When I started investigating for my blog, I first noticed that a wide semantic range was used by experts and journalists to characterize Africa: from promising to hopeless.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs comes to mind when I think of water and development; if one cannot secure physiological needs through adequate water and food, how can one emancipate itself? In my blog, I will explore the (extremely diverse and complex) topics of agriculture and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Since food intrinsically implies water, any shortage seems to be related to insufficient investment in infrastructure and logistics allowing the efficient increase in agricultural production. However, increasing food availability does not necessarily ensure food security. In this context, I will try to ''sort'' out the underlying issues hindering development.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs comes to mind when I think of water and development; if one cannot secure physiological needs through adequate water and food, how can one emancipate itself? In my blog, I will explore the (extremely diverse and complex) topics of agriculture and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Since food intrinsically implies water, any shortage seems to be related to insufficient investment in infrastructure and logistics allowing the efficient increase in agricultural production. However, increasing food availability does not necessarily ensure food security. In this context, I will try to ''sort'' out the underlying issues hindering development.
Low agricultural productivity and unsustainable land and water management coupled with rainfall variability are significant challenges to agricultural intensification in Africa. The development challenge in SSA is to make sure short-term gains won't be offset by long-term losses (De Schutter, 2012). The ‘green water’ found in the unsaturated zone of the soil is responsible for 60% of the world food production but is also the resource ‘'most sensitive to land degradation’’(Savenije, 2000). With the highest rate of population growth, demand for water in Africa ''is projected to nearly quadruple — the world’s fastest rate’’ (Jacobsen and al., 2013). Furthermore, with only about 4% of irrigated agricultural land, nearly 70% of the region relies on rainfall—exposing farmers to vulnerable crop yields, which will be further undermined under climate change.
An often cited estimate is that, in order to meet the demands of a growing population, with increasing levels of urbanisation and prosperity, food production will have to increase by 70% by 2050 worldwide. Firstly, if the cereals produced for livestock went towards feeding humanity, food production wouldn't have to increase so significantly. If ensuring food security is a priority development goal, investments in increasing agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have to be combined with tackling the underlying issue of hunger and malnutrition: poverty. If African countries have the potential to ''feed the world’’ as some have reported, it must first feed itself.
 |
| Climate change challenges current modes of food production and puts sub-Saharan African farmers under increased risks/ Source |
An often cited estimate is that, in order to meet the demands of a growing population, with increasing levels of urbanisation and prosperity, food production will have to increase by 70% by 2050 worldwide. Firstly, if the cereals produced for livestock went towards feeding humanity, food production wouldn't have to increase so significantly. If ensuring food security is a priority development goal, investments in increasing agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have to be combined with tackling the underlying issue of hunger and malnutrition: poverty. If African countries have the potential to ''feed the world’’ as some have reported, it must first feed itself.
Out of 47 countries listed by the UN as Least Developed (LDC), 34 are in Africa south of Sahara (see map). In an attempt to understand why most countries from this list have not ''graduated'' (some have been included for over 30 years), I will further explore the relationship between water and food security, so important for the emancipation of peoples and the development of Nations.
Enjoy the read and don't hesitate to leave a comment!
No comments:
Post a Comment