Save Africa from hunger -IITA boss

Sanginga, IITA Director General

The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga, has urged world leaders not to relent their efforts towards the fight against food insecurity in Africa.

Sanginga expressed the institution’s gratitude over the improvements recorded in agricultural productivity in the past affirming that there are still more to be done as regards food security in the continent.

He noted that efforts should be doubled due to the spiraling growth rate of the continent’s population and the degrading soil which does not work towards improving agricultural productivity.

IITA revealed to NaijaAgroNet that the Sub-Saharan Africa’s population growth rate is 2.4 per cent, a rate which is high compared to 1.3 per cent of non-African countries.

“Clearly there is much work to be done in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Dr. Sanginga emphasised that food security attainment is huge with increasing challenge and increase in total production which is at the expense of natural resource base.

According to the IITA boss, there is the need to adopt sustainable intensification of agricultural production practices to conserve and recycle soil nutrient which will in turn reduce the need to clear new land for agricultural use.

Approaches to concentrate on towards addressing the issue of food insecurity, Dr. Sanginga said should include increase in agricultural productivity, food availability and its safety.

He stressed that the agriculture sector’s overall performance must all be increased against the growing urban population, uncertain effects of climate change, increased in demand for energy as well as disease pandemics.

He also commended the renewed attention to agriculture by leaders in the continent which is producing positive results, and urged for more commitment of resources to the sector, and that IITA is always ready to partner with any organisation towards improving lives of Africans.

IITA, one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty has several awards for using research for development (R4D) in addressing the developmental needs of tropical countries, and had since inception worked with partners to improve crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture.

Yinka Awosanya

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Burkina Faso loses N24.9b to food deficiencies - World Bank

Compaoré, Burkina Faso President

Global financial apex institution, the World Bank has discovered lose of $158 million, about N24.979 billion by Burkina Faso, to vitamin and mineral deficiencies annually.

According to World Bank, micronutrient deficiencies are widespread in Burkina Faso which contributes greatly to loss of lives as well as diminished productivity.

Further NaijaAgroNet learnt that improving core micronutrient interventions amounts to $10 million, about 1.58 billion per year.

Highlighting other challenges facing the West African country, the international bank revealed that more than one-third of child deaths are attributable to under-nutrition and increased severity of disease, and that 36 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted, 19 per cent are wasted, and 32 per cent are underweight.

Part of the recommendations proffered by World Bank for Burkina Faso includes involving multiple sectors to ensure that diverse and nutritious diets are available, and accessible to all household members.

The recommended sectors to be involved include agriculture, education, transport, gender, the food industry, health and other sectors.

Steps taken by the international financial institution include the recent support to Burkina Faso with $40 million, about N6.31billion Agricultural Productivity and Food Security Project.

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