The Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University published in September 2014 a study titled "China-Africa Agricultural Co-operation: Mutual Benefits or Self-interest?" by Rex Ukaejiofo.
The author concluded that China's investment strategies in Africa are not completely self-serving as some critics argue. China's engagement with African agriculture represents an opportunity for African states to gain some form of partnership for development, an alternative that promises mutual benefit. The author adds that Africa must do better in leveraging Chinese engagement for maximum benefit. The challenge is to develop new models for doing business with China, establishing ethical codes, and elevating practices that are rooted in a commitment to implement the demands that meet the needs of Africa.
Showing posts with label food security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food security. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Somalia: Food Security, Remittances, and Counterterrorism
The Africa Research Institute published on 21 July 2014 a summary of a discussion on threats to Somali food security, remittances, and counterterrorism. The participants were Degan Ali, executive director of Adeso, Sara Pantuliano, director, Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI, and Abdirashid Duale, CEO of Dahabshiil.
Concerning food security, the participants said Somalia is on the brink of another famine. They said there is a direct relationship between remittances and food security in Somalia. An estimated $1.3 billion is remitted to Somalia from the diaspora each year. They argued that counterterrorism legislation in the West has severely hampered relief efforts in Somalia and threatened remittance flows.
Concerning food security, the participants said Somalia is on the brink of another famine. They said there is a direct relationship between remittances and food security in Somalia. An estimated $1.3 billion is remitted to Somalia from the diaspora each year. They argued that counterterrorism legislation in the West has severely hampered relief efforts in Somalia and threatened remittance flows.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
China-Africa Agricultural Co-operation: Static or Evolving?
The Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) at Stellenbosch University published on 28 April 2014 a brief commentary titled "China-Africa Agricultural Co-operation: Static or Evolving?" by Rex Ukaejiofo, visiting scholar at CCS.
The author concluded that China is strongly encouraging agricultural investment in Africa to help Africa feed itself and for a larger global food security strategy. At the same time, he said the China-Africa agricultural partnership seems to have not maintained the pace that was promised at the FOCAC summits in 2006 and 2009.
The author concluded that China is strongly encouraging agricultural investment in Africa to help Africa feed itself and for a larger global food security strategy. At the same time, he said the China-Africa agricultural partnership seems to have not maintained the pace that was promised at the FOCAC summits in 2006 and 2009.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Update on Somali Famine 2010-2012
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| Famine in Somalia. Flickr/United Nations |
A two page summary of the study said a combination of events triggered the famine. First, the eastern Horn of Africa experienced the driest period in 60 years. Second, donors delivered a low amount of humanitarian aid in southern Somalia in 2010 and much of 2011. In many areas, conflict and insecurity impeded humanitarian aid and access. You can access the complete 87 page report titled "Mortality among populations of southern and central Somalia affected by severe food insecurity and famine during 2010-2012" by following the link in the summary.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
US Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Obama Administration released on 14 June 2012 a major white paper titled U.S. Strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa. Click here to access the document.
The strategy is a solidification of existing policy rather than a statement of new policy. There are no new major initiatives and the paper comes out in a budget climate where it is not reasonable to expect new U.S. government financial flows to Africa. Nevertheless, it does offer a good statement of current U.S. policy towards Sub-Saharan Africa.
The paper does propose a "Doing Business with Africa Campaign" to mobilize the U.S. private sector. If pursued seriously, this could have significant impact. But even this modest project has unfortunate timing. One of the key actors in any such program is the U.S. Department of Commerce and there is no indication that new resources are being made available to support the program within Commerce or by the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The Secretary of Commerce recently experienced a medical issue and may not be available to lend his stature to the initiative.
For a similar reaction to the white paper, click here to read a blog posting by Sarah Margon at the Center for American Progress and previously on the staff of former Senate Africa Subcommittee Chairman Russell Feingold.
The strategy is a solidification of existing policy rather than a statement of new policy. There are no new major initiatives and the paper comes out in a budget climate where it is not reasonable to expect new U.S. government financial flows to Africa. Nevertheless, it does offer a good statement of current U.S. policy towards Sub-Saharan Africa.
The paper does propose a "Doing Business with Africa Campaign" to mobilize the U.S. private sector. If pursued seriously, this could have significant impact. But even this modest project has unfortunate timing. One of the key actors in any such program is the U.S. Department of Commerce and there is no indication that new resources are being made available to support the program within Commerce or by the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The Secretary of Commerce recently experienced a medical issue and may not be available to lend his stature to the initiative.
