Food security

The United Nations Committee on World Food Security opened its new session in Rome, a day after observing the World Food Day under the theme ‘Food Prices – from Crisis to Stability’.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) goodwill ambassador and actor, Jeremy Lyons, points out that, “In our world, billions of dollars are spent on aid and investment. Billions of words are spoken, written, promising change and a billion people still go hungry every day.”

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) says the sub-Saharan Africa is facing daunting problems staving off famine in coming decades.

AGRA president, Namanga Ngongi, states that, "There are the major producers of food crops in Africa. If we want to make a real headway on food production, we should be able to invest in women, improve their skills and access to the inputs they require."

The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) has embarked on a campaign to put pressure on the coming 17th Conferences of the Parties (COP17) on climate change to sign deals on food security.

FANRPAN says that their ‘No Agriculture, No Deal’ campaign is aimed at recognising that agriculture is the backbone of Africa’s economy.

FANRPAN chief executive, Lindiwe Sibanda, says that the organisation expects COP17 negotiators to present to the conference how the problem could wreak havoc in Africa.

The World Bank says that investing in agriculture is one of the best ways to reduce poverty in Africa.

Speaking at an African ministerial conference in Johannesburg, the bank's special envoy for climate change, Andrew Steer, pointed out that, "It has four times the impact than in other sectors...that's why we have invested about R29.6 billion a year [in it] and will spend R44.3 billion this year."

Technoserve says that Tanzanian farmers are reporting improved yields, thanks to training being offered by an American NGO and United Kingdom-based, Frontline SMS.

In a press statement, Technoserve says that with Frontline SMS, experts have been able to send farmers' performance progress files without having to travel from the fields to the main offices in Arusha.

The draft green paper on land reform released by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister, Gugile Nkwinti, proposes a single reconfigured four-tier system of land reform.

The minister says that the green paper will ensure that all South Africans, particularly rural black people, have reasonable access to land with secure rights to fulfil their basic needs for housing and productive livelihoods.

The China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CINE) says more than 200 representatives from Chinese and African non-government organisations will gather in Kenya's capital of Nairobi this week.

The meeting, which is part of the China-Africa People's Forum, the first non-governmental exchange China has co-hosted in Africa, will provide an opportunity for NGO representatives to discuss climate change and food security.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says it has ‘zero tolerance’ for any case in which food aid fails to reach the needy, amid reports that shipments of food have been stolen in famine-hit Somalia.

WFP deputy executive director, Sheila Sisulu, points out that, “when we hear of food gone astray we immediately investigate," adding that the agency brings 5 000 tons of food a month into the Somali capital, Mogadishu.