THE World Food Programme's warning the other day (WFP), that 14 million people face hunger in southern Africa should awaken the authorities to take necessary action to avert a looming catastrophe. Certainly, the number of people facing hunger could be higher than what is stated and massive investment in agriculture is necessary to ensure food security, while adopting measures to boost yield under changing climatic condition.
Though, food scarcity characterises the entire sub-Saharan Africa due to low investment in agriculture, drought-induced famine is more prevalent in the southern Africa sub-region. In all, only a proactive and well-coordinated effort on food production can avert a potential human tragedy that could make Africa a basket case all over again.
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