CALESTOUS JUMA: Chicken crisis reflects overall weakness in Africa’s agricultural system
AFRICA, which imports nearly 83% of the food it consumes, has a real chicken and egg problem. The continent is caught between pressure from imports in some countries and an inability to meet demand in others. Africa’s chicken crisis is an expression of overall weaknesses in its agricultural system. If Africa cannot raise its grain production it cannot expect do well in increasing its chicken output. It is a complex problem. Producing chickens requires low-cost feed such as maize. Yet producing grain to meet human needs remains one of the continent’s most pressing challenges. Africa’s urban populations, for example, are growing faster than the continent can produce grain. This has contributed to Africa’s shift from being a net food exporter to being a net food importer. The inability to ramp up grain production has affected Africa’s ability to feed its people as well as its chicken. Its imports for people, as well as chicken, have been rising as a result. Its import of poultry produc...
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