Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Kelly Robinson
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Algeria position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
War goes beyond turning fields into battle grounds, and we know that blood does not make a good fertilizer. Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP’s) are a product of some of the worst wars; these people are left without homes, and sometimes food and water as a result. With nowhere to go these homeless, hungry people roam to lands that have only enough resources to support its current inhabitants. This locust effect spreads, and soon entire areas are wiped out of resources. Wars effects are long lasting and severe to those who are unprepared, and who have little guidance.
When war and agriculture mix the outcome can be brutal; people who were once fighting with guns and knives, are now fighting with the hunger their bloody fields left them. Once the bread basket of Africa, Zimbabwe’s civil war has affected countless countries around it. Without the grains that Zimbabwe once provided for many countries in Africa, they are suffering the high prices of foreign grains. War in one country can collapse the economy of others. Now, almost ten years after war in Algeria has ended people are still feeling its effects. Poor land quality that already existed before times of war was only worsened by the bloodiest war in all of Algeria’s history. At the moment 25% of all working Algerians are involved in some way with the agriculture industry. As a nation we are working hard to provide as much food as we can while trying to maintain a strong economy.
Algeria also recognizes similar situations in countries that have struggled with war and its effects. Entire populations are threatened by a lack of food. Algeria would like to see a plan put in place that does not lead to an entirely homeless nation.
