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Provocative measures must be taken to contribute to World

Hunger in Developing Countries.

Afza Adlina Farhana Binti Jamalluddin (2317938)

Aida Masyitah Binti Azahari (2312802)

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

LEED 1301: English for Academic Writing

Section 51

Madam Rosnani Binti Kassim

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Provocative measures must be taken to contribute to World

Hunger in Developing Countries.

Did you know hunger may affect health, education, and social development?

The World Health Organization(WHO), (2023) mentions that since 2019, around 122

million people worldwide have experienced hunger because of the Covid-19

pandemic, recurrent weather shocks, and wars, such as the crisis in Ukraine.

It has been accepted that an adult individual is capable of going a maximum of two

months without eating if they are consuming sufficient water, otherwise, their

chances of surviving are significantly reduced. After the first day, the body began to

make use of up its glycogen stores. The body starts using its stored fats for energy

around the third day, as it enters a condition considered ketosis. The physical

outcome of adult hunger is losing weight through loss of muscle and fat. It impacts

the operation of those muscles and organs as well. Those who lack food or skip

meals are going to suffer symptoms like dizziness in addition to experiencing

weakness. It is proven that provocative measures played a role model to achieving

Zero Hunger. This is because it provides the foundation of forming quality citizens

that will later lead the world. So, Malaysian citizens should care about ways to

achieve zero hunger because a world without hunger could have a beneficial effect

on social development, equality, health, education, and economics. Thus, it is in line

with SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 2: Zero Hunger (United Nations, 2019).

Positive effects on our economies, health, education, equality, and social progress

can be achieved by eliminating hunger worldwide. It is essential to create a better

future for all people.

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According to the National Geographic Society (2023), “The goals of the Zero

Hunger initiatives are to end hunger and make sure that enough nutritious foods are

available to people by 2030” (p. 1). This is because international law guarantees

everyone has the right to access food, however this right is not yet widely

acknowledged. It is the duty of all governments to act as a safety net for food

security. Governments must be prepared to intervene and provide for their citizens

during times of crisis, when food systems are strained or fail. Based on estimates,

over 90 million children under 5 are underweight globally, with malnutrition and food

insecurity being the leading causes in Africa and South America. Famine affected

42.5 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2018. South America has

the most undernourished people, due to economic slowdowns. Chile has the highest

Global Hunger Index from 2000 to 2020. (Oscar et al. 2021).

Besides, providing Malaysians citizens with sufficient knowledge related to

ways in achieving zero hunger will provide them with numerous advantages. This is

because citizens lack knowledge and are not aware of its impact and may lead

citizens to waste food. From an Islamic Perspective, the statement of Allah SWT that

supplies a food source for the ummah so that it might eliminate hunger and be safe

from fear is found in Surah al-Quraisy, verse 4, and Surah al-Baqarah, verse 155 (Al-

Quran). It is strongly agreed that citizens should be exposed to ways to achieve zero

hunger by reducing food waste, supporting local farming and agriculture and

education empowerment.

Reducing food waste would be a proactive step towards achieving zero

hunger and better health. By 2030, the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) seek
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to eradicate all kinds of hunger and malnutrition, ensuring that everyone, particularly

children, has access to enough wholesome food throughout the year to maintain

good health. In order to attain zero hunger, food waste reduction may help students

in their daily lives, particularly regarding their health. DavisHuman (2023) reported

that there is a significant correlation between health and food waste because health

is more immediately at risk from improper food waste disposal. Food that have been

dropped on the street or in any unauthorised location is an ideal habitat for bacteria,

and it can also attract vermin and parasites that carry viruses and disease .

Toti et al.(2019) reported food availability and marketing campaigns have

created a "push effect" that may be responsible for the global obesity pandemic,

according to the estimated gradual increase in food waste. This issue is clearly a

contributing factor to deterioration of health. Advocating a nourishing diet and healthy

lifestyle is pertinent to support a healthy diet. This healthy lifestyle encompasses

eradicating hunger and ensuring universal access to nutritious food. It is crucial to

acknowledge that individuals lacking nutritional intake are more likely to succumb to

various illnesses and health complications.

