Food Security In sub-Saharan Africa Research Articles

Optimizing fertilizer use by providing soil quality information: experimental evidence from Madagascar

BackgroundImproving food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) requires increasing agricultural productivity. The increased and effective use of chemical fertilizers is widely recognized as one of the key strategies for achieving this goal. However, many smallholder farmers in SSA still grow crops without using fertilizer, and even when they do use fertilizer, the amount applied is often less than the recommended level. In addition to various constraints related to input markets and farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, uncertainty about crop yield response is known to discourage fertilizer use. The purpose of this study was to investigate how site-specific information on soil characteristics can help farmers optimize their fertilizer application decisions by reducing uncertainty in yield response. Our unique approach uses simple binary information about the expected effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizer based on a single soil parameter.MethodologyThe simple binary information was generated for a focal rice plot of each 70 household. Based on the evaluation of oxalate-extractable phosphorus content in the soil composites collected from each of these plots, each plot was categorized into either high or low in terms of the expected effectiveness of nitrogen application. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to estimate the impact of providing this simple binary information primarily on nitrogen application rate and, consequently, on rice yield and income at plot-level and household-level.ResultsThe results showed that first, compared to those in the target plots of the control households, the nitrogen application rate was greater in the target plots of the treatment households who were informed of the high expected effectiveness. Second, information that the expected effectiveness was high increased the amount of nitrogen fertilizer in the target plot compared to that in other plots with no information about expected effectiveness within a household. Third, this change in fertilizer allocation led to higher rice yields and higher rice incomes at the household level.ConclusionsThese results highlight how the binary information about the expected effectiveness with a single soil parameter can improve fertilizer allocation among rice plots and its use efficiency to increase rice productivity and income.

Intercropping Legumes Improves Long Term Productivity and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractFood, feed, and fiber production needs to increase to support demands of the growing population in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), while soil fertility continues to decline. Intercropping, the cultivation of two or more crop species on the same field, can provide yield benefits and is suggested to positively affect soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks. This study uses the biogeochemical model system LandscapeDNDC with the objective to (a) represent maize‐legume intercropping systems in different bioregions in SSA by simultaneously simulating both crops and their interactions and (b) assess long‐term (20 years) impacts of intercropping under varying mineral fertilizer inputs (0–150 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on productivity as well as soil organic C and N stocks. We test LandscapeDNDC on 82 field data sets (site‐year‐treatment combinations) from 18 sites to represent yields and soil C/N dynamics of maize‐legume intercropping systems. Using the model for long‐term scenario simulations showed that intercropping allows to sustain productivity and to improve or maintain SOC stock in low or zero fertilizer systems if all residues are returned to the soil. In contrast, for sole‐cropped maize systems, a decline in SOC stocks was simulated unless a minimum of 35 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of fertilizer was applied at full residue return. We conclude that intercropping using legumes alongside sufficient residue return allows for stabilizing long‐term yields while avoiding SOC losses even with low fertilizer N inputs. Overall, our study confirms the potential of intercropping as a sustainable agricultural practice that could significantly contribute to food security in SSA.

The effect of natural disasters on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose This study aims to assess the effects of natural disasters on food security in a sample of 40 sub-Saharan African countries. First, the authors assess the effects of natural disasters on the four dimensions of food security and second, the authors disaggregate natural disaster using the two dimensions that are most representative, namely, hydrological and biological disasters. Design/methodology/approach The regressions are based on the generalised method of moments on a data set covering the period 2005–2020. Natural disasters are measured by the total number of people affected and food security by its characteristics: access, availability, use and sustainability. Findings The results show that natural disasters increase the prevalence of undernourishment but reduce dependence on cereal imports. An increase in natural disasters by 1% increases the prevalence of undernourishment by the same proportion. As for import dependency, a 1% increase in natural disasters reduces dependency by 2.2%. The disaggregated effects show that hydrological disasters are more significant than biological disasters in impacting food security. Floods reduce the average energy supply adequacy but also dependence on cereal imports. Policy implications are discussed. Originality/value The study complements the extant literature by assessing the effects of natural disasters on food security in a region where food insecurity is one of the worst in the world.

