Essays --

Why is Ethiopia Always Hungry? In 1974, Louis Leake discovered a 3.2 million year old skeleton he named â€Å"Lucy† in the Afar region of Ethiopia. This evidence indicates human inhabitants have lived in the region for millions of years. In Ethiopia today, the people are chronically hungry. There have been recurrent famines leading to starvation and death of hundreds of thousands of people. The country’s population is outpacing its food production. Did â€Å"Lucy† die from starvation? Why can’t Ethiopia feed its people? Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa with a long and complex history dating back thousands of years. Located in the eastern Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is a landlocked country slightly smaller than twice the size of Texas. In 1994, a federal republic was created consisting of nine ethnically based states and lead by a president elected by the people (â€Å"Central Intelligence Agency†). It has a current population of 93 million people. In 2013, Ethiopia had a population growth rate of 2.9%, ranking it ninth in the world in population growth. This growth rate is projected to continue over the next 40 years (Population Challenges). The country is made up of many ethnic groups with the Oromo (35%) and the Amhara (27%) making up the largest groups. In general, the population is rural and poor. Only 17% of the people live in urban centers. Agriculture is the main driver of the Ethiopian economy. Most of the farming occurs on small farms and consists of subsi stence agriculture. There is very little commercial farming. Agriculture contributes 46% to GNP and employs 85% of the population (â€Å"Ethiopia†). The geography of Ethiopia is a high plateau divided by the Great Rift Valley. There is a central mounta... ...e weather conditions, the problem continues to grow. Solving these problems requires action on all levels--from the international community and the United Nations, by the Ethiopian federal government, and members of the regional and local communities. The course of action for Ethiopia will take both time and financial support. The problem did not develop overnight and it cannot be solved quickly. By working together to provide sustainable solutions, the people of Ethiopia may one day be protected during times of drought by having enough food available to prevent famine and starvation. Hopefully, Ethiopia will be able to implement the reforms and changes needed to someday sustain itself. By providing adequate food for its people, it will eliminate the need for food handouts. Maybe some day soon we will be able to quit asking, â€Å"Why is Ethiopia always hungry?†