Thus, reducing food waste by implementing a balanced diet promotes overall

health and wellbeing and serves as a prophylactic against long-term conditions such

as obesity, daibetes, and heart disease. A balance diet mostly consist of

consumption of high nutrients and low calories and minimises food waste contributes

to both personal health and reduction of food waste. However, a balanced diet could

be costly and may be hard for people to follow as they cannot afford to buy enough

food. An improper diet and inadequate food intake may cause the risk of obesity,
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overweight, and stunting. Consequently, encouraging inexpensive, nutritionally

balanced diets and cutting down on food waste remain to be essential strategies for

fostering a healthy living.

In summary, cutting down food waste is a pivotal step towards improving the

health within the communities. Minimising food waste ought to be taught in schools

so that students can learn and adopt it into their life and make it a habit. This is to

make sure that children may learn about and become accustomed to eating a

nutritious diet on a daily basis. Thus, cutting down on food waste is an important

tactic in the fight to end hunger and guarantee that everyone has a bright future filled

with good health and wellbeing.

Supporting local farming and agriculture stands as a linchpin in achieving zero

hunger especially in developing countries. This is because developing countries

often rely on imports from other nations' food. This makes food scarce within the

country itself and may decline the economic stability. The bulk of low-income families

make their living from agriculture. Quarter of the world's GDP is generated by the

farming sector, which is dependent on working adults from low-income backgrounds

for both food and money. These figures are far higher in rural areas, especially in the

Global South.

People that depend on agriculture face some of the greatest rates of hunger

because of all of this. A poor harvest not only leaves less on the table but also

reduces their income, which they use to buy other necessities at the market because

they are dependent on the land for both their food and means of maintenance. Thus,
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the initiatives of supporting local farming and agriculture not only addresses food

insecurity but also catalyses economic advancement and community well-being.

Bhavani & Rampa (2020) noted that,

“The source of both food and raw material, agriculture—crops, livestock,

aquaculture, fisheries, and forests traces its beginnings to the birth of human

civilisation. It is the world’s biggest employer and the main source of food and

income, especially for the extreme poor. A large majority of the population in

developing countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America depend on

agriculture for their livelihood”. (p. 2).

It proves that developing countries have always depended on agriculture for its main

source of food, however more imported produce is received rather than local

produce. Local farming and agriculture reduce reliance on long supply chains,

ensuring more immediate access to fresh produce. This reduces the time and

resources required for food to reach consumers. When the community relies on local

produce, the agriculture sector creates jobs and income opportunities. This

economic empowerment helps alleviate poverty and improves livelihoods. Most

importantly, supporting the locals not only boosts economic growth but aids in

relieving zero hunger. Food will no longer be scarce and food production can sustain

more people. Therefore, supporting local farming and agriculture is essential in

achieving zero hunger especially in developing countries. Neighbourhoods may

reach greater nutritional food security and stable finances by promoting regional food

production and agriculture. Thus, by applying this method, creates sturdy and long-

lasting mechanisms that make significant improvements to the overall objective of

ending hunger.
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Other than that, education about zero hunger should be part of the curriculum

in schools in order to spread attention and prevent zero hunger. Some communities

are left with single parents who work and they might struggle with food supplies. The

heartbreaking side effects contain the risk of damage to the mind and unreliable

digestive systems that affect starving and hungry kids. Being overweight and less

successful in school achievement are two additional linked factors that could lead to

emotional wellness issues including depression. Food options are limited during

school hours, which makes schools essential to ensuring pupils receive the right

nutrition. The responsibility of securing reasonably priced and wholesome food for

pupils on school property falls on educational institutions. This is because a student

needs a healthy diet to focus in school as it profoundly affects students’ academic

achievement.

In an educational setting, the actions of one student can have a spillover

effect on the other students, the teacher's focus, and the general learning

environment. In this instance, hunger not only interferes with the learning of the

affected child, but also with the learning of other pupils.

Educ (2021) and Ethiop (2017) pointed out that most of the students have

limited understanding about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which means

that more work has to be done to get their attention towards SDG. Thus, it highlights

how important high school is since it is the ideal platform for students to learn SDGS.

