Stable political environment needed to end poverty in Africa

On a recent visit to South Africa, agricultural economist Dr Uma Lele of the Institute of Economic Growth at the University of Delhi outlined the reasons for Africa's poor agricultural productivity.

-  Glenneis Kriel

The COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine have jeopardised food security and resulted in the largest T humanitarian disaster in recent history.

This was according to Dr Uma Lele, who recently received an honorary doctorate in agricultural sciences from Stellenbosch University, and was guest speaker at the university's annual Prof Mohammad Karaan Memorial Address.

Each year's speaker was requested to draw the links between agriculture and broader economic, social, political, natural resource and technology issues.

Lele said it was becoming increasingly unlikely that the world would reach the UN's Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger and poverty by 2030. The situation was especially dire in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounted for 62% of the world's poor and 34% of its undernourished people.

Hunger and poverty were further exacerbated by climate change, which was expected to result in more adverse weather conditions such as droughts, floods and heatwaves, especially in Africa.