Feeding Africa through increased intra-African food trade
The following article was written by Kofi Annan Foundation President Alan Doss and published in the August edition of Réalités Industrielles; ‘What future for the African economy?‘
Summary
One of the most pressing challenges in Africa is how to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty and ensure prosperity for all people. Kofi Annan Foundation President Alan Doss argues that intra-African food trade can be an important driver in strengthening Africa’s capacity to ensure food security, as well as for its economic growth and shared prosperity. While the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area is a critical step forward, the roll-out of the implementation will be just as important.
The article looks at some of the key challenges and opportunities for intra-African food market integration. It specifically argues that the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) can and should play a particularly important role in Africa’s effort to build a strong intra-Africa food market. They are the institutions that can develop and implement programmes aimed at increasing agricultural production and productivity, help integrate smallholders in regional value chains, spearhead research on major food crops and help develop regional food industries.
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