not only be able to
feed her children but also will be able to earn
some foreign currency!
 If we look in the pages of history we will find
the „culprit behind the scene‟ of all famines
and food crises. The name of the demon is
„war‟. If we can train Africans and engage
them in constructive and lucrative
works, social stability will prevail and there
may be no war in our dream Africa.
 Micro-credit based economy and social
business will also ensure women
empowerment which is so important.

10. References:
1.Wikipedia.
2.International African Institute.
3.Google Images.
4.The Africa Journal
5.United Nations University-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa.
[inra.unu.edu/]
THANK YOU FOR READING!