World Bank Says Easing Trade Barriers Could Ease African Hunger
Africa’s farmers can potentially grow enough food to feed the continent and avert future food crises if countries remove cross-border restrictions on the food trade within the region, a World Bank report said. It also said the continent would generate an extra $20 billion in yearly earnings if African leaders could dismantle trade barriers.
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The report, released on the eve of an African Union ministerial summit, said African leaders should improve trade so food can move more freely between countries and from fertile areas to those where communities are suffering food shortages. It said rapid urbanization will challenge the ability of farmers to ship their cereals and other foods to consumers when the nearest trade market is just across a national border.
Obstacles to increased African trade in food staples include export and import bans, variable import tariffs and quotas, restrictive rules of origin, and price controls, the report said.