WHY AFRICA CANNOT FEED ITSELF AND THE WAY FORWARD

Food situation in Africa

This book aims to answer the reason for food scarcity in Africa. For example, there is a lower yield per acre in Africa compared to other places. In Thailand, the cassava yields are 21.8 MT/hectare compared to Nigeria's 13.9 tonnes/hectare, and the average maise yield per hectare is 3.5 in the Gambia to 9.8 MT in the United States. Why do Ghana and Ivory Coast produce so much cocoa, yet 90% of the chocolate drinks consumed in Ghana and Ivory Coast are made in Europe. Why are imported poultry and pork from France, which travelled 4,000 miles in a cold ship crate to Togo, 25% cheaper than those produced in the next village to the market?.
This book believes that the food crisis and food insufficiency in Africa is due to a combination of factors. These factors are geographical and environmental variables, such as climate change and historical factors like slavery and colonialism. Biological factors include food production rates and demographic and economic factors (population growth and urbanisation). Poor leadership and political failures, weak institutions. Poor implementation of market liberalisation reforms, prevailing external and macroeconomic factors, and different regions' socio-political situations (Godfray et al. 2010). The impact of debt, aid, and the inequitable international economic order. The multinationals' role in extracting agricultural raw materials and minerals in Africa and how this encouraged corruption in Africa
The book concludes that the improvement in Africa, especially in Africa's ability to feed itself, will ultimately be led by the farmers and entrepreneurs of Africa. The role of governments will be to empower young people to begin that process of change, and the international institutions will need to create a fair and enabling environment where Africa can thrive.
The ongoing demographic transition predicted for Africa offers a huge opportunity for sub-Saharan Africa. The book ended with practical solutions and structures that needed to be in place for Africa to take advantage of the demographic dividend.