International University of Africa

African Universities Congress (Interaction and Interrelation )

(January 2006- Khartoum)

 The Academic Forum : Disaster Management Theme .       

"African Co-operation For Achieving Food Security ".

By: Dr. Awad Khalifa Musa : 

  ( Director of Disaster Management and Refugees Studies Institute).

            Introduction :

Almost every body recognizes pretty well the importance of food for life from all sides, biological, economic, social, and political. Biologically speaking food is the sole source of energy, which is needed for physically activities. From an economic point of view, food availability encourages stability, hence maintains the continuum of the economic production process. That is always true since lack of food causes displacement and desertion of areas of production. Locally produced food saves financial resources, which are otherwise used for importing food, hence could be alternatively allocated in the development process. Therefore, resources for food import have high opportunity cost. From the social side, food sufficiency an encourages stability, hence the intact of the society. It is well known that the lack of food pushes people to spread everywhere looking for job opportunities to secure income for food purchase. Thus, lack of food leads to instability and the dismantling of families resulting in the breakage of the social ties of  the whole of the society. On the political side food crises tend ,  in the  recent  decades , to lead to foreign intervention by the super power ( western countries )  under the pretext of human rights protection the thing which  threatens and endangers the sovereignty and the security of the  poor countries.  In this context , there is now a growing realization that the food donating countries of the super power  use their aids as influential  tools in order to attain their own agenda in the recipient countries. This drawn conclusion is evident in Iraq, Afganistan, Sudan …etc.  Jonathan power & Anne Marie Holenstein  in their book  " World of Hunger , 1976, a strategy  for survival  "   reported that : " The United States with its large production of the world's grain supply has the power to decide the fate of the hungry masses of the world " . They also added that the CIA reported , " this food production dominance could give the USA a measure of power it had never had before – possibly an economic and political dominance greater than that of the immediate post – World War II years ".  

2-                General View of  Food Situations in Africa ,

  Despite the fact that Africa is rich in food  producing  resources (lands, water, manpower, livestock, forstes,  pastures …etc.), the food gap  is still large because of low food productivity . This is mainly because of the fact that Africa is disaster – prone region. Natural disaster (e.g. drought) and man-made disaster (e.g. conflict) in Africa have led to the deterioration of resources and severe health disasters and serious epidemics ( HIV/AIDS, Ipola,  and Malaria … etc)   rendering the man power non - productive. As a negative consequence of that, Africa has become a notorious recipient region of relief food, putting its political and social security at risk. 

    Food security (The World Bank Definition), is the state of easy    accessibility to sufficient   food by all people at any time, from their own resources. In the light of this, we can envisage that food security stands on two pillars, productivity and purchasing capabilities. Therefore, we should have enough food and high enough level of per capita income that enables people to purchase their food need. 

FAO report (September -2005 ) shows the following food emergency for 24 African countries :

Countries facing food emergency :

3-   

  Get up , Africa (The Cooperation):

  Because of obvious disparities in production and purchasing capabilities in various African areas, it becomes evident that African cooperation is the viable alternative for Africa to bridge the food gap, attain food security and self- dependency. The cooperation should be on all sides; economic, political and social.

                   The Economic Cooperation :

 On the economic side, we suggest the creating of a common market for food commodity exchange and the adoption of support price policy for both of the producer and the consumer. Again, on the self-dependency side, Africa should build its own food strategic stock (namely grains) to meet emergences.

  In the endeavor of self-dependency creation, it becomes necessary to give attention to how the local people cope with food crises. Different African societies have developed their own traditional coping mechanisms for meeting food shortage. Bearing this in mind, it becomes extremely useful to encourage maintain the inherited ways and means of alternative food sources in the African countries.

 It is also worth mentioning that resource utilization should be on rational basis in order to guarantee equity and sustainable development.

3-2. Political Cooperation:

The political cooperation should target the cessation of armed conflicts to create peace and security in order to encourage stability and hence production.

    Africa can only make this achievement by the strong political and social will, which is never subject to any kind of foreign influence.

3-3. Socially:

On the social side, the media in Africa should undergo adequate cooperation, coordination and collaboration through effective programmes targeting the creation of the spirit of self –dependency among the people and inspire them towards self – sufficiency production.

 4- Pan African Cooperation for the Achievement of Food Security (How could Cooperation be achieved?):  

Achievement of food security, which is the most important right among human rights, is considered one of the most challenging problems to countries because, food availability means social and economic stability, and ensures continuity of the process of production and development. The challenge to least developed countries is even greater, because, in addition to the aforementioned reasons, penury of food has become one of the major causes of foreign intervention, under the pretext of protection of human rights.

