They usually have scant savings and few other sources of income to protect them from external shocks. The population of the region has doubled since 1974 and continues to grow rapidly, putting ever greater pressure on natural resources. In Ethiopia, for example, almost half of farm households now make do with less than half a hectare of land. Poor economies These countries rely heavily on agriculture. Economic growth has usually been slow and has generally not benefited the poorest.
Aid does little to fill the gap.
Failures in governance Weak, overcentralized and sometimes corrupt governance makes it difficult to provide effective emergency relief or to lay the basis for sustained economic growth. Moreover, governments have shown insufficient commitment to food security. Aid failures External assistance and UN support may have saved lives, but they have fostered dependency while failing to address the underlying causes of poverty. Problems specific to rural areas Environmental constraints and government neglect of rural areas have contributed to food insecurity. Fragile ecosystems Many of the poor are concentrated in arid and semi-arid areas where they are forced to cultivate marginal land ever more intensively, thus heightening environmental degradation.