The enabling role of cash transfers in south africas former homelands cash transfers successfully alleviate poverty in many developing countries. Productivity has remained low in ghana compared to other countries in subsaharan africa due to low intensification, usage of improved seeds, usage of fertilizer, irrigation, and access to output. Previous publications in the afsun series no 1 the invisible crisis. The subject of food security and land issues in africa has become one of increased importance and contention over recent years. The right to access to sufficient food was embedded in section 26 and 27 of the south african constitutional law of 1996. Agriculture is central to fostering economic growth, reducing poverty, and improving food security in the southern african region. Stellenbosch universitys food security initiative fsi footnote 1 intends to contribute to the emergence of a resilient, sustainable food system footnote 2 for southern africa, by interrogating and reconceptualising the food security challenge and creating new models of practice.
Fragility and its interaction with sector approaches to combating hunger 8. Agriculture and food security in ghana abstract in ghana, largescale farms and plantations produce mainly oil palm, rubber and coconut and to a lesser extent, maize, rice and pineapples. Food shortages in southern africa are an ongoing problem, and longterm projections suggest that regional food production per capita is likely to diminish into the future rosegrant et al. Food crises together with chronic food shortages lead to compromised human wellbeing, hunger and malnutrition, posing serious challenges to governmental and nongovernmental. South africas agricultural expertise makes it a key partner for achieving goals to reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the region. Dimensions of the food security problem in south africa introduction food security is becoming an increasingly important concept in south africa, specially in the light of the periodical droughts experienced on the subcontinent.
Urban food security global urbanization trends, especially in the developing world, are having an increasingly profound impact on the environment and food security for millions of urban poor. Food security was defined by the food and agriculture organization of the united nations fao in 1996 as a condition that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and. Organic agriculture and food security in africa request pdf. Index of agriculture, food and cereals production in africa. Zimbabwe food security issues paper forum for food. In particular, the focus has shifted to the role new global south donors especially india, china and brazil are playing in shaping african agriculture through their increased involvement and investment in the continent. Integrated food security strategysouth africa executive summary food security is part of the section 27 constitutional rights in south africa. Conclusion glossary bibliography biographical sketch summary food insecurity and hunger are widespread in subsaharan africa ssa.
Food security in subsaharan africa deutsches institut fur. South africa faces the following key food security challenges. Food supply and access in southern african cities no 4 urban food production and household food security in southern african cities no 5 the hiv and urban food security nexus. Pulse seeds are going to be crucial to our global fight for food security, particularly in the face of climate change. Protect the right to food for all citizens of africa. More than 70 percent of the rural population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, and regional economic growth has been constrained by poor performance in the agriculture sector.
Principal agricultural systems and impact on food security 4. The purpose of the papers is to identify the specific food security issues that are currently of greatest concern to stakeholders across the region, in order to provide a countrydriven focus for the analytical work of the forum for food security in southern africa. Agricultural development and food security in africa. About 70% of the regions population depends on agriculture for food, income and employment. Pdf food security and african agriculture researchgate. Environment and development cbtf, take food security very seriously and have joined forces wr frqwulexwh wr wkh vhdufk iru vxvwdlqdeoh vroxwlrqv this study examines the relationship between organic agriculture and food security in africa, particularly east africa, which is where the cbtf has been implementing a project on organic. What needs to be done to ensure food security in sa. Resultsbased approaches and resultsbased management the project promoting food security in rural subsaharan africa seeks to cross the barriers between the different sectors and academic. Food security southern african development community. Agriculture is a major source of livelihood in ghana, supporting 46% of the total households and accounting for 30% of ghanas gross domestic product in 2010. Pdf agricultural development and food security in africa. Mazonde, 1999, argues that the concern for food security is rooted in the uneven distribution of income and that in most african countries there is considerable disparity among the population. The challenge of building resilience to shocks and stresses.
The impact of chinese, indian and brazilian investments 20 coed with fantu cheru zed books, london. Organic agriculture and food security in africa unctad. In its broader perspective, food security should address the question of poverty within the households. This is being done through the integration of findings from indepth research on key issues in the food value. Achieving the millennium development goals on poverty in southern africa will. Agricultural investments and finance in smallscale agriculture. The book is a comprehensive guide of science and engineeringbased methods aimed at helping countries in subsaharan africa achieve food security and attain access to safe and sustainable water supplies. Mainstream thinking on agricultural trade lamy addressed the relationship between global trade and food security during the course of a speech delivered on 21 february 2011 which highlighted key structural shifts that had taken place in global agricultural trade over the past halfcentury.