Climate Change's Effect on Household Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Optimal Monetary Policy

The resurgence of food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa during the past decade highlights the need to comprehend the phenomenon within a framework that includes all economic agents in these times of intensification of climate change. Thus, this paper, using a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model, analyzes the effects of climate shocks occurring in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors on household food security in Sub-Saharan Africa, while determining optimal monetary policy responses to mitigate these adverse effects. Findings highlight that climate shocks affecting the non-agricultural sector are more detrimental to long-term household food security than those affecting the agricultural sector, particularly for urban households. To mitigate these effects, flexible policies targeting food price inflation and headline inflation seem appropriate for rural and urban households, respectively. Nevertheless, in the absence of political and social pressure, flexible headline inflation targeting is optimal for mitigating climate shocks effects on Sub-Saharan Africa's food security.

Random forest machine learning for maize yield and agronomic efficiency prediction in Ghana

Maize (Zea mays) is an important staple crop for food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is need to increase production to feed a growing population. In Ghana, this is mainly done by increasing acreage with adverse environmental consequences, rather than yield increment per unit area. Accurate prediction of maize yields and nutrient use efficiency in production is critical to making informed decisions toward economic and ecological sustainability. We trained the random forest machine learning algorithm to predict maize yield and agronomic efficiency in Ghana using soil, climate, environment, and management factors, including fertilizer application. We calibrated and evaluated the performance of the random forest machine learning algorithm using a 5 × 10-fold nested cross-validation approach. Data from 482 maize field trials consisting of 3136 georeferenced treatment plots conducted in Ghana from 1991 to 2020 were used to train the algorithm, identify important predictor variables, and quantify the uncertainties associated with the random forest predictions. The mean error, root mean squared error, model efficiency coefficient and 90 % prediction interval coverage probability were calculated. The results obtained on test data demonstrate good prediction performance for yield (MEC = 0.81) and moderate performance for agronomic efficiency (MEC = 0.63, 0.55 and 0.54 for AE-N, AE-P and AE-K, respectively). We found that climatic variables were less important predictors than soil variables for yield prediction, but temperature was of key importance to yield prediction and rainfall to agronomic efficiency. The developed random forest models provided a better understanding of the drivers of maize yield and agronomic efficiency in a tropical climate and an insight towards improving fertilizer recommendations for sustainable maize production and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Green economic growth, renewable energy and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study examines the impact of green economic growth and renewable energy on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The rationale for the study comes from the background that with a fast rate of growing population, there is a high pressure on natural resources, which often leads to resource depletion, being experienced across the globe. This study utilises panel data analysis consisting of 37 SSA countries that are members of the Official Development Assistance (ODA). Data was obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period 2005–2022. To control for endogeneity, the study applies the system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM). The result shows that renewable energy and green economic growth have a positive significant impact on food security, though this impact is asymmetric across SSA sub-regions. On the other hand, industrialisation through its emissions, contributes negatively to food security. The implication is that SSA countries should focus on policies aimed at improving green economic growth and renewable energy consumption; while policies aimed at reducing the inefficient adoption of renewable electricity and discouraging industrialisation aimed at suppressing agricultural practices should be adopted.

The Role of Agricultural Innovation in Enhancing Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Role of Agricultural Innovation in Enhancing Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Impact of climate change on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Can financial development offset the damages?

Impact of climate change on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Can financial development offset the damages?

Do Agricultural stakeholder panels enhance post-harvest loss reduction? Evidence from Malawi

