Mark Kapchanga
9 November 2009
Nairobi — East Africa needs to increase investment in agriculture by over 50 per cent if the region is to avert a chronic food shortage by 2050.
Food and Agriculture Organisation director-general Jacques Diouf said, "The projected investment needs some $20 billion to be put in crop production and $13 billion in livestock production in developing countries. Mechanisation would account for the single biggest investment area followed by expansion and improvement of irrigation."
Speaking at the just concluded "High-Level Expert Forum on How to Feed the World in 2050" held in Rome, Italy, Mr Diouf said that a further $50 billion will be needed by developing countries for downstream services to help achieve a global 70 per cent expansion in agricultural production by 2050.
Most of this investment will come from private investors, including purchasing of farm implements and machinery and businesses investing in processing facilities.
Mr Diouf said that sub-Saharan African should focus on more farm productivity for it to feed its growing population.
He said the combination of population growth and strong income growth is expected to result in almost the doubling of food demand.
"Agriculture will have no choice but to be more productive. Increases would need to come mostly from yield growth and improved cropping intensity rather than from farming more land despite the fact that there are still ample land resources with potential for cultivation, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa," he said.
"The challenge ahead is not only to increase global future production but to increase it where it is mostly needed and by those who need it most," he said, adding: "There should be a special focus on smallholder farmers, women and rural households and their access to land and high quality inputs."
At the Rome meeting, food experts argued that in the first half of this century, the global demand for food, feed and fibre will nearly double while crops may also be used for bioenergy and other industrial purposes.
"New and traditional demand for agricultural produce will thus put growing pressure on already scarce agricultural resources," Mr Diouf said.
In addition, public funds will be needed to achieve a better functioning of the agricultural system and food security.
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