*Food security experts urge African governments, private sector, and development partners to accelerate transformation of agrifood systems towards eliminating hunger and poverty by 2030

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Experts have said the total bill for Africa鈥檚 annual food imports could increase from US$50billion to US$110 billion by 2030, if urgent actions to increase food production are not implemented.

The food security professionals stated this at the recent launch of the 2022 Africa Agriculture Status Report at the Africa Green Revolution Forum summit in Rwanda.

They urged governments on the African continent, the private sector, and development partners to work together to accelerate transformation of agrifood systems which they said were out of step with goals to eliminate hunger and poverty by 2030.

The report also indicated, that Africa needs about US$40鈥揢S$70 billion investment from the public sector, and another US$80 billion from the private sector annually to sustain food production on the continent.

Edward Mabaya, research professor at the US-based Cornell University and Technical Editor of the new report, stated: 鈥淭here is good consensus on where Africa should go to meet food security targets.

鈥淲e need accountability from players to unlock the potential of agriculture in Africa.”

Mabaya said: 鈥淭here is a lot happening to improve agricultural productivity in Africa.

“However, this is not happening fast enough to meet agrifood system transformation needed on the continent.鈥�

Published by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the report also stated that African governments need to invest in generating data and evidence to inform their response to the external shocks affecting food production in Africa.

The document noted that the success of the African continent鈥檚 food systems transformation efforts is anchored in effective coordination, accountability and financing, designed at a local level.

Rapid population growth is fuelling the demand for food, the experts stated.

The statistics in Africa

The report stated that from 2017 to 2050, the populations of 26 African countries are predicted to at least double in size, while the rural population of Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to rise by 53 percent.

It said: 鈥淎frica faces a dilemma: if it is not able to raise yields sufficiently to satisfy this burgeoning demand from existing farmland, it will need to convert much of its remaining forests and natural grasslands into farmland 鈥� and/or become much more dependent on the global market for its food supplies.”

Speaking on the report, Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, said that African food production was increasing, citing the example of maize in southern Africa.

“But she said the challenge was transporting food to where it is needed.

鈥淭he food crisis happening is majorly because of the discrepancies in our food systems.”

Kalibata said that the continent had the capacity to produce sufficient food.

However, she noted this potential is being underutilised.

Wheat production at two to five tonnes per hectare instead of four to seven tonnes per hectare in most African countries means food demands are going unmet, she said.

Kalibata, therefore, urged African countries to ensure regional and continental trade to enhance access to markets, a factor she said accelerates production along with access to farm inputs.

鈥淲e need accountability from players to unlock the potential of agriculture in Africa,” said the report.

The experts said that African governments should be held to account for commitments, such as allocating ten percent of national budgetary resources to agriculture, as envisaged in the Malabo Declaration.

About Malabo Declaration

The Declaration is a commitment made by African heads of state in 2014 to provide effective leadership for specific goals by the year 2025, including ending hunger, tripling intra-African trade in agricultural goods and services, and enhancing the resilience of livelihoods and production systems.

Increased support to smallholder farmers in Africa is encouraged, to access high quality seeds and fertilisers, saying that less than 30 percent are using improved seeds.

Gerardine Mukeshmana, Rwanda鈥檚 Minister for Agriculture and animal resources, said: 鈥淎frica remains poor because we don鈥檛 invest in the right sectors, [including] education and agriculture.鈥�

Mukeshmana urged better transport infrastructure and food storage facilities to enhance access to markets and reduce post-harvest losses.

Kindly Share This Story