Africa Seen As Potential World Bread Basket
The worlds next “bread basket” is waiting to be sowed in Africa, a continent often associated with poverty and starvation, World Agricultural Forum President Ray Cesca said Tuesday.
– With the growing need for this debate of food versus fuel, there is a greater demand for agricultural productivity. Why not go to the area where the greatest number of arable acres exists? Cesca said.
The US-based WAFs regional Congress will take place in Kampala, Uganda, September 3 to 5, marking its first gathering in Africa.
– The key driving force behind meeting in Africa, where key players will be brought together to view the region and discuss policy change, is to attract sustainable investments, Cesca said.
While high raw material prices combined with expensive transportation costs make it difficult or impossible for people living in severe poverty to afford certain products, Cesca pointed out this has a positive long-term benefit.
– It is driving productivity at the local level and the only missing link is the fact that they have not found the network to get that product to the local market in a sufficient, good way, he noted.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
