There's a lot of that kind of thing in Africa, but less of famines, and more of rampant malnutrition. Most of the agricultural products of Africa are quite low in protein content. One of the reasons you see African societies cooking bugs, is because it's one of the few food sources that is relatively higher in protein that the surrounding area. Bush meat is hard to get, and already in poor quality compared to your average cash crop; and agriculture in Africa is enormously difficult with poor soils, tons of animal and insect competition, and poor rain system (meaning it's dry for long times, and then floods).
If you didn't have enough food for the summer, bugs are your easiest supplement, so long as it won't kill you.
Yup. Haiti also has suffered from severe famines.
There's a lot of that kind of thing in Africa, but less of famines, and more of rampant malnutrition. Most of the agricultural products of Africa are quite low in protein content. One of the reasons you see African societies cooking bugs, is because it's one of the few food sources that is relatively higher in protein that the surrounding area. Bush meat is hard to get, and already in poor quality compared to your average cash crop; and agriculture in Africa is enormously difficult with poor soils, tons of animal and insect competition, and poor rain system (meaning it's dry for long times, and then floods).
If you didn't have enough food for the summer, bugs are your easiest supplement, so long as it won't kill you.