Regulatory Barriers Deepen Food Insecurity in Africa

According to a recent World Bank report, the continent can help feed itself and avoid food crises by removing the cross-border restrictions to food trade within the region. In addition, the World Bank estimates that the continent would generate an extra US$20 billion annually as a result.

The said report added that trade barriers limit access to higher yielding seeds and superior fertilizers that are available elsewhere in the world. It can take two to three years for new seed varieties to be released in African countries. The World Bank's research estimates that the use of improved hybrid maize could quadruple productivity in Ethiopia and, even if only half the farmers in Ethiopia achieved this productivity from hybrid seeds, there would be enough production domestically to replace commercial imports.

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