Skyrocketing food prices and supply chain disruptions are cutting deeper than the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. And if Africa wants to get back onto a path of sustainable development, it will need survival plans to overcome stressors and shocks to people’s lives and livelihoods.
This was the message shared by agriculture, land reform and rural development minister Thoko Didiza during a regional policy dialogue with key stakeholders in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The two-day event, hosted at the University of Pretoria (UP), saw government officials and other key stakeholders involved in agri-food systems in the SADC region discuss and reflect on Africa’s agricultural conditions. They also put their heads together on ways in which to improve productivity and end hunger.
It was held in collaboration with the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP).
Addressing the audience, Didiza said that, at the start of the pandemic, many people were worried that the African continent would face increased food insecurity, particularly as a net importer of agricultural and food products.
“While the past two years presented various challenges, the African continent didn’t plunge into hunger. The interventions made by various governments through input support, combined with generally favourable weather conditions, provided sufficient produce to sustain the continent’s food supplies,” the minister said.
Then, of course, the Russia-Ukraine conflict made matters worse. As a net food importer, the African continent is severely exposed to these price and supply shocks, along with various regions in the Middle East and Asia.
Didiza pointed out that “millions of our people face hunger, and we must act swiftly to improve agricultural productivity and the inclusion or cushioning of youth and women in the process.”
Focus on improving agricultural productivity
During this SADC-AAP Dialogue, participants discussed collective action on the transition towards sustainable and climate-resilient agri-food systems for enhanced food security, ending hunger, and achieving climate objectives in the region.
Africa has an abundance of land and workforce to change its agricultural fortunes, Didiza said. She warned, however that it would not happen automatically. “We have to increase investment and spending in research and development, infrastructure, and improving land governance on the continent to support private-sector investments.”
The continent needs to focus on improving agricultural productivity so that it doesn’t need disproportionately large areas for food production, the minister said.
According to Didiza, this is a challenge that is already playing out in parts of the continent, and productivity growth at all stages of agriculture must be a key focus area in building resilient and sustainable food systems.
Food systems, she added, cannot grow sustainably in environments where productivity on farms themselves is not improving. “The sustainability in food systems also reduces the per-unit costs of processing, distribution, and storage, while raising per capita incomes relative to food prices. When real incomes rise compared to the cost of food, consumers can make themselves resilient.”
Role of private sector
SADC is also challenged by the increasing intensity and frequency of climate shocks, a declining natural resource base, soil nutrient mining, depletion and pollution of water sources, and high greenhouse gas emissions.
While the continent is unified, each country is diverse and global challenges impact countries differently.
“Thus, the governments should formulate their agendas for enhanced resilience and food system sustainability, which are compatible with the national needs and climatic conditions,” Didiza pointed out.
Some interventions, she said, should be to improve soil health that is appropriate to smallholder conditions and technical innovations that raise farm productivity.
Didiza also highlighted that the ability to satisfy farmer demand for inputs with low transaction costs should also be considered, along with seed system diversity, and predictability and transparency in public policies affecting food markets.
These improvements, Didiza cautioned should not only be the government’s responsibility.
“The private sector could also play an important role. Still, the government should ensure a conducive policy environment for such private sector participation.”
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