For a similar reaction to the white paper, click here to read a blog posting by Sarah Margon at the Center for American Progress and previously on the staff of former Senate Africa Subcommittee Chairman Russell Feingold.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Ethiopia Slide Shows
The World Bank recently posted two brief slide shows about Ethiopia. One is titled Ethiopia: A Photographic Journal and highlights World Bank programs in Ethiopia. It comes with an audio track. The second is titled Ethiopia: Toward Food Security. Both have excellent photographs of Ethiopia.
You can access the photographic journal by clicking here. You can access the food security piece by clicking here.
You can access the photographic journal by clicking here. You can access the food security piece by clicking here.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Food Security and the Horn of Africa
The National Defense University (NDU) in Washington hosted a day long conference on 8 March 2012 on the food security crisis in the Horn of Africa. Several hundred persons, including many from the U.S. military, attended. I participated in a panel discussion on "Political and Security Issues in the Horn of Africa."
I made three points in brief opening remarks. First, referring to earlier remarks by Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, President of NDU, that food is a weapon, I suggested that food can be a weapon and on occasion has been a weapon in the Horn of Africa. Normally, however, emergency food aid is not a weapon. On at least three occasions in the Horn, it has been used as a weapon. During the horrible famine in Ethiopia in the mid-1980s, the Derg regime made efforts to prevent emergency food aid from reaching those famine-impacted areas of Ethiopia, especially Tigray, that were in rebellion against the Derg. During efforts in 1992-1993 by the international community to deliver food to Somali famine victims, Somali warlords disrupted the food distribution system for their own gains. Most recently, the al-Shabaab extremist organization in Somalia has prevented a number of international organizations from delivering food aid to Somali famine victims under its control.
Second, I argued that much of the Horn of Africa now has a structural food deficit. Ethiopia even in a normal crop year must import food to feed some three to four million people every year. Ethiopia has had a structural food deficit since the final years of the Haile Selassie government in the early 1970s. To its credit, Ethiopia has developed emergency systems that have prevented famines since the early 1990s although food shortages remain a serious problem. Sudan was once considered to be the potential "breadbasket" of the Horn of Africa. It had excellent agricultural potential. Once Sudan discovered oil, however, it concluded it was a lot easier to export oil than food. Its agricultural sector deteriorated. More recently, it lost control of 75 percent of its oil to South Sudan. It now badly needs to rebuild its agricultural infrastructure just to feed its own people. Somalia has been a failed state since 1991, requiring emergency food assistance every year since then to feed its people. There is no end in sight. Eritrea, Djibouti and even Kenya also experience food shortages. South Sudan may become the next Horn of Africa poster child for famine. The World Food Program estimates that 4.7 million people in South Sudan will be food insecure in 2012 and one million of them will be severely food insecure.
Third, I want to suggest a cautionary note on early predictions about famine and food shortages. They often significantly exaggerate the actual situation and occasionally significantly understate the problem. They are rarely on target. The international relief community and non-government organizations that make these estimates have a vested interest in predicting the worst possible situation in order to raise awareness and attract donor contributions. This is understandable. Last year, some of the most authoritative estimates suggested that up to 750,000 persons could die during the looming famine in Somalia. There were severe food shortages in other parts of the Horn but no famine. While 750,000 and an even higher figure was always a possibility, it was a worst case scenario that was widely used to attract more donations. The 25 February 2012 issue of The Economist reported that at least 80,000 persons died in the famine and 2.3 million continue to need food assistance. This is a huge number and 80,000 deaths too many, but it is not even close to the projected 750,000 figure.
I made three points in brief opening remarks. First, referring to earlier remarks by Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, President of NDU, that food is a weapon, I suggested that food can be a weapon and on occasion has been a weapon in the Horn of Africa. Normally, however, emergency food aid is not a weapon. On at least three occasions in the Horn, it has been used as a weapon. During the horrible famine in Ethiopia in the mid-1980s, the Derg regime made efforts to prevent emergency food aid from reaching those famine-impacted areas of Ethiopia, especially Tigray, that were in rebellion against the Derg. During efforts in 1992-1993 by the international community to deliver food to Somali famine victims, Somali warlords disrupted the food distribution system for their own gains. Most recently, the al-Shabaab extremist organization in Somalia has prevented a number of international organizations from delivering food aid to Somali famine victims under its control.
