African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

African Water Development Report 2006only Cameroon showing increased value in 2003(Figure 8.2), even though in terms of values,Mauritius seems to maintain a very good level.Figure 8.3 shows the gross and per capita indicesof agricultural and food production in Cameroonfor the period 1990 - 2000.The Main Causes of Food Insecurityand VulnerabilityThere are many natural and man-made factorsthat affect agricultural production and enhancementin Africa, leading to endemic malnutrition,persistent hunger and even famine in varioussubregions of the continent. Primary amongstthem are the following constraints (FAO, 2000):Political ConstraintsThe African continent, which is more familiarwith the pangs of hunger than any other region inthe world, is ravaged by an array of armed conflictsoccurring within countries or between neighbouringcountries (Angola, Burundi, Congo, the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia,Sudan, Uganda and so on). These troubles, whicharise from political crises, not only cause terriblehuman suffering, including massive populationdisplacement and the enforced recruitment ofchildren, but also paralyse production structuresand absorb virtually all of the national and internationalfinancial resources that should have beenallocated to development programmes. Althoughthe situation is improving in the Congo, Liberia,Rwanda and Sierra Leone, as a result of agreementsbetween the warring parties, food supplyis still a source of concern, especially for women,children and mutilated adults. In the Sudan, thepercentage of needs met this year is far below thatof 1998 (FAO, 2000).Figure 8.3: Agricultural and Food Production Indices in Cameroon160140120Agricultural ProductionIndexAgricultural Per CapitaProduction IndexFood Production Index100Food Per CapitaProduction IndexIndices8060402001990 1992 1999 2000Source: AWDR National Report, 2003.194