Since memorial times, cooperation and exchange of interests have existed among human beings, as an integral part of their nature. Needless to mention that cooperation leads to strength and generates benefits. It provides an opportunity to acquire greater capacities and experiences and offers a chance to share experiences with others.

It is self-evident that cooperation, collective and community life add to our  strength. This is clearly seen in the lives of birds, wild animals, insects …etc. These creatures live in moving big communities, which confirms the credibility of the well-known saying: “Birds of feather flock together.”

In the Holly Koran, Allah said:

“Help ye one another

In righteousness and piety,

But help ye not one another

In sin and rancor.”[1] 

Koran has pointed out that cooperation is strength, which should be used for the good and benefit of people, instead of being utilized for evil and aggression. 

Today, most of world countries endeavour to achieve cooperation. Even greater countries (countries with international influence), could not do without it, because it increases their strength and completes the shortages they might have. The European Common Market (EEC) was established during the last century, in order to bring about economic and commercial cooperation, among European countries. The European Union came later to accomplish political cooperation so that, Europe may have one parliament to look after its interests.  In 1994, the countries of North America have set up the NAFTA group (North American Free Trade Agreement), which includes Mexico, the United States of America and Canada. The main objective of this alliance is lifting tax barriers, imposed upon commercial exports among member countries. There are many other examples such as South East Asia, the Cooperation Council for Gulf States…etc. It worth mentioning that any single country of the EU (France, Germany, Britain, Holland, Belgium…etc.) or, of the NAFTA group (Canada, the United States …etc.) is more powerful than the entire African continent. Even though, these countries are still seeking more cooperation among them, in order to become more powerful. As such, and whereas Africa is in dire need for cooperation, what prevents it from achieving that goal, today, before tomorrow, so that Africans could have access to food? In addition, Africa could no longer continue to receive international food aid (relief), because this undermines the prestige of the Continent, endangers its political and social security, as well as its future.

4- 1 Pivots of Cooperation:  

As we have already mentioned, food security stands on two feet, which are the production and the purchasing power. This means that the objective of African cooperation should be the provision of adequate food supplies, through local production and from Africa’s own resources, which is submitted to the foreign will. Food should be distributed effectively and at hand for all, all the time, as far as possible.

Production requires inputs, which are resources and security. Security safeguards resources and production processes, as well as external outlets, which international trade passes through. Distribution, which is equally important, needs markets, where the producer and the consumer meet.  The producer supplies his food commodities and the consumer or, the purchaser finds what he needs easily and comfortably. The market has its own mechanisms, whereby it functions. The most important of these are: the media, logistics and manufacture. Cooperation could be achieved within the framework of production and distribution. As we have already mentioned that achieving food security is an issue, which  has economic dimensions, but in addition, it has social, political and security dimensions. Therefore, cooperation to achieve food security has to be the responsibility of official (the State) and people’s (the citizen) bodies. On this basis, cooperation should be at all levels and in all fields, whether economic, social  or,  political.

4-1-1- The Economic Pivot:-

The economic field is the field, which is concerned, in the first place, with the reactivation of the two pivots of production and the per capita purchasing power, through enhancement of productivity and improvement of the per capita income. This will necessarily mean mobilization of resources, efforts and capacities, in order to direct them to the processes of production and distribution, according to rational and comprehensive policies (rationalized use of resources) for the interest of the producer and the consumer.

With respect to this pivot, cooperation should lead to the following measures:

a) The Common Market:    

Although the African area is generally rich with natural resources and potentials, but there are disparities and variation in their distribution. Some regions (such as central and south Africa), are abounding in agricultural resources (like land, water, plant cover, animal resources, minerals …etc.) Other areas ( like the Sahel, the Sahara and some areas of the African Corn) are barren deserts. While development rates are still sluggish in most parts of Africa, they have significantly improved in other parts( such as South Africa). 

In this context, Africa should have been, so far completely convinced that it is high time that it took a bold and a crucial step, towards the inception of an African Common Market, which should take into account the interests of the producer as well as the consumer.

Since this paper is not concerned with the technical details of the Common Market, but it is important that we underline the necessity of establishing the Common Market, with the aim of integration of production and marketing capacities, in order to produce food and achieve food security.

