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.

Zimbabwe is Free from Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMY): The Chief Virus for Maize Lethal Necrosis

Zimbabwe is one of the largest exporters of hybrid maize seed to markets in East Africa, Southern Africa and recently into West Africa. This export business is threatened by invasive pests likely to impact market access, food security and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Chief among the pests is Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), which vector spreads maize disease caused by the co-infection of Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) from the genus Machlomovirus in the Tombusviridae family and any Potyviridae virus and it can cause up to 100% yield losses.

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?

Intra‐African trade and corruption: Evidence from sub‐Saharan African countries

AbstractCross‐border trade is critical to livelihoods and food security in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), but bribery remains one of the main barriers to economic growth in the region. Does corruption affect intra‐African trade? We address this issue by considering the bilateral trade among 48 sub‐Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2018, which are subject to a high level of corruption. Using a gravity model, the results show that corruption has a positive impact on exports and a negative impact on imports of global, primary, and manufactured goods. However, the difference in the level of corruption between country pairs is negatively and significantly associated with intra‐African trade in manufactured goods. Therefore, to promote the corruption‐free environment needed to facilitate the African Free Trade Agreement, it is essential for policymakers in sub‐Saharan African countries to combat corruption to boost intra‐African trade.

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.

Domestication of wild indigenous fruit trees in Rwanda: Perspectives from rural communities

Wild indigenous fruit trees (WIFTs) play a vital role in food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, these resources are currently less accessible to rural populations due to the expanding arable lands and over-exploitation of the trees in the wild, which lead to a decline in their population. This study (i) explored the availability and uses of WIFTs in the Nyamagabe and Bugesera districts of Rwanda (ii) identified challenges and potential interventions for domestication of WIFTs, (iii) assessed community perceptions on WIFTs domestication primarily as integrated system components in smallholder's farm (iv) and also determined the priority species for domestication. A total of 380 respondents from Bugesera and Nyamagabe districts were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively using the SPSS software analysis tools. Results revelaled a total of 19 WIFTs, 15 from the Bugesera district, and five from the Nyamagabe district with one species occurring in both districts. The recorded WIFTs were used mainly as food, medicine and fuel wood. Despite a decline in population locally, most respondents were interested in domesticating WIFTs and expressed willingness to integrate them on their farmlands once the planting materials are availed. From the study a suggestion to promote the domestication of the priority WIFTs through a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, research institutions and other stakeholders is important. This will ensure not only the sustainability of the WIFTs species to communities but also contribute to their socio-economic development once the products are developed through proper value chains addition.

Management of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita using black soldier fly frass in soybean [Glycine max (L.)

Glycine max (L.) is a leguminous crop used by humans and livestock; it is an alternative protein source that offers almost the same quality as animal protein. Currently, its productivity has been affected by Meloidogyne incognita, which threatens food quality and security in Sub-Saharan Africa by 25-70%. Research has been conducted to extract the knowledge and inputs that will be effective in solving nematode problems, as the available methods are inefficient, inaccessible, and expensive. This study aimed to use BSFF in managing M. incognita in Soybean cultivation. The study was conducted in Mwanza-Tanzania, where seven treatments following a CRD design were inoculated with 1000 J2 of M. incognita and replicated six times. Results showed that BSFF from Hermetia illucens has the potential to minimize the effect of M. incognita in soybean, where the number of galls was reduced from 104 in 0.0 kg BSFF/inoculated to 3 in 1.0 kg BSFF/inoculated, followed by 6.33, 23.67, 51.51 and 52.50 galls in 0.75 kg BSFF/inoculated, 0.5 kg BSFF/inoculated, 50mL chitosan /inoculated, and 0.25 kg BSFF/inoculated, respectively. Also, symptoms such as chlorosis were reduced from nine leaves in 0.0 kg BSFF/inoculated to zero in 1.0 kg BSFF. Therefore, the study found that BSFF is a sustainable way to minimize the effect of M. incognita and maximize the performance of soybean production, as it offers soil management benefits, and enhances social and economic welfare by reducing the use of harmful, expensive chemicals that interfere human health and economy.

Economic Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Possible Ways to Address New Challenges

The observed decline in the level of Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) countries economic security is due to the increasing influence of both external factors (the rising volatility of global financial and commodity markets, changes in the policies of international economic organizations and a number of countries, etc.) and internal factors, largely related to their own socio-economic and, in some cases, political instability. This is manifested primarily in the insufficient food supply in the SSA countries as a consequence of the ongoing agricultural crisis. Possible ways to overcome this challenge are connected with the transformation of the agriculture sectors into productive, profitable, and reliable systems that will allow the SSA countries to reach and maintain food security. The agricultural policy aimed at this must take into account the specifics of the local crops and livestock production, the local climate, and the state of rural infrastructure, while making extensive use of new technologies and digital innovations. One of the most important factors for stable economic development is energy security in the context of the ongoing energy transition. The problematic state of energy supply in the SSA countries is manifested in the insufficient supply of electricity for both industrial sectors and the population, rolling blackouts, and rising tariffs. African countries see a solution to this challenge in implementing the strategy aimed at expanding national and regional networks based on the rational use of all available energy resources, creating off-grid systems and small-scale generation in remote areas using renewable energy sources, which will facilitate access to sustainable and technologically advanced energy. Further expansion of cooperation in almost all areas of the energy spectrum between African states and Russian public and private companies, as well as leading universities, will contribute to solving many problems of economic security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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.

Performance and Stability Analysis of Extra-Early Maturing Orange Maize Hybrids under Drought Stress and Well-Watered Conditions

The consistently low yield turnout of maize on farmers’ fields owing to drought and the nutritional challenges attributable to the consumption of white endosperm maize pose a major threat to food and nutritional security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The objectives of this study were to assess the performance of newly developed extra-early maturing orange hybrids under managed drought and well-watered conditions, compare the outcomes of multiple-trait base index and multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index selection procedures, and identify drought-tolerant hybrids with stable performance across contrasting environments for commercialization in SSA. One hundred and ninety orange hybrids and six checks were evaluated under managed drought and well-watered conditions at Ikenne for two seasons between 2021 and 2023. A 14 × 14-lattice design was used for the field evaluations under both research conditions. Drought stress was achieved by the complete withdrawal of irrigation water 25 days after planting. Results revealed significant differences among the hybrids under drought and well-watered conditions. Grain yield, ears per plant, and plant aspect under managed drought were correlated to the same traits under well-watered conditions, suggesting that the expression of these traits is governed by common genetic factors. Twenty-nine hybrids were identified as top-performing drought-tolerant hybrids by the multiple-trait base index and the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index. Of the selected outstanding 29 hybrids, 34% were derived from crosses involving the tester TZEEIOR 197, demonstrating the outstanding genetic potential of this inbred line. Further analysis of the 29 selected hybrids revealed TZEEIOR 509 × TZEEIOR 197 as the hybrid that combined the most drought-tolerant adaptive traits. However, the hybrids TZEEIOR 526 × TZEEIOR 97, TZEEIOR 384 × TZEEIOR 30, TZEEIOR 515 × TZEEIOR 249, TZEEIOR 510 × TZEEIOR 197, TZEEIOR 479 × TZEEIOR 197, and TZEEIOR 458 × TZEEIOR 197 were identified as the most stable hybrids across drought and well-watered conditions. These hybrids should be extensively tested in multi-location trials for deployment and commercialization in SSA.

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.