FRANK ENEAWAJI OGWUONUOWU
Food is the number one need of man on earth, before any other needs. With the vast arable lands on the continent or Africa, food insecurity is always a nightmare in many countries in Africa over the years.
Shortage of food is a serious threat to economic, political and environmental development in Africa. And this has caused malnutrition which has led to stunted growth of many children on the continent.
It was against the background that new partnership for Africa development (NEPAD), organised a summit to address food insecurity problems in Africa, in 4th November,2006, in Abuja with delegates hoping to establish a pool of agricultural technical enterprise on which African countries that need it can draw.
According to professor Richard MKandawire, new partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD), agriculture adviser said that a number of summits had been held in the past to address food insecurity problems in Africa. They were consultative in nature and included fish, cocoa and fertilizers summits all held in Abuja, and two others held in Sirte, Libya and Maputo,Mozaimbique
He added that the summit, the last of the consultative meetings, will move on to implement concrete initiatives on the ground, Kandawire said that the cassava, nerica rice and agriculture sector are among success stores where best practised can be transferred as he hoped African countries can start tapping into the expertise the continent already has.
Mean while, president Bola Tinubu, about a month ago, launched over two thousands tractors in Abuja, to support farmers in order to boost food production in Nigeria.It was the first time, the administration was aiding farmers across the country with tractors. Some African countries are suffering from drought especially east African countries which leads to famine and food insufficiency in the continent, which African Union should take holistic approaches in curbing the menace of food insecurity eminently sufficing on the continent of Africa. Head of states should have common ground in making sure that agricultural sector is given a first lift by helping farmers to have access to improved fertilisers. It is time to save the population of African countries from dying of hunger.
The various sub- regional bodies in Africa should embrace mechanized farming which is not common in most African countries. In West Africa the Economic Community of West African States should embark on programmes and policies that will boost food production in WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION.
Indeed, the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK can do more, in giving soft loans to farmers in Africa. The economic well being of any nations is about the standard of living of its citizenry.
Again, members should imbibe the habit of using improved seeds to boost their crop production and quick harvesting period. The natural habitats if properly harnessed scientifically, technologically and biologically, it will enhance food production in Africa.
Indeed, improving food security in Africa requires a multifaceted approaches encompassing increased agriculture productivity, sustainable farming practices, improved infrastructure, and targeted social protection programmes. Addressing challenges like climate change, conflict, economic instability is also crucial at this time.
Countries in Africa must come together and do the followings; Diversifying crops; moving away from reliance on major global commodities like; rice, wheat and maize towards more resilient African indigenous crops like sorghum, millets and cassava can improve food security.It is obvious that livestock management can help in improving livestock breeds and feeds and can increase productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
Thus, enhancing infrastructure and trade, improving transport and logistics; scaling up investment in modernizing trade and logistics, including processing and storage can significantly boost food security. Indeed, strengthening intra-African trade; facilitating trade within the continent can reduce reliance on impacts and improve access to food.
Meanwhile, there is need for social protection and safety nets, targeted social protection programmes, these programmes can provide direct support to vulnerable populations, ensuring access to food during times of crisis. Mobile cash transfer: using mobile technology to deliver cash transfer can be an efficient way to provide social protection.
Conflict and instability, are crucial for the governments of various nations on the continent to address conflict and instability in order to create a stable environment for food production and distribution without anxiety and fear.
African union with its headquarter in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia should embark on aggressive campaign in both the rural and urban communities to create awareness on the importance of food security to human beings. Again, any act capable of creating chaos that will lead to food insufficiency in Africa should be brought under control. And that is why African leaders should form synergies to control and curb unnecessary crisis on the continent.***