Post-harvest loss significantly affects food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and elsewhere across developing countries. Weak institutional factors like ineffective agricultural extension services in rural communities can exacerbate such problems among smallholder farmers in SSA and other developing countries. Therefore, international development policies have prioritized strengthening rural extension systems to enhance access to effective extension services and thereby enhance food security outcomes like ineffective agriculturalpost-harvest loss reduction among rural households. As such, the US-Agency for International Development supported the Strengthening Agricultural and Nutrition Extension program in Malawi from 2015 to 2021 to improve access to rural extension services by promoting Agricultural Stakeholder Panels (ASPs)—platforms designed to enhance farmer interaction with local extension agents in rural communities and thereby enhance improved access to quality extension services in rural areas. The ASP approach can reduce post-harvest losses for major crops, such as maize. However, rigorous analyses of the effects of ASPs on post-harvest loss reduction remain limited. To address this knowledge gap, we apply recursive bivariate probit regression to primary survey data from 2134 households in Malawi to estimate the effects of the ASP approach on post-harvest loss reduction in 2018. The results show that ASPs reduced post-harvest losses among households by 53%, and a crucial outcome that can improve household food security. The result demonstrates that policies that strengthen rural extension systems can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals on hunger and food security in rural Malawi and similar contexts.

Agricultural Innovation and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa in Nigeria

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the agricultural innovation and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa in Nigeria. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: In Nigeria, agricultural innovation is vital for improving food security. Research suggests that adopting innovative farming methods and technologies can boost productivity, resilience to climate change, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Overcoming challenges like limited access to finance and inadequate infrastructure is essential to fully harnessing the benefits of agricultural innovation for food security in Nigeria. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Diffusion of innovations theory, social capital theory & political economy theory may be used to anchor future studies on agricultural innovation and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa in Nigeria. Promote farmer-centered innovation platforms - establishing can facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and co-creation of agricultural innovations. Adequate funding for research institutions, agricultural universities, and extension agencies is essential to conduct applied research, develop appropriate technologies, and provide technical assistance to farmers.

Enhancing food security in sub-Saharan Africa: Investigating the role of environmental degradation, food prices, and institutional quality

In an era of global environmental challenges, understanding the dynamics of food production is crucial, particularly in regions prone to food insecurity and susceptible to climatic variations. Despite extensive research on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a thorough examination of the combined effects of various determinants, including food prices and institutional quality, on food security remains limited. Using panel data from 2002 to 2020, this study explores the effects of agricultural land, population growth, environmental degradation, income per capita, food prices, capital formation, and institutional quality on food security in 32 SSA countries. Based on the Pedroni and Kao cointegration test outcomes, a long-run correlation between food security and its influencing factors is evident. The findings from the pooled mean group (PMG) models reveal that extended agricultural land leads to enhanced food security both in the short- and long-run. Likewise, population expansion, rising per capita income, and capital formation drive higher food demand, contributing positively to food security outcomes. Conversely, environmental degradation poses a significant threat, impairing food security in the SSA. Mixed results are observed with food prices, where higher prices can both enhance and reduce food security. The poor institutional quality in SSA correlates with food insecurity. Importantly, the Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality test results reveal bidirectional causality between food security and most variables, except for food inflation and institutional quality. The method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) strengthens the robustness of the study findings. Building on these insights, the study recommends focusing on sustainable land use practices, effective environmental management strategies, increased agricultural investment, governance reforms, and implementing balanced pricing mechanisms.

IMPACT OF PROVINCIAL LIVESTOCK PROGRAM ON MOUNTAIN PROVINCE LIVELIHOODS: REVIEW

This literature review examines the role of livelihood projects, particularly focusing on small-scale poultry production and livelihood diversification initiatives, in promoting poverty alleviation and enhancing food security in Sub-Saharan Africa and Mountain Province, Philippines. Various studies have highlighted the potential of small-scale poultry farming to uplift rural communities by providing alternative sources of income and nutrition. However, challenges such as disease control and market access must be addressed to maximize the impact of these projects. Similarly, livelihood diversification efforts in Uganda offer opportunities for income generation and poverty reduction but require supportive policies and resources. Additionally, the enactment of Provincial Ordinance No. 264, known as the Barangay Muna Program, by the Provincial Government of Mountain Province underscores a proactive approach to addressing socio-economic needs at the grassroots level. By leveraging local resources and governance structures, these initiatives aim to promote equitable development, social cohesion, and inclusive growth within their respective contexts. Overall, this review underscores the potential of livelihood projects to foster sustainable development and improve the well-being of communities in diverse geographical settings.