Second, I argued that much of the Horn of Africa now has a structural food deficit. Ethiopia even in a normal crop year must import food to feed some three to four million people every year. Ethiopia has had a structural food deficit since the final years of the Haile Selassie government in the early 1970s. To its credit, Ethiopia has developed emergency systems that have prevented famines since the early 1990s although food shortages remain a serious problem. Sudan was once considered to be the potential "breadbasket" of the Horn of Africa. It had excellent agricultural potential. Once Sudan discovered oil, however, it concluded it was a lot easier to export oil than food. Its agricultural sector deteriorated. More recently, it lost control of 75 percent of its oil to South Sudan. It now badly needs to rebuild its agricultural infrastructure just to feed its own people. Somalia has been a failed state since 1991, requiring emergency food assistance every year since then to feed its people. There is no end in sight. Eritrea, Djibouti and even Kenya also experience food shortages. South Sudan may become the next Horn of Africa poster child for famine. The World Food Program estimates that 4.7 million people in South Sudan will be food insecure in 2012 and one million of them will be severely food insecure.
Third, I want to suggest a cautionary note on early predictions about famine and food shortages. They often significantly exaggerate the actual situation and occasionally significantly understate the problem. They are rarely on target. The international relief community and non-government organizations that make these estimates have a vested interest in predicting the worst possible situation in order to raise awareness and attract donor contributions. This is understandable. Last year, some of the most authoritative estimates suggested that up to 750,000 persons could die during the looming famine in Somalia. There were severe food shortages in other parts of the Horn but no famine. While 750,000 and an even higher figure was always a possibility, it was a worst case scenario that was widely used to attract more donations. The 25 February 2012 issue of The Economist reported that at least 80,000 persons died in the famine and 2.3 million continue to need food assistance. This is a huge number and 80,000 deaths too many, but it is not even close to the projected 750,000 figure.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Ethiopia, Lifestock and Food Security
Brighter Green, a New York-based public policy action organization, used climate change as the point of entry to explore the effects of the expansion and intensification of the livestock sector in Ethiopia for food security, resource use, equity and sustainability. Titled Climate, Food Security, and Growth: Ethiopia's Complex Relationship with Livestock, the study appeared in 2011.
Brighter Green's research examines whether Ethiopia can industrialize its livestock sector, primarily to serve export markets, without forestalling or derailing development prospects for a population that is expected to reach 150-170 million by 2050. It also investigates whether such a path is viable when large numbers of Ethiopians already have difficulty gaining access to good soils, grazing land, and water. Food security is a huge national challenge and the effects of climate change are increasingly felt.
Brighter Green questions whether Ethiopia's expansion and intensification of its animal-agriculture sector is constraining its chances of coping effectively with drought and erratic weather. Africa will be among the most affected by global warming, even though it has contributed almost nothing to the problem. Africa's greenhouse gas emissions constitute less than 5 percent of the world's total, and Ethiopia's contribution is less than one-tenth of one percent.
Brighter Green recommends that the Ethiopian government adopt a long-term plan for achieving food security that emphasizes nutritious and sustainably produced foods for human consumption, reassess its heavy reliance on livestock, and end policies that encourage further industrialization of this sector, while working to expand domestic capacity to produce vegetables, fruits, pulses, and cereals for Ethiopians.
Brighter Green's research examines whether Ethiopia can industrialize its livestock sector, primarily to serve export markets, without forestalling or derailing development prospects for a population that is expected to reach 150-170 million by 2050. It also investigates whether such a path is viable when large numbers of Ethiopians already have difficulty gaining access to good soils, grazing land, and water. Food security is a huge national challenge and the effects of climate change are increasingly felt.
Brighter Green questions whether Ethiopia's expansion and intensification of its animal-agriculture sector is constraining its chances of coping effectively with drought and erratic weather. Africa will be among the most affected by global warming, even though it has contributed almost nothing to the problem. Africa's greenhouse gas emissions constitute less than 5 percent of the world's total, and Ethiopia's contribution is less than one-tenth of one percent.
Brighter Green recommends that the Ethiopian government adopt a long-term plan for achieving food security that emphasizes nutritious and sustainably produced foods for human consumption, reassess its heavy reliance on livestock, and end policies that encourage further industrialization of this sector, while working to expand domestic capacity to produce vegetables, fruits, pulses, and cereals for Ethiopians.
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