Nutrition in North Korea: It’s not just about food Randall Ireson American Friends Service Committee

Famine and Food Aid

“A hungry child knows no politics.” Ronald Regan

“A hungry child knows no politics, but every hungry child is a victim of politics.” Erich Weingartner

Precipitating Factors: Flood Flood Drought

Mass gymnastics show glorifying the Sun, Kim Il Sung (2005)

‘Arirang’ Mass Gymnastics Performance (2002)

Stunting: Low height for age =Chronic malnutrition Wasting: Low weight for height =Acute malnutrition

Distribution of Stunting, All children under 7 years and 2004 data Normal distribution

Causes = Policy Choices

Rice Paddies North of Anju

Harrowing a Rice Paddy

The “Rural Technical Revolution” Mechanization Chemicalization Irrigation Electrification

Great Leader Kim Il Sung Teaches About Agriculture

Fertilizer Use and Food Production in DPRK, Food production Fertilizer use

Lessons for Us

Crisis as Opportunity

- A new food security Local, sustainable agriculture systems

Five feasible changes Raise rice yield from 4.0 to 6.0 T/ha, and cut post-harvest loss to 5%. Raise corn yield from 3.5 to 5 T/ha, and farm only half the current area. Grow soybean in rotation on half the corn fields, and raise yield from 1.2 to 2.2 T/ha. Halve the area in double crops – which are not sustainable. Raise average yields of other small grains (wheat, etc) from 2.0 to 3.0 T/ha --- Would meet 98% of calorie need, and 102% of protein need

Itemunits needed total cost ($ million) green manure seed7000 tons11 50 hp tractors small farm equipment small irrigation systems ha167 farm trucks subtotal420 administration and technical assistance420 total840 Estimated Investment for Sustainable Agriculture System in DPRK

Wind Turbines such as these can be used in DPRK

Extolling the Advantage of Raising Ostriches

Mass Gymnastics Praising Modern Poultry Farming