Effectiveness of Two Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida) Populations in Controlling Fall Armyworm [(Spodoptera Frugiperda) Lepidoptera: Noctuidae] on Maize

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a recent invasive pest significantly impacting maize production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. While chemical insecticides have offered the most effective control in Ghana, their detrimental effects on human health and the environment necessitate the urgent exploration of alternative, environmentally friendly options. This study compared two entomopathogenic nematodes populations, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae, against a control group (no application) for their efficacy in managing fall armyworm on maize. In the second experiment, S. carpocapsae significantly outperformed both H. bacteriophora and the control in terms of seed weight, achieving a 12.9% increase over the former and a remarkable ninefold improvement over the latter. The first experiment, however, showed no significant difference in seed yield (59 g, 32 g, 2 g) between the two nematode treatments, S. carpocapsae demonstrated the highest yield within this group. Notably, the control group exhibited the highest degree of foliage damage (4.7; 5.0) on a 1-5 scale throughout the study period. Overall, this study demonstrates the superior efficacy of S. carpocapsae compared to H. bacteriophora in controlling fall armyworm on maize. These findings provide valuable understandings for advancing the practical application of entomopathogenic nematodes as a sustainable and eco-friendly biocontrol measure against this devastating pest, contributing to enhanced food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

Does climate variability matter in achieving food security in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Food security in developing regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa is a top priority in global development discourse, as evidenced in Sustainable Development Goal 2. Yet, high climate vulnerability poses serious challenges to food security in Africa even though the literature is inconclusive. Using data from 40 selected Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2000 to 2021, this paper investigates the extent to which climate variability affects food security in SSA. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to construct a food security index derived from its four dimensions (availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability). The proxies for climate variability included precipitation, temperature, and CO2 emissions. The Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) technique, which takes into account the cross-sectional dependency, serial correlation, and heteroscedasticity, was employed. The empirical results show that precipitation and CO2 emissions influence food security positively, while the association between temperature and food security is negative. Indeed, achieving food security in Africa requires robust and feasible policies capable of mitigating climate vulnerability and impacts on the continent.

Globalization and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

The research aimed to assess the impact of globalization and innovation on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 2001 and 2021. The study utilized secondary data from the World Development Indicators to analyze the relationship. Food security was measured in terms of accessibility and availability, represented by the “Food Production Index (2014–2016 = 100)” and “Gross Domestic Product per Capita, PPP, Dissemination (constant 2017 international $)” respectively. The research employed a two-step System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to evaluate the data. The results indicated that globalization showed a direct and statistically insignificant influence on food security availability, but it had a negative and significant effect on food security accessibility. On the other hand, innovation had a direct but statistically insignificant effect on food security availability, while it had a positive and significant impact on food security accessibility. The interaction between globalization and innovation had an indirect but significant effect on food security availability and a direct and significant effect on food security accessibility. Additionally, the study found that arable land and population growth significantly influenced the availability aspect of food security, while arable land indirectly affected the accessibility aspect. Population had a direct but statistically insignificant effect on the accessibility measure of food security. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the governments of SSA countries and other stakeholders should adopt and operate integrated policy approaches that captures the diverse effects that globalization has on food security.

Communally established cattle feedlots as a sustainable livelihood option for climate change resilience and food security in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture and livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa, a region heavily reliant on livestock for smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. This systematic review investigates the potential of communally established cattle feedlots as a sustainable strategy to address the interconnected challenges of climate change resilience and food security in the area. The review focuses on the intensification of climate change, marked by rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, posing a direct threat to the livelihoods of millions in the region. Conducting a systematic literature review, we meticulously analyzed 72 articles that centered on communally established cattle feedlots in sub-Saharan Africa. The inclusion criteria considered studies within the context of climate change resilience and food security, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Published articles, grey literature, and relevant reports were systematically sourced from academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science, complemented by manual searches of journals, conference proceedings, and organizational websites. The synthesis of findings reveals a nuanced landscape of successes and challenges associated with communal feedlots. Through a narrative synthesis, studies were categorized based on key themes, unraveling the impact of communal feedlots on livestock health, economic viability, and socio-economic dynamics. The review highlights the role of communal feedlots in mitigating climate-related shocks, enhancing livestock productivity, and fostering economic opportunities for smallholder farmers. However, challenges related to land tenure, community engagement, and resource allocation emerged as critical considerations. In conclusion, communally established cattle feedlots offer a holistic and sustainable approach to address climate change challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.

