Final answer:
The most important underlying reason for chronic hunger is poverty. It limits people's economic access to food and leads to inadequate nutrition. Political corruption and violence can exacerbate the issue, but poverty is the major driver of food insecurity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important underlying reason for chronic hunger is poverty. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there are 841 million people chronically undernourished in the world. Poverty is the major driver of food insecurity, as it limits people's economic (social and physical) access to food and leads to inadequate nutrition.
Food production also plays a role in chronic hunger. Some countries may be too dependent on one food source, which cannot provide all the necessary nutrients and energy. Additionally, underdeveloped food production in certain parts of the world results in a dependence on other countries for food supplies.
Political corruption and violence can exacerbate the issue of chronic hunger, but poverty remains the most significant underlying reason.