As a result, by offering students with the necessary knowledge and fundamental

abilities these educational abilities can make a major impact on the push against

hunger.
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Consequently, this academic emphasis may be helpful in the war against

hunger and the development of resilient people by equipping students with the

understanding as well as the skills required to raise awareness towards hunger.

Also, it fostered sympathy and an understanding of the worldwide problems related

to poverty and food insecurity. Aside from that, schools can begin implementing

initiatives to end hunger, by holding campaigns, food events and fundraising efforts.

Our goal is to guarantee that we also foster a mindset that prioritises sustainable

practices, kindness, and group responsibility in managing worldwide issues like food

insecurity and hunger through including zero hunger education into the educational

syllabus.

In a nutshell, we must take bold steps such as minimizing food waste,

supporting local farming and agriculture, and educating and empowering students

particularly in developing nations to achieve the Zero Hunger goal. McConnell et al.

(2023) supports that achieving an end to hunger must become a key concern for

governments, emphasizing the advancement of scientific, societal, and economic

progress. In less developed nations, the task is to secure consistent food production

from farms to table, while in developed nations, the focus lies on promoting healthier

diets and minimizing food wastage.

Tchonkouang et al. (2023) highlighted that “It is concerning that food waste

generation continues to rise, leading to increased hunger and malnutrition

worldwide” (p.14). Hence, reducing food waste is crucial in achieving zero hunger.

Other than that, reducing food waste also correlates with our health. In particular,
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minimizing food waste affects students’ daily lives as it would instill better health

habits. Students would be educated to maintain healthy eating habits and most

importantly contribute to the goal of zero hunger.

Apart from that, supporting local farming and agriculture is essential in

attaining zero hunger, particularly in developing nations. This not only leads to

increase in food security but also economic stability which both tremendously

support and help the communities. Hence, encouraging local farming and

agriculture has proven that it aids in immediate food needs and most importantly

contributes to the goal of zero hunger.

Education across all academic levels is crucial. A collaborative initiative is vital

in striving toward the objective of solving hunger and tackling the difficulties faced

while reaching the goal . The implementation of education is necessary to empower

people and communities by providing them skills and information. This in turn will

advocate them to make informed choices and implement long-lasting solutions. Thus

bolstering the goal of achieving zero hunger.

A plethora of stakeholders should be heavily involved in order to realise the

zero hunger goals. Suggestions that can be made include implementation of policies

by policymakers to promote small-scale farming, improve food waste management

via better distribution networks and enhancing the access to markets for local

producers. Furthermore, governments can also invest in agricultural initiatives. This

suggests putting money and resources into sustainable agricultural practices and

rural infrastructure to support farmers.

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In addition to that, NGOs and government organisations are crucial in

addressing and mitigating hunger. By distributing food supplies during emergencies

to affected areas, they frequently provide victims immediate relief. Next, these

organizations also focus on long term solutions by empowering local communities

through education and training programs. Such activities empower and develop

individuals to improve themselves so that they would make a difference and

contribute in any way they can to achieve zero hunger goals. Therefore, these

suggestions should be considered to attain Sustainable Development Goal 2 which

is Zero Hunger.

In conclusion, the pursuit of zero hunger aligns profoundly with the teachings

of Islam, which underscore the virtues of compassion, charity, and societal

responsibility. The Quran emphasizes the significance of feeding the hungry and

caring for the less fortunate. Aliyu (2018) explained,

“The Qur’an being the statute of Islam has declared a very stringent war

against hunger to ensure sustainable development of human beings as individuals

and communities through various exhortations, legislations, and institutions. “ (p.1).

The author emphasized the Quran's significant role in Islam, noting that it

vehemently opposes hunger to foster sustainable development among individuals

and communities. Hence, as we strive for a world without hunger, we ought to draw

inspiration from the Quran and Islamic principles as guidance. With all our efforts,

compassion, and solidarity, we can work together in achieving the noble aspiration of

zero hunger, creating a world where every individual has access to sustenance and

dignity, as advocated by Islamic values.

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