Improving African Food Security

Abstract

One of Africa's most urgent issues today is food security—food production is not keeping pace with population growth, leading to continued declines in its already low food production per capita. In fact, the Green Revolution, which combined improved seeds, inorganic fertilizers, and plant protection products, has bypassed Africa. This problem is rooted in Africa's poor agricultural resource base, which makes the use of external inputs such as inorganic fertilizers unprofitable. The socioeconomic and policy environments create further obstacles. Exceptions to the general trend at the country, region, and crop level underline the importance of the factors causing stagnation elsewhere and help to identify technologies and strategies for change. Integrated soil fertility management can improve African food security. The synergism of locally-available soil amendments, such as animal manures and crop residues, can make inorganic fertilizer use more economically attractive. Combining technology with an enabling environment for farmers to invest in their soils and for the private sector to invest in agricultural input and output market development further improves the economic feasibility of using fertilizer. Strategies that support farmers' organizations and private sector associations, and their effective cooperation with the public sector, can help create this enabling environment.