Africa dragging growth in global food production despite vast potential – WB Report
The findings come against the backdrop of concerns over the ability of current agricultural production to meet current and future food demand as the population continues to rise.
Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as the only region where contributions to global food yield growth have remained minimal over the past years, despite its vast potential and extensive arable land, study findings have revealed.
Conducted by the World Bank across various regions in the world, the study report highlights several factors contributing to the region’s dismal contribution, including inadequate irrigation infrastructure, low crop intensity and limited use of commercial inputs.
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Africa reportedly has about 60 per cent of all arable land that can be converted to productive agricultural land and these challenges have hindered the region's ability to fully capitalise on its potential, raising questions about the sustainability of food production in the region.
The findings come against the backdrop of concerns over the ability of current agricultural production to meet current and future food demand as the population continues to rise.
Food availability
The World Bank notes that there have been concerns about a slowdown in yield growth, a situation that has sparked debates about food availability, particularly in regions with high population growth such as Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This perceived slowdown in yield growth has been linked to heightened food insecurity as well as rising commodity prices and increased price volatility,” the lender said.
The report says other surveyed regions have seen substantial improvements in food yields except Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Contrary to concerns, global agricultural yield growth has not decelerated. Over the past six decades, yields have increased annually by 109 KCal per hectare, the caloric equivalent of nearly 33 kilogrammes of wheat per hectare.”
Global agriculture
This finding suggests that while some regions and crops experienced slower growth, these were offset by gains elsewhere, reflecting the overall resilience of global agriculture, the lender adds in part.
Notably, the "Big-4" crops: maize, rice, soybeans and wheat, have outpaced other crops in yield growth.
They grew at an average of 158 Kcal per hectare annually, compared to just 59 Kcal for other crops. The World Bank says the gap has widened over time, underscoring the central role of these crops in global food production.
The report further explains that in advanced economies, aggregate yields have grown by 76 KCal per hectare annually.
Emerging markets and developing economies on the other hand have seen faster growth, with yields rising by 95 Kcal per hectare annually before 1993, and accelerating to 109 Kcal thereafter.
According to the report, key drivers include Latin America’s soybean boom, efficiency gains in Eastern Europe and Central Asia after the collapse of centrally planned economies, and Asia’s green revolution.
Nevertheless, it reiterates that despite agricultural yield growth remaining robust, addressing the challenges of climate change, policy barriers and food equity is crucial for ensuring future food security.
“Continued innovation, policy reform and targeted assistance will be key to meeting the rising global food demand and achieving sustainable agricultural productivity.”
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