North Korea has increased food production for a third straight year, but malnutrition remains widespread, UN agencies say, voicing particular concern over stunting in children.
Failures in the state distribution system mean families increasingly rely on unofficial markets and bartering to feed themselves, according to a nationwide assessment published on Thursday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme.
‘Despite continued improvement in agricultural production, the food system remains highly vulnerable to shocks and serious shortages exist particularly in the production of protein-rich foods,’ said FAO economist Kisan Gunjal.
Total food production was estimated at 5.03 million tonnes for 2013, a five percent increase over the previous year.
Nevertheless, food consumption for 84 percent of households across the country was described as borderline or poor. Although child malnutrition rates have declined over the past decade, the prevalence of stunting remains ‘alarming’ and micronutrient deficiencies are of particular concern, the report said.
The UN agencies suggested that any positive nutritional trends were most likely the result of families bartering, buying and selling fresh produce from kitchen gardens. North Korea has suffered regular chronic food shortages under the ruling Kim dynasty.
Failures in the state distribution system mean families increasingly rely on unofficial markets and bartering to feed themselves, according to a nationwide assessment published on Thursday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme.
‘Despite continued improvement in agricultural production, the food system remains highly vulnerable to shocks and serious shortages exist particularly in the production of protein-rich foods,’ said FAO economist Kisan Gunjal.
Total food production was estimated at 5.03 million tonnes for 2013, a five percent increase over the previous year.
Nevertheless, food consumption for 84 percent of households across the country was described as borderline or poor. Although child malnutrition rates have declined over the past decade, the prevalence of stunting remains ‘alarming’ and micronutrient deficiencies are of particular concern, the report said.
The UN agencies suggested that any positive nutritional trends were most likely the result of families bartering, buying and selling fresh produce from kitchen gardens. North Korea has suffered regular chronic food shortages under the ruling Kim dynasty.