Impact of food aid and developed countries' agricultural subsidies on long-term sustainability of food security in Southern Africa

Abstract

In addition to the challenges caused by food aid on long term food security sustainability, subsidies imposed by developed countries also impact on food security in the developing world in general, and the sub region in particular. Therefore, the impact of developed countries’ agricultural export subsidies and domestic farm supports on the African economies and welfare is central to the debates at the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. Agricultural export subsidies and domestic farm supports in developed countries contribute to global overproduction of wheat, corn, beef, sugar, cotton and other basic food commodities that create trade distortions on the world market. The concern has been the potential negative impact that these subsidies could have on agricultural production and food security in the Southern Africa.