CGIAR’s Post

The global food and nutrition crisis has been intensifying over the past 10 years. The World Food Programme estimates that 221 million people across 54 IDA countries are facing acutely food-insecure conditions or worse- a 71% increase from 2019. Sub-Saharan #Africa in particular, is experiencing a storm of factors- a food, fuel, and fertiliser crisis exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the economic impacts of COVID-19, rising inflation and debt, and extreme weather events from #ClimateChange. At least 36 million people across the ‘Horn of Africa’ are severely food insecure as #Ethiopia, #Kenya, and #Somalia experience the worst drought in 40 years. Source: https://bit.ly/3RYbiEV What is needed to solve this crisis? A comprehensive and sustained effort, with a focus on both immediate relief and long-term resilience-building measures. 👉Immediate Humanitarian Assistance to provide relief to those facing acute #FoodInsecurity. This includes the distribution of food, clean water, and medical assistance 👉#Climate-resilient #agriculture: investing in these practices is crucial to help communities adapt to changing weather patterns and mitigate the impact of extreme events. Promoting #sustainable farming methods, drought-resistant crops, and efficient water management is key. 👉Ensuring access to affordable fertilisers to improve crop yields 👉International cooperation and funding to pool resources, expertise and funding. 👉Investment in infrastructure development enhances the efficiency of agricultural supply chains

Hello network In 2024 consumption year, over 49 million people are expected to go to bed hungry in West and Central Africa (Cameroon and Central Africa Republic included). They were over 47 million in 2023 and over 43 million in 2022. 80% of them live in areas that are affected by conflicts areas and where competition over natural resource is exacerbated by the consequences of climate change. Poor water management system affects both farmers and herders. Low food stocks and insecurity increase price volatility in local markets. West Africa cereal production is estimated at approximatively 76 million tons in 2023/2024 farming year, against over 77 million tons in 2022/2023. Post harvest losses are high, over 10 million tons. To curb this alarming food insecurity trend several actions are required, but the following actions are low hanging fruit: (i) create reliable markets for local and regional farmers through institutional procurement; (ii) secure land and water access to mitigate the impact of unpredictable climate conditions on food and livestock systems; (iii) implement effectively the African continental free trade and ECOWAS free movement of persons and goods policy to increase trade flow and remove all tariff and non-tarrif barriers; (iv) feed those in need and leave no-one behind. Happy to discuss further and do not hesitate to share your ideas to end hunger in our region.

Food prices to soar amid threatening extreme weather conditions Food prices in Namibia are anticipated to soar due to threatening weather conditions that will likely negatively impact agricultural production, further exacerbated by the high importation of products, experts have warned. According to @Simonis Storm’s latest Agricultural monthly report, across the globe, meteorologists predict that the upcoming El Niño cycle will likely be the costliest, further heightening the risk of stagflation representing low growth and high inflation. https://lnkd.in/dFuJwb6s #namibia #foodprices

#africa will have a #population of 2.5 billion by 2050 and will only be able to meet 13 per cent of their #food needs. The 240 million who are already malnourished will increase by between 25 per cent and 95 per cent depending on region. Southern Africa will see the biggest increase, followed by West Africa. In three decades, Africa could become a land of the starving - Mutuma Mathiu #acs23 #foodsovereignty #africaclimatesummit23 https://lnkd.in/dFsdGdxk

Dr Simeon Ehui, newly-appointed Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and new Regional Director for Continental Africa, CGIAR, a global network of #foodsecurity research organisations, says #Africa’s food security is worsening. He lists the challenges: the #climatecrisis and extreme weather events that are presently causing #floods in the west and central Africa and #drought in the east; relatively high population growth; migration to urban areas; and specifically, the #UkraineRussia war that triggered soaring prices of chemical fertilisers and grain.

How do you eat if you cannot afford staple food? Fueled by climate change and Russia’s war, 19 countries have now implemented food export restriction, resulting in soaring prices. Here is an example: ➤ Tanzania experienced this year its worst drought in decades ➤ Tanzania restricts exports to protect its own population ➤ Onions prices in the region tripled The same dynamic is happening with rice, cooking oil, corn flour... And will sadly continue to occur, as climate-related disasters have increased by 83% in the last 20 years

As we approach the South Asia Agri Summit 2024, it's crucial to address the pressing challenges currently facing the rice industry. Here's a glimpse of the recent hurdles🌾: - Recent months have seen Southeast Asian countries grappling with rice supply shortages, highlighting a critical issue in regional food security. - Droughts and floods, increasingly frequent due to climate change, have posed significant threats to rice production, impacting both yield and quality. - Historical patterns, such as the strong El Niño events, have previously led to sharp declines in rice output.  - Fluctuations in rice production and market dynamics contribute to rising food insecurity. Join us at the South Asia Agri Summit 2024 to be part of these crucial conversations.🔍 📆 Mark your calendars: January 18-20, 2024 |📍 Bangkok, Thailand 🔗 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/dG63FPUP #southasiaagrisummit #rice #pulses #edibleoil #sugar #spices #dryfruits #innovativestrategies #collaborativeefforts #sustainability #marketstability #foodsecurity #bangkok #southasia #agriculture #agribusiness Bharat Subcontinent Agri Foundation