On strategies and programs for coping with large scale food shortages

Abstract

A basic premise of the paper is that for various reasons many people in developing countries will experience food shortages in the years ahead. A” main thrust of this paper is in considering strategies for managing available food resources from domestic and foreign sources during a period of scarcity in a particular population group, region or country. Historical experience, deductive argument and simulation studies are used to seek policy guidelines that can lead to reductions in mortality and morbidity resulting from food shortages. It is concluded that in a number of cases a “fair share” distribution policy can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity. The paper concludes with discussions of programs for implementing a fair share policy and the role that computer simulation models can play in the development of policies and programs for coping with food shortages.