Author: Prof. Dr. Sylvester Mpandeli, Chairman AFRWG

Year: 2015,

Type: Special Publication, Format: Print

‘Africa is the only continent which does not grow enough food to feed itself. According to one UNEP estimate food production will reduce to the extent of 25% by the year 2050 due to land degradation and water scarcity accentuated by climate change. At the same time FAO forecasts that global food production needs to increase by 70% by 2050.... Even if there might not be a threat to global food security, the affordability factor can threaten food security in many parts of Africa unless local production is increased and sustained.... Africa holds around 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land and could grow enough food, not only to meet its own needs, but to export surpluses. As Kofi Annan, Ex-UN Secretary General and the current Chair of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (http://www.agraalliance.org) said at COP 17, “Africa has enormous potential if the right agricultural policies are adopted and funded”’. The Secretary General further mentioned that, ‘the national irrigation and water management authorities in Africa have an important role to play. Our National Committees in Africa have the opportunity to take the required lead and bring together various players involved in providing water for use in agriculture’. 4.2 Objectives A series of capacity building and training workshops will be organised and conducted over the next 3 years under the theme of “Water for food”. The aim of the workshops is to support/capacitate different participants to strengthen/enhance capabilities to systematically increase household food security..