抄録
This presentation addresses the critical challenges facing food security in Africa. Although agriculture remains a central pillar of the region’s economy, some factors such as delays in extending appropriate cultivation techniques among African farmers, low levels of chemical fertilizer application and limited irrigated land area, continue to constrain productivity, which remains markedly lower than that in Asia. In 2023, an estimated 58.0% of Africa’s population experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, substantially exceeding the global average. Sub-Saharan Africa remains heavily reliant on imports of staple grains, such as wheat and rice, with rice imports, in particular, exhibiting an upward trajectory. The productivity of rice and maize in Africa is estimated to be approximately half that in Asian countries. Between 2020 and 2021, the cost of a healthy diet rose sharply across the continent, placing a significant burden on the low-income population. Global food price hikes occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict from 2020 to 2023. Africa has been disproportionately affected by these global disruptions owing to its high dependency on food imports, particularly cereals. Considering the projected population growth, Africa’s food self-sufficiency has been predicted to decline further by the year 2100. The African Union （AU） has made limited progress in achieving its agricultural growth and budget allocation targets. In response, the Japan International Cooperation Agency （JICA） has launched “the JICA Africa Food Security Initiative （AFSI）” and is keen to promote ”the Coalition for African Ricet Development （CARD）,” which is one of the major pillars of AFSI and aims to double rice production in sub-Saharan together with broader development partners. Given the urgency of the situation, strengthening food security in Africa demands the active engagement of the academic community, including forums such as FSRAJ.
