Keys Determinants of Food Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper identifies the factors that contributed to the persistence of food insecurity (FI) in sub-saharan Africa (SSA) between 1990 and 2019. The sample consists of 29 countries with data obtained from the Food and Agricultural Organisation 2021, World Development Indicators 2021, International Country Risk Guide 2021 and Polity IV 2021 databases. We use the principal component analysis (PCA) to construct the composite food insecurity index. We then employ the average bayesian model (ABM) and the general to specific (GETS) approach for robustness to identify the main determinants of food insecurity in SSA. The PCA result reveals that FI in SSA results from the dimensions of food availability, food utilization and food stability. As for the ABM, results confirmed by the robustness of the GETS approach, indicated that income level, Arable land, demography and lack of democracy are the main determinants that favour FI in SSA. In contrast, rural population and education reduce FI. There is an urgent need in strengthening agricultural strategies and an inclusive distribution of national wealth followed by political accountability in other to fight against FI.