The World Bank has criticized African nations for favoring the importation of food from distant markets over neighborly markets, warning that improving logistics will stop the trend toward food insecurity.
It provided advice in Charles Kunaka, Megersa Abera Abate, Théophile Bougna Lonla, and Kisanet Haile Molla’s new report, ‘Transport Connectivity for Food Security in Africa: Strengthening Supply Chains.
Food security is still a major issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the bank, despite rising agricultural production. Too many people are still battling to get nutritious meals.
Low agricultural productivity, which does not keep up with population growth, extreme weather patterns, conflict, and economic pressures, was the cause of the setback, according to the report.
However, how food moves is frequently overlooked as a crucial factor.
Affective transportation and logistics systems cause delays in deliveries, higher costs, and food waste. This report examines the continent’s four main staples, including cassava, maize, rice, and wheat. According to the report, sub-Saharan Africa’s food delivery process takes four times longer than it does in Europe because of poor roads, inefficient border crossings, and bottlenecks in the supply chain.
According to the report, food costs more, is harder to access, and is more likely to spoil, with 36% of food lost as a result of inadequate logistics investments.
Food imports from distant markets rather than trading with neighbors are a major obstacle for many African nations. Because of poor local roads and transportation networks, which are not efficient or reliable, and restrictive trade practices, food can be purchased abroad more easily than in neighboring nations. ”
It advised Africa to make better logistics investments to reverse the trend.
We at the World Bank Group understand the urgency of the issue. One of our top global priorities is food and nutrition security.
We are working with nations to create stronger and more resilient food systems, ones that can withstand shocks, improve access, and ensure food gets to those who need it the most, according to the report.
The bank also made note of the continent’s 60% increase in food-insecure population over the past ten years.
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Charles Kunaka, Megersa Abera Abate, Théophile Bougna Lonla, and Kisanet Haile Molla co-authored the report, Strengthening Supply Chains for Food Security in Africa.
“Many African nations still struggle to produce enough food to meet their needs.
The food-insecure population paradoxically increased faster than any other region of the world, and the productivity gains were insufficient to address the continent’s persistent food insecurity challenges, despite the past 30 years agricultural production in Africa increased by 160 percent, more than the global average of 100 percent. ”
Source: Channels TV
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