Status of Food Security in the Arab Region

Abstract

Most Arab countries have made progress in enhancing their food security situation during the last twelve years. Domestic production of food commodities increased considerably and is expected to continue to rise. The production of grains in the Arab Region was estimated at about 55.5 million tons in 2013. In the same year, the total number of livestock was estimated at about 345 million head, comprised mostly of poor producing animals. The Arab Region produced around 4.0 million tons of poultry meat by the end of 2013 and this is expected to increase in the future. The poultry industry in the Arab Region relies heavily on imported inputs and is consequently unsustainable. The production of the fisheries sector in the region was estimated at 4.3 million tons of fish in 2013. The contribution of aquaculture (about 25.7 %) to the total fish production in the Arab Region is modest compared to its global contribution. Some Arab countries have over 30 % of the population living in conditions classified as “poor”. About 308.9 million tons of major food commodities were available for consumers in Arab countries in 2013, an increase of 12.7 million tons over 2012. Thirteen Arab countries were classified as “low” on the Global Hunger Index for 2014, and one country was classified “moderate”. Three countries were classified “serious”, while another three were classified “alarming”. Arab countries are unlikely to achieve high ratios of food self sufficiency; however, they can maintain and improve the current ratios of food self sufficiency.