WILMINGTON, Delaware – According to the DuPont global food security index, food security in Africa has improved as a result of increasing incomes and availability of food.
The DuPont Global Food Security index is a metric that quantifies the risks and factors that affect food security. Measures that are considered by the index include affordability, availability, quality, and supply. The index also adjusts itself according to food price fluctuations around the world. According to DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman, the DuPont Global Food Security index is a tool that “enables us to see, transparently and objectively, what we’re up against…Governments, private and public sector entities need a common language to discuss the root cause of hunger so they can make better informed decisions that drive sustainable action at a local level.”
For the year 2013, the global food index score remained relatively stable, hovering around 53.6% from 53.5% last year. However, studies show that Sub-Saharan Africa made the greatest gain by climbing by one point from the last year. According to DuPont, urbanization has helped improve food security in emerging markets of sub-Saharan Africa. Sierra Leone ranks the highest of a new urban absorption capacity indicator. This indicates the capacity of a country to provide food for its cities.
Additionally, agricultural improvements have also been significant in improving food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Access to water to is vital to combat hunger because it means the difference between a good harvest and whether or not there is enough food to go around. For a long time, the dry seasons that have plagued much of Sub-Saharan Africa have led to serious hunger and malnutrition. Today, however, the spread of affordable pumps and new technologies has allowed farmers in Africa to better irrigate their farm plots. This means that despite dry weather, agriculture has seen enough growth to improve food security.
Today the countries with the most improved food index scores are Ethiopia, Botswana, and Niger. Each of these three countries rose an average of 8 points in the index. Of the Sub-Saharan countries, South Africa has the highest food security index score out of 107 countries ranked by the global food index. The nation holds the 39th place out of 107 countries. South Africa’s ranking is due to its higher nutritional standards, smaller proportion of its population below the poverty line, and its high level of food supply.
– Grace Zhao
Sources: National Geographic, DuPont, Business Day BDlive
Photo: FAO