The Common Market we call for, is the one that lifts tax and customs barriers. A Market, which is open for African producers and consumers, where integration circulation of production among countries could be achieved. Thus, commodities will circulate among countries, without obstacles or complications, from production areas to penury regions. This will help to avert accumulation of commodities and will give the consumer access to food, at reasonable prices.

The Common Market should take into consideration, the disparities and variations among the parts of the Continent, in terms of qualities and quantities of resources, wealth and capacities, so that subsidies to production quotas may be allocated, according to the comparative advantages of each country.

One of the most important policies of the Common Market is market balance, which basically depends on the price support policy for both, the producer and the consumer. The price support policy is essential for the policies of food security, because it guarantees a reasonable sale price of the producer’s commodity, if market prices fell down (either because of overproduction, or of the drop of the consumer’s purchasing power). This policy will no doubt help in the stability of the producer and in his persistence on the process of production, and avert his displacement to other areas.

b) The Strategic Stock:-   

The strategic stock of food means the food stored by the State, for meeting food crisis or, emergencies, either those caused by shortage in production, natural disasters, war, economic embargo or, due to the increase in prices (market balance policy), as we have previously mentioned. This means self containment and abstention from receiving foreign food aid. The strategic stock may be built in the following way:-

The strategic stock consists of food materials that the State may purchase from the local market (specially the production surplus) or, from the international market ( in case of urgency) and store in stock, for emergencies.

Citizens themselves could have their contributions in this strategic stock, in the form of small donations, which, when gathered together will make a considerable quantity of food materials that may constitute a strategic stock and can be stored locally, for meeting emergency situations in this or that specific region. The strategic stock may start at a lower (local)level (the village level) goes up to the national level until it reaches

the State’s strategic stock.

c) Technical Cooperation:- 

Technical cooperation means exchange of experiences, capacities and techniques. No doubt that African countries have accumulated experiences and capacities, on food production and on distribution and marketing of such a production.

Some countries have a large experience in the production of cereals such as Sudan (in millet), Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco (in wheat), western African countries (in root crops), central and southern African countries (in maize).

Based on the successive reports of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the following table shows the experiences of the various African countries in food production:

According to the above table, a plan could be set up for the transfer of agricultural experiences, from the these countries, to other neighboring countries, where climatic conditions are suitable for the targeted agricultural product.

In the same manner, the experiences in fish production of coastal African countries ( countries on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea), could be developed and exchanged with other African countries, together with fish products.

The same thing could be said about other animal products, specially, when we know that many African communities suffer from lack of animal proteins, while they have a large experience in traditional conservation and storage of meet for a long time, like drying and salting. Furthermore, it is also possible to make use of local experiences in traditional storage of cereals surpluses in matameer (ground holes), for use when need arise.

As for the area of technology, some African countries have reached a high level of utilization of modern technology, in disaster prevention  (climatic disasters, in particular), such as drought, cyclones, floods and bush fires. Since all of them are risks that threatens production, as well as distribution and marketing, precautions and necessary measures should to be taken, so as to avert their consequences and their repercussions, which is made available by virtue of  early warning systems, satellites technology, remote sensing and GIS.

Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia and Egypt have made a great progress, in the utilization of such technologies. Why don’t we transfer these experiences to other countries and train the concerned cadres to raise their capacities in this field?

In the field of health, some countries have considerably improved their experiences in the combat of fatal diseases, like Malaria, Ebola and HIV/AIDS, which still threatens Africa and prevent its citizens from production. Certainly, we can benefit from the experiences of South Africa in Malaria, Egypt in Bilharzias and Uganda (in Programmes for Reduction of HIV/AIDS Contamination) …etc.

d) Supporting Policies:-

 1.  Rural Development:-

Whereas the majority of the population of the Least Developing Countries lives in rural areas (more than80%), and whereas they depend in their livelihoods on agricultural and cattle herding trades, and whereas food production comes basically from the agricultural sector, rural development becomes extremely important. Rural development consists of reconstruction and improvement of living conditions, through improvement of  infrastructures, health and education services, drinkable water, healthy housing and security in  rural areas. This will certainly lead to stability and  to the creation of the appropriate  and encouraging conditions for production and work and improve opportunities for livelihoods and jobs. Accompanying programmes of awareness, capacity building and training, in addition to adoption of sustainable development styles, will help rational exploitation and preservation of resources. Thus, a country may ensure that integral rural development is maintained, without detriment to the economic and social utilities, nor destruction or endangering of the environment. Through such policies, a country could enhance food production and productivity and reach the level of self sufficiency in food production.

