With the disruption of food supplies resulting from the war between Russia and Ukraine, Africa now faces a shortage of at least 30 million tonnes of food, especially imported wheat, maize and soybeans. of these two countries, the AfDB said in a press release.
African farmers urgently need high-quality seeds and inputs before the start of the agricultural season in May, in order to immediately increase food supplies, the same source notes, noting that the African Food Production Facility d he AfDB’s $1.5 billion emergency is an unprecedented comprehensive initiative to help smallholder farmers bridge the food gap.
The African Emergency Food Production Facility will provide certified seeds to 20 million African smallholder farmers. It will expand access to fertilizers and enable them to rapidly produce 38 million tonnes of food. This represents a $12 billion increase in food production in just two years.
According to Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, “Food aid cannot feed Africa. Africa does not need to ask for alms. Africa needs agricultural seeds and mechanical harvesters to harvest locally produced abundant foodstuffs. Africa will feed itself with pride, because there is no dignity in begging for food…”.
For the launch of the African Emergency Food Production Facility, consultations were held with stakeholders including with fertilizer producers and separately with African Ministers of Agriculture and Finance earlier this month , it is pointed out.
The price of wheat has risen by more than 45% in Africa since the start of the war in Ukraine. Fertilizer prices have increased by 300%, and the continent faces a fertilizer shortage of 2 million tonnes.
Many African countries have already seen rising prices for bread and other food items. If this deficit is not closed, food production in Africa will fall by at least 20% and the continent might lose over $11 billion in food production value.
According to the press release, the African Development Bank’s $1.5 billion strategy will produce 11 million tonnes of wheat, 18 million tonnes of maize, 6 million tonnes of rice and 2.5 million tons of soybeans.