The Problem

Imagine!.....Imagine not eating for TWO days. This is the reality in Nigeria, where 60 million people are hungry, that’s the entire population of Britain. Shepherd Food Ministries (SFM), is working with religious organizations in Nigeria to make a difference.

The problems include lack of mechanization, lack of preservation and storage methods and hikes in food prices

Consequences are:

• Many Nigerians survive on a subsistence diet of cassava and rice.
• Nigeria has the highest number of unemployed able-bodied people in the world.
• Poor farming practices combined with lack of good road networks cause harvest to fail, farm produce to spoil and exorbitant food prices.
• Provision of health, education and other services are limited.
• Lack of access to clean water and sanitation.
• Population: over 140 million (Nigeria Census, 2006).
• Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 47 years (women) (UN).

SFM's Solution

• Mechanized demonstration farm.
• Youth empowerment programme.
• Consultancy and training services.

• SFM's Resources
• Land.
• Farm produce
• Storage facilities.
• Skilled manpower.
• Source of energy - solar, wind, steam turbine

• How can you help?
• Volunteer your skills
• Donate on your birthday to feed the hungry.
• Adopt a 'palm tree'.
• Sponsor a 'solar panel'

Links to Reports and statistics

"Hedge funds accused of gambling with lives of the poorest as food prices soar" http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/19/speculators-commodities-food-price-rises

"Reporting Poverty" - www.jrf.org.uk/reporting-poverty

"Reforestation and irrigation, improved seeds, technology and education are all part of the answer to saving the continent's agricultural potential". Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/katine-chronicles-blog/2009/nov/26/climate-change-african-farmers

Record numbers go hungry in the US: Government report shows 50m people unable to put food on the table at some point last year. Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/17/millions-hungry-households-us-report/print

BBC 1 Panorama: Addicted to Aid http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fm22y/Panorama_Addicted_to_Aid/

Desmon Tutu on global poverty http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.failing.on.poverty.amid.homosexuality.debate.says.tutu/21370.htm

World Food Programme 2008 map of countries most at risk from food prices (please follow link) http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2008/07/07/world_food_map.pdf

Food Prices threatens global security - UN: Josette Sheeran, director of the UN World Food Programme, said last month: "We are seeing a new face of hunger. We are seeing more urban hunger than ever before. We are seeing food on the shelves but people being unable to afford it." http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/09/food.unitednations

Feed the World? We are fighting a losing battle, UN admits
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/26/food.unitednations

"Poverty in Nigeria is man-made, he said, it was not due to any lack of resources"
To read more, pls click

'Despite the contry's massive oil wealth, one in three of Nigeria's 140 million people goes to bed hungry, Action Aid says'. For further reading please click.

Washinton Post writes (April 2007) "Without a steady supply of electricity and water, or decent roads and railways to deliver goods, factory owners say they struggle to compete in an increasingly global, open market. As factories closed, beggars grew more visible on Kano's streets. Massive garbage piles began attracting not just grazing goats but also desperately poor children who pick out plastic bags and bottles to sell. Others simply hold up empty plastic bowls to motorists at intersections". For further reading please click.

To learn more about world hunger please navigate to the World Food Programme

Guardian Unlimited writes (December, 2007) "Brown told the Guardian: "We are half way to the target date of 2015, but a long way off track to our goals and face a development emergency. 2008 should be a development year and mark a call to action from everyone - not just rich and poor governments but civil society, faith groups, trade unions and even the private sector". For further reading please click

SFM objects meet three of the eight United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Please navigate to The 8 UN MDGs for more information.

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