allAfrica.com: Africa: Food Crisis Threatens Children's Lives (Page 1 of 1)

We are currently in the midst of a major food crisis, which threatens to destroy years, if not decades, of economic progress. Rising food prices disproportionately affect the world's poorest citizens— the World Bank estimates that as many as 100 million people will be severely affected by the high price of food (World Bank, 2008b). A significant proportion of this group lives in Africa, in countries which were already struggling to address problems of chronic malnutrition, hunger and infant mortality….

Four basic drivers appear to be stimulating rapid growth in demand for food commodities: (1) rising living standards in China, India, and other rapidly growing developing countries, which lead to increased demand for livestock products and the feedstuffs to produce them; (2) stimulus from mandates for corn-based ethanol in the United States and the ripple effects beyond the corn economy; (3) the rapid depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and a number of other important currencies, which drives up the price of commodities priced in U.S. dollars; and (4) speculation from new financial players searching for better returns than in stocks or real estate, also stimulated by the declining dollar (Timmer, 2008).

Africa is facing the worst consequences of the food crisis. The Food and Agricultural Organisation notes that of the 37 countries hardest hit, 21 are in Africa. Four of these countries - Lesotho, Somalia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe - are classified as having "exceptional shortfalls" in food, four more - Eritrea, Liberia, Mauritania and Sierra Leone - have "widespread lack of access" and another 13 countries are classified as countries with "severe localized food insecurity" (FAO, 2008). Unless some way can be found to stop the rise in food prices, it is likely that there will be a sharp increase in infant and child mortality as well as an increase in adults dying from infectious diseases. As individual countries adopt export bans or place very large orders on key commodities such as rice, prices in world markets are rising even further.

In the immediate term, the international community must increase the supply of food aid, by increasing assistance to the World Food Programme as well as other channels of delivery. The WFP is requesting additional emergency food aid funding in the amount of $750 million. Recent aid announcements by G8 governments are heartening and may cover some of the WFP's most urgent needs but commitments are yet to be made for 2009 and beyond. Food prices have been steadily rising for some years now and there are no signs of a reversal in this trend; until better longer term arrangements are put in place, the WFP's work will need to be sustained in order to deliver food aid to the most vulnerable populations in Africa and elsewhere.

Every effort must also be made to increase the quantity of food available for purchase on international markets, so that the WFP and individual governments are able to purchase food as needed. To this end, countries must undertake an immediate review of grain stockpiles, take appropriate action to end hoarding and speculation, and avoid shortsighted and self-defeating behaviours that try to increase domestic supply but end up compounding the imbalances in the international market.

It is also critical that the developed countries review their biofuel subsidies and mandates immediately. The magnitude of the crisis is such that agricultural policies must be reassessed in all parts of the world. Developed countries in particular couldn't play a leadership role in solving this crisis if they were to continue with business as usual. In the short to medium term, safety nets such as targeted food aid, cash voucher programs and other types of interventions must also be carefully reviewed and redesigned as necessary, to meet the challenge of sustained high food prices.

In the longer term, significant new investments are needed to raise agricultural productivity in Africa. As the chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (and of this Panel) says, "If there ever was a time for an African Green Revolution, it is now…. We must implement immediate solutions for today's crisis, and do so in the context of a long-term concerted effort to transform small-holder agriculture, to increase its productivity and sustainability, and end poverty and hunger" (Annan, 2008).

The response in food supply to the current crisis will likely take some time to produce results (as was the case in 1973-74) and must receive sustained levels of support. An increase in the supply of food will require the development and use of new crop technologies. This is an enormous challenge - there is little unused high-quality land left, input prices such as that of fertilizer are rising, and the yield potential of current technologies has been static for decades. Governments and the international community must make every effort to invest substantial resources in the development of new seed varieties, extension systems, and key inputs such as fertilizer, in order to boost the production of food. Africa must also have appropriate access to world markets to purchase food as well as seeds, fertilizer, and other key inputs, at prices that are not distorted by protectionist policies or hoarding. Institutions - at the international, regional, national and local level - that are focused on the development of new technologies that will increase crop yields or improve resistance to drought and disease should be provided with the resources they need…

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