In his analysis of the Russia-Africa Summit, Hamond Motsi identifies critical missed opportunities in the discussion on food security amid the challenging geopolitical landscape of the Ukrainian-Russian war. Motsi emphasises the need for future dialogue focused on domestic agricultural empowerment, irrigation development, and agricultural mechanisation to enhance Africa’s food self-sufficiency.
Throughout history, geopolitics has consistently presented complexities, often manifesting in new, sophisticated variants. Typically, the victors enjoy the benefits, leaving the losers in devastation. The Ukrainian-Russian war, which unexpectedly erupted at the start of this decade, currently dominates the geopolitical discourse. Attempts at resolution appear fruitless as the situation deteriorates daily.
While the various perspectives and hidden or overt agendas are now globally understood, each side seeks international support to discredit the other. Africa, akin to the rope in a “tug of war” game, finds itself in the middle, exploited and solicited for support.
Summit proves fruitless
In mid-July, the US-Africa Business Summit took place in the US to discuss the future of the Africa Growth Opportunities Act (Agoa), due to expire in 2025, following its last renewal in 2015. This discussion unfolded despite the recent political weaponisation of Agoa against South Africa, due to alleged weapon provision to Russia.
Simultaneously, the Russian-Africa Summit sought to mitigate Russia’s diplomatic isolation and fortify its ties with Africa, established originally during African decolonisation and the Cold War. The summit delved into areas of industrialisation, manufacturing, militarisation, economic growth, and food security.
The summit underscored food security as a critical issue but concluded without clear resolutions. When the war commenced last year, escalated prices of food, agricultural inputs – particularly fertilisers – and fuel were noted, causing detrimental effects on global food security. This crisis coincided with the world’s recovery from the economic impact of Covid-19, which had already destabilised food prices and trade chains, leaving Africa particularly vulnerable.
The Black Sea grain deal factor
Just days before the summit, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal and declined its renewal. The United Nations initiated this deal in July of the previous year to facilitate the movement of grains from both Russia and Ukraine to other regions, despite the ongoing conflict. Russia’s withdrawal significantly impacts African countries dependent on grain imports from this region.
Critics, including African nations like Kenya, have denounced this act as cowardly, arguing it exacerbates global food insecurity. This criticism could explain why Kenyan President William Ruto was absent from the summit.
African nations import grains such as wheat, barley, and sunflower seeds from both Russia and Ukraine. For instance, Ethiopia, Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia import approximately 90% of their wheat from these countries. On the whole, Africa spends about US$80 billion annually on food imports, a figure projected to reach US$150 billion by 2050 due to population growth.
Africa remains vulnerable
Despite this enormous expenditure, food shortages persist, making Africa reliant on aid. At the summit, the Russian president pledged to supply six countries – Zimbabwe, Eritrea, the Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Somalia – with 25 000 to 50 000 tonnes of grain each as aid.
What African leaders should have addressed is how to empower their domestic agriculture sectors to increase and optimise their productivity. They should have discussed facilitating agricultural skills exchange, enhancing agricultural technology, promoting agricultural mechanisation, and empowering youth as the future stewards of agricultural growth.
One primary topic of discussion should have been irrigation development. The reason most African countries rely on grain from Russia and Ukraine is that these grains are winter crops (wheat, barley), flourishing best in Mediterranean climates which do not necessarily require irrigation.
Addressing irrigation and mechanisation
This climate, however, is scarce in Africa, found only in the Western Cape of South Africa and the upper regions of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Thus, the rest of Africa would benefit from improved irrigation to maximise grain yield. Currently, only about 2% of agricultural land in Africa is irrigated – a proportion far behind other regions.
In addition, agricultural mechanisation should have been a central topic. Mechanisation was a game-changer during the Green Revolution, virtually eliminating food insecurity where maximised through mass production. However, Africa has yet to realise its full potential in this area.
Furthermore, discussions should have covered areas such as technology, commerce, finance, and marketing to explore how they can enhance food security through investment in the continent. Africa needs to invest in modern agricultural technologies, proven to boost productivity in other regions. Engaging in discussions about these issues with regions that have implemented such technologies could foster beneficial exchange of ideas.
Decreasing food dependence
While summits like these have become common, with one Western or Asian country discussing opportunities with all African leaders, they are not inherently detrimental. Africa undoubtedly benefits from engaging with other regions for its growth, but these interactions should offer mutual benefits to all parties involved.
The reality is that Africa, due to its reliance on food from outside the continent, is extremely vulnerable to any disruptions affecting food security, and the consequences are severe. Africa’s negotiations at geopolitical roundtables have been unproductive due to a systematically imposed “inferiority complex”. The most effective way for Africa to address food security is to maximise its domestic potential and decrease food dependence.
- Hamond Motsi is a preparatory PhD scholar at the faculty of agrisciences at Stellenbosch University. He holds an MSc in agronomy (cum laude) from Stellenbosch University and BSc Hons in crop science, and a BSc in crop and soil science (cum laude), both from the University of Fort Hare. Contact him at onehammond2@gmail.com. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
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