Conceptual Outline: an Introduction
Hunger in Africa is not a new problem. The reasons for this are often complex, and usually relate to politics and global food markets. The problems of malnutrition and undernourishment are only one consequence of unending civil conflict, refugee camps and drought. Grain forms the base of many foods we eat, and the lack of grain in Africa is being blamed on malnourishment. The production of grain is low for several reasons. For one, the global marketplace has become very competitive, which has forced international growers to invest in other ventures. Increased transportation costs and decreased competition are both results of the reduced supply. The second and probably most influential factor preventing nutrition is the slow growth of productive and efficient methods of farming. In fact, the population growth is exceeding the productivity of staple foods. Rice, maize and wheat are identified as the most important sources for nutrition, but rudimentary techniques are inadequate to sustain the growing population. So, how can GIS help?
The tangible problem
of malnutrition can be partly solved with spatial analysis by examining
the best locations for domestic super farms. Since agribusiness (as
they are known in North America) carries the notion of farming goods for
domestic (and international) populations, large amounts of land and suitable
growing conditions are needed. Therefore this analysis is committed
to showing the most suitable locations on the African continent, given
the factors and constraints. This project performs a weighted multi-criteria
evaluation with contraints and factors that are weighed in importance against
other factors, giving a continuous variation result. The weight given
to the factors will be discussed in further detail in the analysis.
The goal of this project is to identify areas most suitable for agribusiness,
which may some day help improve the quality of life of African people.
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