By Hon. Prof. Kariuki Muigua, OGW, PhD, C.Arb, FCIArb is a Professor of Environmental Law and Dispute Resolution at the University of Nairobi, Member of Permanent Court of Arbitration, Leading Environmental Law Scholar, Respected Sustainable Development Policy Advisor, Top Natural Resources Lawyer, Highly-Regarded Dispute Resolution Expert and Awardee of the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya by H.E. the President of Republic of Kenya. He is The African ADR Practitioner of the Year 2022, The African Arbitrator of the Year 2022, ADR Practitioner of the Year in Kenya 2021, CIArb (Kenya) Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 and ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 and Author of the Kenya’s First ESG Book: Embracing Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) tenets for Sustainable Development” (Glenwood, Nairobi, July 2023) and Kenya’s First Two Climate Change Law Book: Combating Climate Change for Sustainability (Glenwood, Nairobi, October 2023), Achieving Climate Justice for Development (Glenwood, Nairobi, October 2023) and Promoting Rule of Law for Sustainable Development (Glenwood, Nairobi, January 2024)*
In order to enhance food security in Africa, it is vital to confront climate change. Climate change has been identified as a major cause of food insecurity in Africa. Climate change impacts food security in Africa by turning areas once perfectly suitable for agriculture production into deserts and modifying rain patterns, increasing uncertainty and reducing yields. In addition, climate change leads to a breakdown of food systems, resulting in loss of rural livelihoods, income, and ecosystems.
According to FAO, climate change affects food security in all its dimensions: access, availability, utilization and stability. It affects food production, and thus food availability. Climate change also impacts the livelihoods and income of small-scale food producers and also, through food price increases and volatility, the livelihoods of poor net food buyers, restricting access to food. In addition, climate change also impacts on the quality of drinking water, which is key to the good absorption of nutrients.
Africa is already experiencing the impacts of climate change on its food systems. For example, the Horn of Africa region is currently facing a severe drought following the worst performing rains in many years and successive failed rainy seasons. Further, it has been pointed out that the frequency and severity of the drought is likely to increase affecting more than 36 million people due to food insecurity, with women and girls disproportionately affected by the direct and indirect impacts of the drought.
It is therefore necessary for African countries to take urgent action to confront climate change and its impacts in order to enhance food security in the region. There is need to embrace climate smart agriculture in order to enhance food security in Africa. It has been proved that traditional agricultural practices like agroforestry, intercropping, crop rotation, cover cropping, traditional organic composting and integrated crop-animal farming all have potentials for enhancing crop productivity and mitigating climate change in Africa.
In addition, it has been suggested that adoption of regenerative agricultural practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, use of drought- and heat-resistant crops, integrated pest control systems, water harvesting and irrigation can foster high-yielding, climate resilient, and adaptive practices. Embracing climate smart agriculture is therefore essential in fostering climate-resilient food systems and enhancing food security in Africa.
There is also need to boost Intra-African trade in order to enhance food security in Africa. It has been argued that the strengthening of trade links between African countries may make it possible to decrease the risk of food insecurity in the long term through diversification of supply sources and increased ease of access for all farmers to a larger market. African countries have been urged to make the most out of the most out of the AfCFTA in order to enhance food security in the region.
AfCFTA aims to strengthen IntraAfrican trade in food through measures such as phasing out tariffs. It has been asserted that tariffs and, in many cases, Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise duties applied on food are a major culprit of high food prices in Africa which can result in food insecurity. Implementation of the AfCFTA can therefore strengthen Intra-African trade in food and enhance food security in the region. According to the African Union, the implementation of the AfCFTA will boost food security in Africa through reduction of protection on trade in agricultural produce among African countries.
AfCFTA has the potential to spur the development of regional food value chains and reinforce trade among African economies. It is therefore important to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA in order to increase intra-African trade, including in food, and therefore enhance regional food security. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen human resources through capacity development in order to enhance food security in Africa.
The lack of welltrained human resources has been pointed out to a major cause of food insecurity in Africa. It has been argued that the development of human resources is essential for food security in Africa since an educated and informed populace is fundamental to any policies and strategies to reduce poverty, excessive population growth, environmental degradation and other factors that are most often the direct causes of hunger.
According to FAO, there is an urgent need for human capacity development and for increased knowledge and information about food production in order to achieve food security in Africa. It has been argued that human resource development contributes to food security by enhancing agricultural production and improving human well-being. In addition, it has been correctly observed that efforts to enhance agricultural production, especially among low-income small holders and women farmers, can increase food availability and accessibility, leading to improved food security and human development.
