AFRICA AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT 2016

Table 10.1: Number of undernourished people
(millions), 1990–1992 and 2014–2016
Sub-region
Number of undernourished
(millions)
1990–1992 2014–2016
Change
so far (%)
Eastern Africa 103.9 124.2 19.6
Central Africa 24.2 58.9 147.7
Western Africa 44.6 31.8 -29.4
Southern Africa 3.1 3.2 2.3
SSA 175.7 217.8 23.9
Source: FAO (2015a)
Figure 10.2: Current share of undernourished
people by sub-region (2014–2016)
E. Africa
57
%
C. Africa
27
Figure 10.4 shows that the proportion of poor people
(living on less than US$1.25 per day) in SSA declined
from 61 percent in 1993 to 47 percent in 2011. The high
levels of poverty are compounded by the complex nature
of inequality in Africa. Also, the level of decline is much
slower than the world’s trends. In all the sub-regions of
SSA, trends in the prevalence of underweight children
have been decreasing (Figure 10.5). However, in most
countries in SSA an estimated 3 out of 10 children
under 5 years of age are still stunted (Figure 10.6; FAO,
2015a).
Undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying
from common infections, increases the frequency and
severity of such infections, and contributes to delayed
recovery. Undernutrition also has long-term effects that
include mental illness (Victora et al., 2008), hypertension
and diabetes, and impaired working capacity, leading to
poor productivity causing negative consequences on
individual health and standard of living of the affected
individuals throughout their life (Martins et al., 2011).
Although significant progress has been made in reducing
undernutrition (Figure 10.7), more effort is needed,
especially in West and Central Africa. Rethinking our
food systems is one way that can significantly contribute
to the reduction of undernutrition in all its forms.
Defining the Concepts
Food security: a four-dimension concept
S. Africa
14
Source: FAO (2015a) and IFPRI (2014)
W. Africa
14
According to FAO (2015c), 40 countries were assessed in
terms of their state of food insecurity in 2015. The report
indicated that the number of countries that achieved the
MDG target has almost doubled in SSA; and the results
of the 2014–2016 assessment are shown in Figure 10.3
and the accompanying map. The region is showing some
commitment to improve food security and nutrition. However,
it is unclear which of the four dimensions of food security—
availability, access, stability, and utilization—has accounted
for most of the improved food security and nutrition situation
over this period.
This chapter adopts the 1996 World Food Summit definition
of food security. It states that food security exists: “when all
people, at all times, have physical and economic access to
sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”
(Pinstrup-Andersen, 2009, 5). This definition has evolved
over the years to encompass these four dimensions: food
availability; access to food; utilization; and stability. For
SSA to be food secure, all four dimensions of food security
should be addressed (Capone, Bilali, Debs, Cardone, &
Driouech, 2014; FAO, 2006).
Food availability, defined as the availability of sufficient
quantities of food of appropriate quality, supplied
through domestic production or imports (including
food aid) (Carletto, Zezza, & Banerjee, 2013), can
be improved through post-harvest technologies that
increase the shelf-life of perishable fresh foods such
as fruits, vegetables, milk and some animal products.
Drying and canning or processing technologies allow
food to last longer without spoiling, while preserving
the nutrient content of the food and reducing food loss,
thereby increasing food availability.
234 AFRICA AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT 2016