Famine seems to be the last, the most
dreadful resource of nature.
–Thomas Robert Malthus
In 1845, Ireland was struck with the Phytophthora infestans, a deadly organism that damaged potato crops. Since Ireland was greatly dependent on potato farming, both as a source of food and as an export, the economy took a severe hit with the arrival of the infestation. In less than a year, it had ravaged half of the potato crop and would continue to cause damage to almost three quarters of total potato yield for the next seven years. The potato famine resulted in the death of about one million people through starvation. Another million left Ireland in order to escape death. It was not until 1852 that the crops would fully recover, and Ireland would start anew. Such was the impact of this famine that in the country’s history, it known as the Great Hunger.
dreadful resource of nature.
–Thomas Robert Malthus
In 1845, Ireland was struck with the Phytophthora infestans, a deadly organism that damaged potato crops. Since Ireland was greatly dependent on potato farming, both as a source of food and as an export, the economy took a severe hit with the arrival of the infestation. In less than a year, it had ravaged half of the potato crop and would continue to cause damage to almost three quarters of total potato yield for the next seven years. The potato famine resulted in the death of about one million people through starvation. Another million left Ireland in order to escape death. It was not until 1852 that the crops would fully recover, and Ireland would start anew. Such was the impact of this famine that in the country’s history, it known as the Great Hunger.