2. Coping Mechanism:- 

As it is not in the nature of man to surrender easily to death, people used to seek alternative food, in the event of penury. This recourse to unusual alternative food, during crisis, is known as coping with hunger, which is a practice that man was used to, since memorial times. Man, for example revert to food made of wild plants(known as disaster food) and grows marginal crops.

Disaster food, are foods, which man is compelled to use in case of lack of food. One of the bounties that Allah has descended on man, is that our environment grows wild plants, in areas where agricultural activities are very low. Wild plants are edible and are cost free food. An example of such edible wild plants is the Kuraib plant, which belongs to the Gramminae  family of herbs, and the Mukhait plant in western Sudan. People eat the seeds of both plants as a food. Another example are the fruits of Christ’s thorn trees, which is also eatable.

Marginal Crops:-

One of the most effective policies, as a precautionary measure against hunger disasters, is growing marginal crops, which are planted by the side of the main crops. They are usually grown on the outer sides of agricultural fields or, between furrows. The cost of such crops is usually very low (costless irrigation and cleaning). Marginal crops are very useful and have a great role in bridging food gaps, for they are either used as food or, they become a cash crop. For instance, vegetables and wood trees, which can be used as timber for making furniture, or for building houses or, sold as firewood. This will certainly contribute to income development and raise purchasing power to buy food. Dates, maize and some legumes are direct food, which man may take as a staple food. Date trees, maize and legumes may be planted on the edges of fields, in rows.

However, some countries have experience in other useful farming styles, such as mixed cropping, which consists of growing several crops in one field. We are interested here in food crops in the area, rather than major crops, such as maize with cotton, maize with coconuts and  maize with sesame. A different style is mixed farming, which comprises crop agriculture, animal breeding and silviculture. As such, the community is trained on coping with disasters and crisis (crisis coping strategy).

In the same context, it is recommendable to make use from the African heritage in coping with famine situations (coping mechanism), given that African communities have their own heritage, means and ways, for coping with crisis, food penury and famines. This mechanism should be encouraged,  assisted and transferred to other African communities, because, although it is a kind of food security measures, it is also a method of depending on one’s own resources, and an advantage, which incites to the rejection of relying on another’s support.

3. Linking the Strategy of Development with the Strategy of Preparedness for Disasters:-

Generally speaking, we often find that the strategy of development (economic and rural), does not take into account the adverse impacts of process of development, specially the impacts, which cause environmental disasters. Agricultural schemes for instance, in both sectors, irrigated and rain-fed, are interested in the first degree, in cultivation of field agricultural crops like cotton, millet and major cereals. In fact,  people in charge of these schemes, hastily remove the plant cover, not giving attention, neither to the importance of compensating that plant cover (trees), which maintain the environment and soil consistency, nor to the animal wealth and the grazing land. The result is deterioration of animal wealth and conflicts between farmers and cattle herders. Field crops need chemical pesticides, which pollute the environment and eliminate the useful biological diversity. In the field of industry, (sugar factories, cotton ginning factories and  edible oil factories..), in addition to the environment pollution (chimneys) , industrial residues and wastes are thrown in rivers to cause more pollution, which harms water resources, fish wealth and, eventually, harms man himself. All these resources are ingredients of food security, therefore, linking development with disasters prevention, allows for sustainable development, which takes precautions for harmful impacts on environment and resources. 

4-2-1 The Political Pivot:-

In this central theme, emphasis is made on the direct role of the political power, which designs all policies and programmes regarding achievement of food security. The political power is the body, which creates the Common Market, builds the strategic stock, mobilizes the various resources for the processes of production, plays the leading role in the process of marketing, lays the infrastructures of the Market, the circulation of commodities, the transport, the distribution, the communication and maintains security for the flow of transport between the producer to the consumer.

The political power enacts laws and ratifies legislations, with regard to the conservation and protection of the environment and the natural resources  from deterioration, which will certainly lead to the limitation or the reduction of natural disasters, such as removal of plant cover that results in soil inconsistency, drought and environment pollution.

The political power has also an essential role in maintaining the appropriate peaceful atmosphere and resolving conflicts, in order to evade the spectre of war.

All reports describe Africa today as the centre of civil wars in the world, which ravage everyday, its natural human resources and impedes the progress of development, not only through devastation of its natural resources and infrastructures, but also through the waste of its financial resources, which should have been spent on development and food production. No doubt that the increase in spending on civil wars, means putting more oil on the fire that burns Africa.

Part of the responsibility of armed conflicts is born by citizens and the armed groups. Needless