- Some regions have received less than 50% of their usual annual rainfall, exacerbating the continent’s food insecurity crisis.
- Global warming is the increase in earth’s average surface temperature due to anthropogenic activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases.
- Without addressing the root causes of food insecurity, the pain and suffering of children in Zambia and across Africa will persist.
In many African countries, food insecurity remains both a persistent and devastating issue, with Zambia being a realistic example.
Women and children, the most vulnerable segment of the population, bear the brunt of this crisis, enduring severe hunger and malnutrition daily.
In rural areas, families struggle to access sufficient food due to high rates of unemployment, economic instability, poverty, and the challenges posed by urbanisation.
The reliance and full dependence on a single staple crop, combined with unreliable rainfall and insufficient irrigation, continue to hamper agricultural productivity.
These factors have led to inadequate food supplies and soaring prices, making it difficult for families to afford even the most basic necessities.
At a recent continental webinar organised by Green Cosmos Zambia, titled “Causes of Food Insecurity in Africa,” experts highlighted climate change as a major disruptor of traditional farming patterns.
Speakers agreed that unpredictable weather, prolonged droughts, and severe floods are severely impacting agricultural productivity across the continent.
Ruth Kayama, a community-based worker in Lusaka, Zambia, reports that Africa is experiencing its worst drought on record due to the ongoing effects of El Niño.
Some regions have received less than 50% of their usual annual rainfall, exacerbating the continent’s food insecurity crisis.
She says sustainable agricultural practices, climate adaptation strategies, and improved urban planning are critical to reversing food insecurity for future generations in Africa.
“Last year, large parts of Africa experienced erratic rains and long dry spells during a crucial planting stage, worsening an already precarious situation. Significant rainfall deficits of nearly 50 per cent were recorded across the continent, especially in January and March,” says Ms Kayama.
Vulnerable Populations
According to Hiroaki Sonoda, Value Chain Development Specialist at FAO, close to 60 per cent of households in Zambia engage in some form of agricultural activity, primarily for their own consumption.
He notes with regret that the contribution of agriculture to the country’s GDP has sharply declined, from 24 per cent in 2000 to just 2.6 per cent in 2019.
Ms Kayama points to dictatorship, discriminatory leadership, and ongoing conflicts as major concerns that must be addressed.
Insensitive leadership in many African nations, according to her, fails to tackle food insecurity objectively, leaving millions, especially children, to suffer from hunger.
Ms Kayama now believes a desired breakthrough lies in looking at new methods of agricultural production, which includes partnering with farmers, in order to explore sustainable ways of producing key crops such as wheat, cassava and maize in small holder farming systems.
Moses Chirwa, a Green Cosmos Volunteer, based in Lusaka, says food security situation in Africa is a victim of global warming.
Global warming is the increase in earth’s average surface temperature due to anthropogenic activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases.
“Climate change encompasses a broader range of changes, including not only warming but also shifts in precipitation patterns, sea level rise, and other impacts on earth’s climate system. Sustainable agricultural practices require reliable rainfall,” says Chirwa.
Rural Struggles
Magdalena Tembo, an Environmental Health Technologist, in Kafue, Zambia, highlights the challenges faced by local communities due to economic fluctuations, widespread poverty, and dependence on a single staple crop.
These factors, she explained, severely impact the availability and affordability of food in the region.
She says the impact on children is particularly heart-wrenching.
“Malnutrition leads to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and diminished cognitive abilities, setting back educational and developmental milestones. Schools often report high absenteeism rates as children are too weak to attend, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty and food insecurity,” says Ms Tembo.
Ms Tembo underscores the new trend in rapid city growth as the latest cause of food insecurity. She says urbanization leads to emerging trend of food inaccessibility occasioned by limited food in the market. She asserts the sorry state of almost all city dwellers being consumers and not producers.
She adds that health crises such as the recent Covid-19 affected food security, hence impacting the food supply chain.
Role of Governance and Leadership
“There is no denying that government is at the centre of this confusion. Political decisions and policies play crucial role in food distribution, trade agreements and tariffs, provision of fertilisers and seeds, and subsidies for farmers. This is something any responsible government can fix,” Ms Tembo says.
Martin Mulenga, CEO Green Cosmos Zambia, at the launch of the continental webinar, stated that African countries face economic hardships that limit their ability to invest in agriculture and food production systems.
He explained that high levels of poverty is an indication that even when food is available, it may not be accessible to those who need it the most.
“Poor infrastructure, including roads and storage facilities, complicate the transport and preservation of food, leading to significant post-harvest losses. It was time governments stepped in to take control of the situation,” he advises.
Addressing food insecurity in Africa, according to Mulenga, requires a holistic approach that combines immediate relief with long term strategies for sustainable agricultural development, economic growth and political stability.
“Unfortunately, we have political dealers and not political leaders. This crop of African leadership has baptised politics as business and not service. In order to realize food security for the continent, we need a cognitive restructuring starting with the political players, and acknowledging food as a first priority without any other selfish consideration,” says Mulenga.
He adds that inadequate farming methods, lack of access to modern technology and limited agricultural education hinder agricultural productivity.
Investing in modern farming practices, according to him, through provision of quality seed varieties can improve yields.
Call for Comprehensive Reforms
According to the report, Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition – Statistics and Trends 2023, nearly 282 million people in Africa (about 20 per cent of the population) are undernourished, an increase of 57 million people since the Covid-19 pandemic began. More than a billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet.
The report also revealed that around 30 per cent of children are stunted because of malnutrition.
The 2024 Global Food Policy Report released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) highlights the importance of sustainable healthy diets and delivers evidence-based recommendations on ways to make the foods that form these diets more desirable, affordable, accessible and available while considering environmental impacts.
According to the report, progress in reducing undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies has slowed in low- and middle-income countries, while overweight and obesity has rapidly increased in the world.
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The report draws on a comprehensive food systems framework to recommend transformative actions which includes tackling demand side challenges, such as affordability and consumer preferences, together with improving food environments and addressing supply side issues to enhance food security.
International aid organisations are working tirelessly to provide emergency food supplies and implement sustainable agricultural practices. However, the need for comprehensive political and economic reforms remains critical.
Without addressing the root causes of food insecurity, the pain and suffering of children in Zambia and across Africa will persist, casting a long shadow over the continent’s future
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