April 2006, id21 insights #61

Achieving food security

What next for sub-Saharan Africa?

Halving hunger and extreme poverty by 2015 is the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG). However, persistent hunger is still prevalent worldwide, slowing progress towards all other MDGs, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Without major changes in development practices, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) predicts that globally by 2015:

• 600 million people will suffer from hunger
• 900 million people will live in absolute poverty
• 128 million pre-school children will be malnourished.

Other articles in this issue:

Research works in Ethiopia

Agricultural research in Ethiopia has not achieved a consistent increase in crop productivity over the past 40 years. Ethiopia is still economically underdeveloped and food aid imports are estimated to be more than 0.6 million metric tonnes each year. However, recent developments are more encouraging.

Would a green revolution work in sub-Saharan Africa?

The Green Revolution in the 1960s increased food production in many parts of the world. However, the number of malnourished people in sub-Saharan Africa has increased by 20 percent since 1990. Would a green revolution succeed here?

Can fertiliser subsidies help farmers out of poverty?

For farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to produce similar crop yields to other countries, they will need to use more fertilisers and improved seeds. Many development scientists and policymakers are demanding subsidies to increase fertiliser use.

Maize production in Zambia

Maize production has fallen in Zambia since liberalisation in the early 1990s as fertiliser became less affordable and subsidies did not reach many farmers. The country's poor agricultural performance is negatively affecting nutrition: the proportion of stunted children has risen from 36 to 47 percent since 1990.

Are fertiliser subsidies necessary? Yes, but...

Many African farm households depend on land cultivated so many times that its fertility is hugely reduced. Smallholder farmers must consistently raise the productivity of their land to escape from poverty and produce enough food for their family.

Is food aid effective?

The future role of food aid is controversial. The G8 summit in 2005 committed the world's most developed nations to doubling financial aid, but there is no similar consensus about food aid.

Does tying matter?

Most of the food aid channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) come 'in kind', sourced in the donor country. This is also known as 'tied aid'.

Nutrition and food quality

Most governments in Africa accept their duty to ensure that citizens have access to enough food. However, many ignore the quality of the food produced.

Responding to early warnings

Food aid in Niger arrived too late in 2005, despite widespread predictions that famine was imminent. The world has known for months that famine is also coming to southern Africa but policymakers are still not responding to the warnings.

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Forthcoming id21 insights 2006

Pro-poor tourism
Rural transport
Malaria
Education and language
Crisis states
Fisheries
HIV/AIDS

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