Between Food Security, Economic Growth And National
 Development
 11th DEC 2006

At the just concluded first summit on Food Security in Africa held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria the unpleasant issue of lack amidst agriculture potentials in Africa and food insecurity was brought to the front burner. Besides, the Agriculture ministers, head of state and governments who converged for the three days summit discussed in ways of utilising agric potentials for economic growth and nations’ development. Sunday Vanguard spoke with conferees. We serve you their comments. Excerpts:

DR. Cyril Enweze, head of delegation of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
 
There can be no mistaking the crucial importance of food security as an issue and of itself, and as a part of the larger process of development. Food insecurity and malnutrition lead to much human suffering. They also lead to substantial productivity losses, diminished work performance and lower cognitive ability and school performance in children. For a financing institution such as IFAD, nutritional improvements through efforts focused on household food security constitute an essential investment in human capital, which not only enhances people’s welfare, but also increase their productive capacity and contributes to the growth and development of their national economies.

Food security is an issue everywhere. But food insecurity is especially important in Africa. Of the 36 ’hunger hotspots’ in the world identified by FAO, 23 are in Africa. With Africa’s population growing by about 3 per cent annum, agricultural production has in most areas been declining in per capita term.
According to the FAO, sub-Saharan Africa’s food import requirements may more than double by 20 million tonnes a year within only a few years, and, if present trends continue, Africa will have an overall annual food shortfall of 250 million tons by 2020. Agricultural production needs to rise at least by some six per cent for Africa to be able to meet its food needs and for African agriculture to become a real motor for economic development.

 The paradox of widespread food insecurity and malnutrition in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, alongside net food surpluses emerging in certain countries of the continent, is a reality that has become more marked in recent decades .It is now reaching very worrisome proportions. Obviously, food insecurity and malnutrition cannot be eradicated simply through increase in global, national or regional food availability. Increased food supplies do not automatically enhance access to food by the poorer or marginalised group of society. Measures to enhance food security alone will have a limited effect on the nutritional wellbeing of individuals unless the reinforcing, detrimental linkages between food insecurity, disease, poor sanitation and inadequate education are addressed.

At the same time attention needs to be given to improving health services, water supply, sanitation, diet and child-care practices – the complementary and influence not only the nutritional status of individuals, but also their overall poverty status.

Mallam Adamu Bello, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The summit no doubt is a welcome development for Africa as it is expected to bring to the fore the issue of sustainable food production in the continent, and the short comings of our exposure to new policy changes. The Summit would also help stimulate eco-friendly and local content sustainable product development and facilitate intra regional co-operation and discourse. I expect that the deliberations at the summit would appropriately advance our collective aspirations for the next decade and for economic growth and development in the continent and Nigeria in particular.

I wish to call on the Africa ministers to show concerted efforts as the action is now, they must take a bold step together to expand food security and income opportunities across Africa that would lead to economic development of the continent. It is my view that the continent would witness a total transformation in the area of food security following this summit.
 
Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed, Chairman, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI)
The Summit is a welcome development for the continent and it has come to stay, and the position of NASSI is that if well harnessed and the revolutions really put into practice, Africa as a continent and Nigeria in particular would witness a tremendous economic emancipation and growth and the hue and cry of hunger, poverty in the continent will be a thing of the past.

Back to Top
Post Your Feedback