Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Africa's hunger

Food production in sub-Saharan Africa must rise by 50% to feed an estimated population of 1.3-billion by 2030, according to a report.

12 sub-Saharan Africa countries are severely affected by food security problems. These include Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and Lesotho. It shows only four countries in the region have high food security — SA, Gabon, Angola and Nigeria. Food security is closely entwined with poverty — food MAY be available but unaffordable for many people in the region.

In the 40 years to 2010, per capita world food production grew 17%, while in Africa it fell 10%.

Sub-Saharan Africa has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. It imports an average of $50bn of food annually. Yields on staple crops such as maize, rice, groundnuts and sorghum in sub-Saharan Africa are only one-third to two-thirds of the global average. Grain yields generally are 40% lower than those in the rest of the developing world.

At present, eight sub-Saharan African countries are suffering from lack of water and that number will increase to 18 by 2025, affecting 600-million Africans.
Africa has 13 tractors per 100 sq. km., far below the global average of 200.

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