Scourge of food insecurity
FOOD insecurity remains an increasing problem as South Africa continues to grapple with the impact of bird flu, extreme drought conditions and a high prevalence of stunted children.
This is according to the latest SA Development Community (SADC) “State of Food and Nutrition Insecurity and Vulnerability in Southern Africa” report released yesterday. It was compiled from results of the 2018 vulnerability assessments and analysis of 11 SADC member states.
The number of food insecure people in the region in the 2018/19 consumption year is 29 million, representing 14% of the population, a 13% increase compared with 2017/8.
“The report highlights the critical need to increase the investment in high-impact interventions that address chronic food and nutrition insecurity,” said spokesperson Panduleni Elago.
“I call on national governments and development partners to use this information to improve planning and design appropriate programmes to respond effectively to food and nutrition insecurity.”
The report found that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continued to affect poultry production in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Egg production losses in the three countries totalled more than R10 billion and caused about 3 000 jobs losses.
The report also found that the proportion of stunted children was increasing in South Africa, Angola, Botswana, DRC, Madagascar, Mozambique and Seychelles.
The study stated that stunted children were more likely to fall ill and develop poor cognitive skills and learning and that their labour productivity, employment potential, and socialisation were also affected later in life.
With increasing climate-induced shocks, there needs to be urgent action and sustained resilience building, or the food insecure population is likely to grow, said the report.
At a regional meeting in Maseru, Lesotho, which discussed the impact of food insecurity on the regional population, representatives of member states and development partners said it was important to focus on sustainable strategies that address chronic food and nutrition insecurity.
The report makes shortmedium and longer-term recommendations to address chronic food and nutrition insecurity and vulnerability, including building the resilience of people, communities, and institutions to prevent, anticipate, prepare for, cope with, and recover from shocks.
“It is evident that the weather influences food security in Southern Africa”, said Clement Kalonga, head of disaster risk reduction at the SADC Secretariat 3.