Human resource development therefore plays a crucial role in promoting food security by empowering individuals and communities to enhance food productivity and improve their overall well-being. Human resource development is therefore a key component of sustainable agricultural production and improved food security in Africa. It is therefore vital to enhance human capacities in order to strengthen food security in Africa. It has been argued that Africa must invest in domestic human, institutional and system-wide capacities and capabilities in order to achieve food security. Further, there is need to enhance investments in in food systems in order to achieve food security in Africa.
The CAADP urges African countries to enhance investments in food systems by allocating at least 10 per cent of public expenditures to the agricultural sector. It has been argued that through investments, Africa can build resilience in its food systems and enhance food security. For example, investing in irrigation can minimise dependence on rain-fed agriculture so that food can be produced year-round even when rains fail. In addition, investing in research and development can lead to the adoption of drought-resistant and water-efficient varieties of crops that can enhance food security in Africa.
It is therefore necessary for African countries to increase investments in agri-food systems in order to achieve food security. In addition, it is vital for African countries to invest in research and development on food systems in order to enhance food security. This can lead to the adoption of higher yielding seed varieties, mechanisation, improved soil management and conservation practices and profitable and efficient fertiliser use towards enhancing food security in the region.
It is also vital to address conflicts in the continent. Evidence points out to a relationship between conflicts and food insecurity in Africa. Most Africans facing acute food insecurity are in conflict-affected countries underscoring that conflict continues to be one of the primary driver of Africa’s food crisis. African countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Central African Republic which have been characterized by conflicts for many decades are some of the most food insecure countries on the continent.
According to FAO, armed conflict, both within and between countries, is another central factor contributing to food insecurity in Africa. FAO posits that conflict and food insecurity are inextricably linked, each triggering and reinforcing the other. Some people living in food-insecure communities feel they have been marginalized by central governments. At the same time, conflict itself almost always intensifies hunger, since it drives people from their homes and disrupts marketing and distribution systems.
Addressing conflicts and fostering peace is therefore necessary in enhancing food security in Africa. Finally, there is need for African countries to embrace sustainable management of natural resources in order to enhance food security in the region. The African Union correctly points out that the continent has an abundance of natural resources that can enhance food security in the region including arable land, fresh water resources comprising of large rivers and lakes such as the Congo, Nile, Zambezi and Niger and Lake Victoria, forests and the blue/ocean economy. However, despite the presence of these resources, food insecurity continues to be a major challenge in the continent. This has been attributed to unsustainable practices including poor cultivation practices including over cultivation, over grazing, deforestation, overfishing among others.
It has been posited that well managed natural resources can contribute to income and food security improvement especially in rural populations. African countries should therefore embrace sustainable and sound management of their natural resources including land, forests, water resources, fisheries and the blue economy in order to enhance food security. The foregoing among other measures are necessary in order to enhance food security in Africa.
*This is an extract from the Book: Promoting Rule of Law for Sustainable Development (Glenwood, Nairobi, January 2024) by Hon. Prof. Kariuki Muigua, OGW, PhD, Professor of Environmental Law and Dispute Resolution, Senior Advocate of Kenya, Chartered Arbitrator, Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021 (Nairobi Legal Awards), ADR Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 (CIArb Kenya), African Arbitrator of the Year 2022, Africa ADR Practitioner of the Year 2022, Member of National Environment Tribunal (NET) Emeritus (2017 to 2023) and Member of Permanent Court of Arbitration nominated by Republic of Kenya. Prof. Kariuki Muigua is a foremost Environmental Law and Natural Resources Lawyer and Scholar, Sustainable Development Advocate and Conflict Management Expert in Kenya. Prof. Kariuki Muigua teaches Environmental Law and Dispute resolution at the University of Nairobi School of Law, The Center for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP) and Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies. He has published numerous books and articles on Environmental Law, Environmental Justice Conflict Management, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Sustainable Development. Prof. Muigua is also a Chartered Arbitrator, an Accredited Mediator, the Managing Partner of Kariuki Muigua & Co. Advocates and Africa Trustee Emeritus of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 2019-2022. Prof. Muigua is a 2023 recipient of President of the Republic of Kenya Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) Award for his service to the Nation as a Distinguished Expert, Academic and Scholar in Dispute Resolution and recognized among the top 5 leading lawyers and dispute resolution experts in Band 1 in Kenya by the Chambers Global Guide 2022 and was listed in the Inaugural THE LAWYER AFRICA Litigation Hall of Fame 2023 as one of the Top 50 Most Distinguished Litigation Lawyers in Kenya and the Top Arbitrator in Kenya in 2023.
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