Malnutrition, Food Security Still a Serious Concern in Africa

BY ISAIAH ANDANJE

Malnutrition and food security still remains a threat in the World despite its ability to produce enough food to feed the population.

It is stated that 1/3 of the annual produce go to waste and also end up in post-harvest loss due to poor road network, in adequate harvesting practices and deficient post-harvest management.

In her opening remarks at the15th Africa day for food and nutrition security (ADFNS) Commemoration and 20th comprehensive Africa agricultural development programme (CAADP) partnership platform being held in Harare Zimbabwe, Mrs. Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong Director of agriculture, food security and environmental sustainability, AUDA-NEPAD stated that Africa has not been left behind as far as malnutrition is concerned pointing out that the continent was engulfed in all forms of food deficiencies.

“As we mark this year’s Africa day for food and nutrition security (ADFNS), we must also be aware that our continent wallows in all forms of malnutrition including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, increasing overweight and obesity that are the root causes of non-communicable diseases and this rise has remained a huge concern in Africa.” She said.

The Director statistically observed that the Cost of Hunger in Africa study reveals that the annual costs associated with child undernutrition are estimated at 1.9% to 16.5% of the continental Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to the AUDA-NEPAD’s study on “Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025 – Conditions of Success”, it indicates that nearly one in every five people in Africa are hungry with the triple burden of malnutrition hindering the development and full potential of the current and next generation of Africans.

Also the four comprehensive Africa agriculture development programme (CAADP) biennial review (BR) reports indicate that the untiring business-as-usual alleyways have kept the continent from being on track to eliminating hunger and food insecurity by 2025.

She highlighted that the biennial review has mandated that the African Union (AU) member states must address institutional incompetence and success to strengthen systemic capacities in scale and quality for food and nutrition-sensitive actions.

“To also achieve food and nutrition security, we must too address the intricate impacts of climate change on Africa’s food systems and this can be properly addressed if we change our attention and approach by creating a political environment that can address the malnutrion challenge “she added.

Fotabong stressed the need to embrace education as it was key in the realization of initial knobs for the agrifood systems transformation agenda to achieve food and nutrition security and create opportunities for all Africans.

“I am deeply honored to share remarks on the 20th Comprehensive Africa agriculture development programme (CAADP) partnership platform (PP) and 15th Africa day for food and nutrition security (ADFNS), reflecting on “two decades of CAADP Agenda: cultivating the nexus 2 of nutrition, agrifood systems, and education for Africa’s growth” line with the 2024 African Union theme of the year.

We must ensure that policies and practices that connect with nutrition, ranging from education, agriculture, climate and environment, fully contribute to the fight against malnutrition and we should further ensure that high-impact, targeted nutrition interventions reach those in need, bridging the current gap between delivery and necessity and this can be achieved if new partnership for for African development (NEPAD) agency nutrition and food systems strategic programme is designed to catalyze and support multi-sectoral cooperation and bring together various stakeholders and actions across different countries.” Observed Fotabong.

She hailed the home grown school feewding programnme (HGSF) initiative led by the AUDA NEPAD as a success story of the African day for food and nutrition (ADFNS) These initiatives she pinpointed, was a clear indication of how an idea can evolve from proof of concept to a comprehensive, continent-wide program.

“Since 2003 when HGSF was endorsed by the then NEPAD secretariat under the CAADP, we have seen how it has integrated school nutrition with agricultural growth. And this transformation for our agrifood systems will be a reality when we integrate fit-for-purpose policies combined with robust governing environments, sound knowledge and targeted investments.

This helps shape continental and regional agrifood systems approach that delivers a nutritious, safe, and affordable diet for all in a sustainable way.” Said the director. 

She called for the addressing of the complexity of food and nutrition security in Africa by fostering a comprehensive approach that will strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation and national, regional, and continental coordination, fully utilizing the bond of nutrition, agrifood systems, and education to accelerate economic growth, increase trade, and foster an integrated continent.

The workshop was also told to support the smallholder farmers within most rural African communities and increase their capacity to produce enough nutritious food it also was called to strengthen platforms that link farmers to local markets, attract private sector investment in the agrifood sector and create jobs for women and youth while increasing access to financial services for smallholder farmers.

Promotion of regional integration to ennable the movement of excessive supply across African union (AU) member states and intraregional, fostering industrialization and reducing the continent’s annual food import bill was emphasized to the member states.

“As we proceed in the CAADP post-Malabo era, expanding the CAADP scope to embrace agri-food systems it is essential for addressing the multiple hiccups of food security and nutrition within the continent and our next policy steps should zero on enhancing stakeholder coordination, aligning national agricultural strategies with broader food systems objectives, and promoting sustainable practices through integrating and transforming nutrition considerations into agricultural policies, strengthening value chains, and fostering public-private partnerships to mobilize resources”, she emphasized.

The member states were also urged to consider investing in capacity-building initiatives for the benefit of the local communities and where national country teams will ensure that policies are effected, to the responsive of the different needs of the populace. Fotabong reminded the stakeholders that they should renew our commitment towards the realization of the CAADP PP and the ADFNS and also redouble their our commitments to make safer and healthier diets and sustainable food systems a reality for all Africans besides harnessing their efforts towards the implementation capacities in the post Malabo CAADP (Kampala Declaration) era and move closer to the vision of more prosperous, integrated, and inclusive agrifood systems in Africa.