When all the men have gone

"...During seasons of hunger thousands of farming families around the world are forced to sell their beloved livestock, their only source of income, and their possessions at extremely low prices so they can afford to buy food. If that fails to provide enough money to last until the next harvest, they are forced to resort to ever more severe methods of coping.

Samuel Hauenstein Swan, Senior Policy Officer for Action Against Hunger, says that selling everything year after year can push families into extreme poverty, with a shrinking defence against seasonal hunger. Families are forced to reduce their daily meals but a prolonged rationing of food can have a permanent impact on the growth and development of young children."