This is in line with the findings of the food and agricultural organization of the united nations fao international conference on organic agriculture and food security, held in may 2007. Agriculture is critical for ensuring food security. Household food security status in south africa article pdf available in agrekon 484 december 2009 with 4,570 reads how we measure reads. International journal of food and agricultural economics issn 21478988, eissn. As a result, food security in south africa is an issue of critical importance. On these rights, the constitution states that every citizen has the right to have access to sufficient food and water, and that the state must by legislation and. Food security and african agriculture, south african journal. Agriculture in africa 3 our continent has enormous potential, not only to feed itself and eliminate hunger and food insecurity, but also to be a major play. Increasing agricultural productivity is of vital importance because of its role in food security, poverty reduction, and promoting peacebuilding. Africa food security brief 2012 african development bank. Ghana produces 51% of its cereal needs, 60% of fish requirements, 50% of meat, and less than 30% of the raw materials needed for agrobased industries. The right to food is fundamentally based on the perception that food, or indeed nutritious food, is an essence of life and a necessity that can not be denied or deprived of, for the very. Department of rural economy and agriculture and the regional economic communities in their efforts to advance food security and agriculture development in africa promoting agroindustry and agribusiness development in africa, with an emphasis on creating regional value chains. This was 15 percent below its peak in april 2008, but still 5 percent, or 12 points, higher than last years already high level chart 2.
Although agriculture is a growing sector in ghanas economy with a mean annual growth rate of approximately 5. The first is to ensure that enough food is available to all, now and in the future. In south africa, food security received much attention after 1994 when south africa became a democratic country. In 2012, food insecurity is still a major global concern as 1 billion people are suffering from starvation, under, and malnutrition, and the food and agriculture. The agriculture sector is of major social and economic importance in the sadc region, contributing in the different member states between 4% and 27% of gdp and approximately % of overall export earnings. The rome declaration on food security noted that 800 million people. Thus, an entire section of this report part three focuses on issues and response mechanisms for building resilience of the most.
By directorate economic services production economics unit. From the gaza strip to mega cities throughout asia, africa and latin america, urban food security is. The project brings together international, regional, and countrylevel data, news, and research aimed at meeting countries immediate food security needs. Africas private sector investment in agriculture has been curtailed by a combination of financial capacity, and lack of security, financial services and regulatory.
Boosting agricultural productivity and food security in. Drawing on available literature, this article presents an overview of the challenges facing sustainable food production in subsaharan africa. Urban food security in southern africa no 2 the state of urban food insecurity in southern africa no 3 pathways to insecurity. Social security systems, food security and longterm development 7. The concept of food security is a broad term, which is defined in different ways by a number of organizations around the world. It is also a major employer, responsible for 8% of formal employment in the country. The absence of a food security policy and the inability to get a bill tabled and passed prevents the government from providing a clear line of authority and the current ifss lacks political clout to really make a difference to food security in south africa. Key challenges for ensuring food security in south africa. Through feed the future, usaid is leveraging the technical expertise and investment of south africas public and private sectors to increase agricultural trade and the capacity of regional institutions.
Global panel on agriculture and food systems for nutrition. Africa regional overview of food security and nutrition. Agricultural systems, poverty, food security and hunger 5. Agricultural development and food security in subsaharan africa ssa building a case for more public support the case of tanzania a paper prepared for the policy assistance unit of the fao subregional office for east and southern africa by prof. Moore, recently the deputy assistant administrator in the bureau of africa at the united states agency for international development, has been named chief of programs for the 45yearold organization solely focused on humanitarian and economic development of africa.
The food security portal, facilitated by ifpri, aims to provide improved food security for the worlds poor and increased resilience of global food systems against food and financial crises. The african journal of food and nutritional security, as an international journal, is intended to act as a forum for researchers working on food and nutritional security issues in africa and the third world in their widest range and perspectives. Urban food security in southern africa 2 african food security and rural bias the current round of heightened international attention to food security can be traced back to 1996 and the world food summit in rome. The first group the economically marginalized lack land, capital and tools, livestock, literacy and other formal skills.
In subsaharan africa, the number of people suffering. Issues of food security in south africa and faos role in. Sustainable agriculture and food security in africa. Kufuor goes on to say this discrepancy between africa and the rest of the world shows how africas agriculture has been cut off from the scientific advances that have transformed yields in other parts. Household adoption of soilimproving practices and food. In 2012, food insecurity is still a major global concern as 1 billion people are suffering from starvation, under, and malnutrition, and the food and agriculture organization of the united nations fao has concluded that we are still far from reaching millennium development goal mdg number 1. Organic agriculture and food security in africa united nations new york and geneva, 2008 unepunctad capacitybuilding task force on trade, environment and development. Strategies for poverty alleviation and food security poverty and livelihoods in rural south africa. Food productivity has increased globally by 140% in recent decades, but the figures for subsaharan africa over the same period show a fall. The role of agricultural trade 1616 p street nw, suite 100 washington, dc 20036 usa tel 1 202 328 5056 fax 1 202 328 53. Volume 1 issue 7 september 2012 great food security in. Investigating diversity and dynamics of livelihoods.
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