Even though 8 is not a lot, Mark's Gospel still contained parables.
If you rewrite the question and google "did mark's gospel include many parables" you'll get your long answer but moreover, proof it's true. by Wikipedia.
"The three synoptic gospels contain the parables of Jesus. ... The Gospel of Luke contains both the largest total number of parables (24) and eighteen unique parables; the Gospel of Matthew contains 23 parables of which eleven are unique; and the Gospel of Mark contains eight parables of which two are unique."
Without food people became malnourished therefore a decrease of population due to famine so no births and productivity since people were too weak to work.
