WAYS TOWARD ADDRESSING FOOD PRODUCTION CHALLENGES

IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

i. Sustainably improving agricultural productivity to meet increasing
demand (Improving agricultural production)
Food demand has been under structural changes due to population
growth, urbanization, and per capita increases.
 Improvement in resource use efficiency and gains in resources conservation
is crucial to meet the growing population and changing of food
demand.
 Investing in agriculture, fishery, forestry, and spending on research
and development need to be stepped up, in Sub-Saharan countries. Such
investment is connected with integrated crop-livestock, and aquaculture-
crop systems, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, nutrition-sensitive
agriculture, sustainable forest management and sustainable fisheries
management(This approach Mitigate and build resilience to climate change)
2. Ensuring a sustainable natural resource base
 Projections for 2050 suggest growing pressures on agricultural land, water,
forests, capture fisheries, and biodiversity.
 Apply sustainable resources use techniques

3. Addressing climate change and intensification of natural hazards

 Climate change is also seen as a significant ‘hunger-risk multiplier’.
 Some forecasts anticipate that by 2050, as a consequence of climate change, an
additional 120 million people will be at risk of undernourishment, of which 24
million will be children.
4. Eradicating extreme poverty and reducing inequality

 Most of the world’s poor and hungry are rural people who earn meagre livings
from agriculture, fisheries and forestry
 Poverty reduction requires measures to increase productivity and profitability,
link farmers to markets, and provide efficient extension and agricultural
advisory services
 Other requirements include access to good quality education, economic
diversification to rural non-farm income generating activities, support for job
creation and adequate social protection mechanism.
 Reduce gender gap in access to resources.
5. Ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition
Agriculture and food systems should meet the food and nutritional
demands of people with rising incomes and changing diets, as well as
the demands of a growing number of poor and hungry

6. Making food systems more efficient, inclusive and resilient

 Review food system at large including the impacts on traditional food
chains and the producers and consumers who rely on them.
 Control Food losses happen during harvesting, storage, transportation,
processing, packaging and marketing
 Strengthened linkages between farms, markets and consumers can be an
important source of income growth and job creation in both rural and
urban areas
 Policies and regulations priorities should also be directed to Agricultural
sectors
7. Improving income earning opportunities in rural areas
and addressing the root causes of migration (Rural
transformation)
 Young people in Sub-Saharan Africa shy from working in
low-productivity agriculture, hence join the flow of internal and
international migrants. Therefore, women and older people are left
to take care of the farm, but face major constraints in accessing
resources to improve their productivity.

 Building human capital through the provision of quality basic social

services, particularly education and health, these will act as
fundamental building blocks for poverty reduction, hence reduce
migration (Rural transformations and the reconfiguration of
rural-urban linkage)
9. Building resilience to protracted crises, disasters and conflicts
(Ability to control immediate and unforeseen socioeconomic and
environmental problems)
 Conflicts, together with protracted crises and natural disasters, are major
disablers of agriculture livelihoods, food
security and nutrition. They also fuel displacement and migratory flows
 Equitable resilience and development processes is essential to preventing and
resolving rising conflicts in Sub-Saharan countries
 Education and Services on disaster management should be facilitated
 Conflict resolution, peace building and peace keeping services and facilities
should be paid more attention
8. Preventing transboundary and emerging agriculture and food system threats

Transboundary pests and diseases undermine food security and prevent

livestock sectors from achieving their full economic potential.
 Transboundary animal diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy and
highly pathogenic avian influenza, lumpy skin disease, Foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD), Newcastle disease in poultry, contagious bovinepleuropneumonia in
cattle
 Major transboundary plant pests and diseases include insect pests, such as
locusts, armyworms and fruit flies; and crop-specific diseases, such as rust
diseases in wheat, coffee and soybean, wilt diseases of banana and viral diseases
of cassava and maize
Regular surveillance, integrated approaches, international collaboration and
adequate preparedness are essential for preventing transboundary plant pests and
diseases under ONE HEALTH concept ( FAO, 2011)
10.Addressing the need for coherent and effective national
and international governance (Good governance)
 Integration of policy approaches at national and international
levels, regulatory framework, monitoring and accountability
 International cooperation, eg. migration of people, plant and
animal species and extreme events, such as forest fires,
species invasions, and pests and diseases, will cross national
boundaries, hence need to be dealt internationally
 Financing for inclusive food and agriculture development;
meeting employment and migration challenges
C: Policy for Agricultural Development and food production in Africa
A policy is a set of principles, guidelines, or rules established by an organization,
government, or individual to direct decisions and actions. Policies are designed to
guide behaviour, manage situations, or achieve specific goals.
Policies for agricultural development often involve the multidisciplinary
processes which focus at enhancing productivity, sustainability, and economic
viability in the agricultural sector.
Policies for agricultural development in Sab-Saharan African countries also aim
to ensure food security, economic growth, and poverty reduction across the
countries.

Vibrant agricultural policies need to focus on the following:

i. Technology and Innovation
Encouraging research and development in agricultural technology, promoting
the use of modern farming techniques, precision agriculture, and the
adoption of innovations
or sustainable farming practices.
ii. Infrastructure Development
Investing in rural infrastructure such as roads, irrigation systems, storage
facilities, and market access to improve connectivity and efficiency in
agricultural supply chains.
iii. Financial Support
Providing financial assistance, subsidies, and credit facilities to farmers,
especially smallholders, to improve access to resources like seeds, fertilizers,
machinery, and credit lines.
iv. Market Access and Trade Policies
Facilitating access to local and international markets through trade agreements,
reducing trade barriers, and ensuring fair prices for agricultural products.

V. Sustainable Practices
Encouraging and incentivizing sustainable agricultural practices, including
organic farming, agroforestry, crop rotation, and water conservation to protect
the environment and ensure long-term productivity.
Vi. Education and Extension Services
Offering training programs, extension services, and educational
initiatives to disseminate knowledge about modern farming
techniques, best practices, and new technologies among farmers.

Vii. Risk Management and Insurance

Implementing insurance schemes or risk management strategies to
safeguard farmers against natural disasters, price fluctuations, or
crop failures.
viii. Public-Private Partnerships
Fostering collaborations between governments, private sector entities, NGOs,
and international organizations can leverage resources, expertise, and networks
to drive sustainable agricultural development.

ix. Climate Resilience

Given the vulnerability of African agriculture to climate change, integrating
climate-smart agricultural practices and promoting resilience-building
measures is crucial.