The revolution Africa needs.With millions of Africans dying of starvation starvation, condition in which deprivation of food has forced the body to feed on itself. Causes are famine, fasting, malnutrition, or abnormalities of the mucosal lining of the digestive system. each year, it is clear that our system of international. aid is failing. A crucial mistake is our refusal to provide substantial agricultural assistance to increase African food production. Instead, we ship tons of food in emergency aid after people have already started dying. Much of the donation is wasted on shipping costs, the aid is delayed, and our grain risks depressing local prices and long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. production incentives. We must extend the Green Revolution [major advances in agricultural technology in the 1960s that increased crop yields] to Africa. Many villagers want more fertilizer fertilizer, organic or inorganic material containing one or more of the nutrients—mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and other essential elements required for plant growth. above all, better seeds, and help with irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. . Unless we help start a Green Revolution in Africa, the food crisis will continue year after year.--Nicholas D. Kristof [10/11/05] |
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