One of the main factors that contributed to the famines was the displacement of African farmers from their land. This was caused by the establishment of European plantations and the forced labor of African people. The plantations required large amounts of land and labor, which meant that African farmers were often displaced from their traditional lands and forced to work on the plantations. This disrupted their agricultural production and made it difficult for them to feed themselves and their families.
Another factor that contributed to the famines was the imposition of taxes on African people. These taxes were often high and difficult to pay, and they forced African farmers to sell their food and other resources in order to raise money. This further reduced their ability to feed themselves and their families.
In addition, European economic policies also led to the exploitation of African resources. This meant that the profits from the colonies were sent back to Europe, rather than being invested in the colonies themselves. This prevented the colonies from developing their own economies and made them more vulnerable to famines.
Therefore, while European economic policies did not directly cause the famines in African colonies following World War 1, they did exacerbate the food shortages and make it more difficult for people to cope with the famines.