Agricultural productivity, malnutrition and human health in sub-Saharan Africa: A review

Abstract

This review examined the current state of agricultural productivity, food security, the prevalence of malnutrition and health status in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of most countries in this region, and this sector is characterized by gross underperformance. This is because majority of farmers are uneducated, illiterate, cultivate low yielding crops, keep animals with low genetic merit, employ crude implements and primitive management systems, and are shackled by retrogressive customary practices. Records showed that more than 50% of the population lived on less than a half of the minimum animal protein requirement, and estimates indicated that by the year 2005, 48.0, 34.9 and 33.9% of all pre-school children were stunted in East Africa, West Africa, and the whole of Africa, respectively. It is strongly suggested that henceforth, personnel from foreign donors, the private sector and non-governmental organizations should be directly involved in procurement and distribution of improved agricultural inputs.

Keywords: Malnutrition, Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture, health

IJOTAFS Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 1-7