Chapter I


Table 1.2 Per caput food
 projected.


supplies for direct human consumption, historical and


 (Calories/day)
 1961-63 1969-71 1979-81 1990-92 2010

Developing countries I 960 2 130 2 320 2 520 2 730
Africa, sub-Sahara 2100 2 140 2 080 2 040 2 170
N. East/ N. Africa 2200 2 380 2 840 2 960 3 120
East Asia 1 750 2 050 2 360 2 670 3 040
South Asia 2 030 2 060 2 080 2 300 2 450
Latin America/ Caribbean 2360 2510 2 270 2 740 2950
Developed countries 3 020 3 180 3 270 3 330 3 470
Former CPEs 3 130 3290 3 350 3 160 3 380
Others 2980 3 130 3 230 3 410 3 510
World 2 300 2440 2580 2 710 2860


Source: FAO, Food Agriculture and Food Security,
Food Summit, 1995.


The Global Dimension. Paper for World


In the developed countries too, there have been variations. The disruption of marketing and
production systems, following the split up of the former USSR and the movement away from
centrally planned economies in Eastern Europe reduced food supplies in the early 1990s,
though overall food availability was much higher than in any of the developing country
regions.

Figures for overall food supply mask changes in the way that food supply is achieved. As
was mentioned earlier, countries can increase their food supply by increasing domestic
production or by importing food. As will be shown in Chapter 3, the strategy adopted may
well affect food security within the country, as the internal distribution channels adapt.
Similarly, food security issues at the national level will change in character as and when
countries become more dependent on international markets to meet their food needs.


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