Why has food security remained elusive in Africa?
That is a tough question. Poverty is the main reason many are hungry in Africa. Poverty and hunger are complex issues with political and economic dimensions. The farmers are mostly small holder and subsistence, and lack access to micro-credits and farming inputs such as fertilizers, good seeds and pesticides, and markets. Over 70 percent depend on rainfed agriculture which is risky. In some countries the food basket is too dependent on a few crops. Cereal dependent countries are often on the famine lists, whereas cultures that have more complex diets have more protection. If one crop fails, they can consume more of the others. But poverty is not the only reason. Conflicts contribute greatly to food insecurity. Bad governance, where the countries have not invested adequately in agriculture and infrastructure also contributes, as did the policies imposed on Africa by international financial institutions in the 80s and 90s. Do you think the current food crisis will get better or worse? Th
