Poverty reduction and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa: a challenge to world agriculture

摘要

Africa is the only region in the developing world where the regional average of food production per person has been declining over the last 40 years, putting large segments of the population at risk in terms of food insecurity and malnutrition. While the percentage of undernourished in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has declined since the early 1980s, the FAO's estimates for 1995-97 indicate that 33 percent remain chronically food insecure. Importance of agriculture. Agriculture continues to dominate the economies and produces the bulk of food consumed in SSA, and accounts for about 70 percent of total employment, 40 percent of total merchandise exports, and 34 percent of African GDP. The sector is the main source of raw material for industry. In fact, as much as two-thirds of manufacturing value-addition in most African countries is based on agricultural raw materials. In addition, the sector is the main buyer of farm implements and services such as transport, and farmers are the main consumers of both imported and locally produced consumer goods.