Enhancing Governance Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa Can Bolster Climate Mitigation and Food Security

The sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region has experienced substantial population growth over the past decades, accompanied by severe hunger and environmental degradation. Underperforming governance is a major driver of unsustainable agricultural production and land use in SSA. The impacts of governance performance on food security and the environment in SSA require better understanding by considering socioeconomic and biophysical dynamics. Using an agro-economic dynamic optimization model, we investigate the impacts of governance performance on land use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and food security in the SSA region by 2050. Our findings indicate that strong governance could lead to less deforestation, thus reducing GHG emissions in the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector. Strong governance could also improve food security, with higher agricultural productivity, lower food prices and food expenditure share, as well as higher self-sufficiency. These findings highlight that those efforts should extend beyond specific agricultural and environmental measures and promote integrated governance to achieve long-term synergies between food and environmental security in SSA.

New evidence in the relationship between trade openness and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundSince 2015, food insecurity has been a more serious threat than the previous years with a record high observed from the year 2020 onwards, especially in developing countries. This record could be due to response measures, notably the closure of borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that trade openness have played an important role in achieving food security in the world. However, the debate on the effect of trade openness on food security remains no consensus in the economic literature. It is in this context that this paper aims to re-examine the effect of trade openness on food security in sub-Saharan African countries.MethodsPanel data covering 37 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period from 2004 to 2018 were mobilized. We use a dynamic empirical model based on the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) to control the unobserved heterogeneity and potential endogeneity of the explanatory variables. As food security is a multidimensional concept, we used four indicators (“average dietary energy supply adequacy”, “average protein supply”, “per capita food supply variability”, and “share of dietary energy supply”) to capture food security. To improve the robustness of the empirical effect of openness on food security, we also used globalization as an alternative factor to trade openness.ResultsThe empirical results show that trade openness significantly improves food security in 37 Sub-Saharan African countries. However, in the presence of political instability, a deterioration of the food security situation is observed. The results reveal also that the quality of institutions, economic growth, remittances, human capital, and the importance of the agricultural sector are also factors favouring the level of food security in sub-Saharan Africa countries.ConclusionAny policy aimed at trade openness must consider the quality of institutions to achieve the expected results.

The nexus between greenhouse gas emissions and food security in sub-Saharan Africa: A system GMM analysis

The nexus between greenhouse gas emissions and food security in sub-Saharan Africa: A system GMM analysis

How Worried Are You about Food Fraud? A Preliminary Multi-Country Study among Consumers in Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries.

Food fraud is an old, recurring, and global threat to public health. It poses a serious threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the prevalence of food fraud in SSA, little is known about how food fraud is viewed by consumers. This study aims to provide an overview of consumers' concerns about food fraud in SSA. A multi-country survey was conducted in October 2022-31 January 2023, and 838 valid responses were returned. To reduce the large and correlated dataset, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used. Five components were derived from PCA: (i) Staple foods; (ii) Premium food and drink products; (iii) Trust in reliable sources; (iv) Trust in less reliable sources; and (v) Trust in food vendors. The findings revealed Ghanaian (mean rank = 509.47) and Nigerian (mean rank = 454.82) consumers tended to score higher on the measure of food fraud concern suggesting that they were less confident in the safety and quality of the food they consume. Demographic characteristics including age, number of children, personal and family experience of food fraud and PCA components such as 'Staple foods', 'Trust in reliable sources', and 'Trust in food vendors' significantly predicted the model. This is the first preliminary study to provide empirical findings on consumers' concerns about food fraud in SSA. Practical and policy recommendations for the region are suggested. This includes (i) modelling the AfriFoodinTegrity in West Africa across other major regions such as Central, East, and Southern Africa; (ii) establish a regional sub-Saharan Africa Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (SSA-RASFF) platform; and (iii) food safety and food fraud reports could be incorporated into SSA-RASFF portal for information sharing.