Food insecurity and food production in West Africa: a need for a more appropriate policy-package

Abstract

This paper examines the escalating crisis of food insecurity and malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which threatens the region’s development and survival. By the 2000s, projections indicated over 200 million malnourished individuals, driven by widening gaps between food production and demand, rapid population growth, deteriorating infrastructure, and political instability. Despite short-term efforts to boost agricultural output, progress remains inadequate as population growth outpaces production. The study identifies poverty as the root cause of food insecurity, emphasizing that income levels, asset access, and social safety nets determine food access. Drawing parallels with India and China—which transitioned from food scarcity to exporters through targeted policies—the paper advocates for long-term strategies prioritizing poverty reduction, sustained agricultural development, and equitable policies. It critiques short-term fixes and proposes a framework integrating immediate relief with structural reforms. The analysis spans the crisis’s scope, causal factors, policy responses, and solutions, concluding that eradicating hunger in SSA requires holistic, poverty-focused governance and agricultural innovation.