East Africa Faces Bleak Food Prospects - Oxfam

East Africa will not produce enough food for its rapidly growing populations in the next 20 years, a new study reveals. The numbers will rise by 50 per cent in 2031, but maize production will go up by only 30 per cent research by UK charity Oxfam indicates.

But despite the projections, East African governments are leasing fertile farmland and grazing land to foreign companies for tourism, large-scale agriculture for exports and bio-fuels. "The grain required to fill the fuel tank of one 4x4 vehicle with ethanol is enough to feed one person for a year," said Irungu Houghton, Oxfam's Pan Africa director.

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