West Africa food economy to reach $480bn by 2030, says UN

The UN Resident and Humanitarian (UNRH) Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, says the food economy in the West African and Sahel sub-region is projected to reach $480 billion by 2030.

Schmale said this at the 13th Meeting of the Multidisciplinary Team of 15 countries from West Africa and the Sahel subregion in Abuja to exchange ideas on the way forward for the food and nutrition situation in the region.

The theme of the meeting is “Joining efforts to build resilient agri-food systems in West Africa and the Sahel”.

He said that the expected growth would be attributed to the systemic approach adopted (FAO) to ensure development gains in the fight against hunger, poverty and to advance in the fulfilment of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to him, the West African agri-food system faces ongoing challenges: a declining natural resource base, recurrent natural and man-made disasters, climate change, and growing insecurity.

However, he called on West African countries to seize the opportunities to build resilient agri-food systems in the region and align with the FAO strategic framework to address structural political constraints.

Schmale noted that these significant trends would provide great prospects for the West African food system to increase production, value addition, job creation and food security.

FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, said FAO emphasized the area of ​​data and analytics to generate evidence to guide responsible investments and partnerships to transforming food systems.

“We are pleased that our ECOWAS partners are joining us in promoting food security and nutrition in West Africa and contributing to the exchange of knowledge on challenges, threats and opportunities to drive the region’s agri-food systems towards sustainability.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development (FMARD), Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, assured that the government is ready to partner with FAO and other development partners to promote resilient agri-food systems in the country in particular and in West Africa and the Sahel in general.

The Nigerian News Agency reports that the three-day meeting expected more than 200 delegates from ECOWAS member states, including agriculture ministers and commissioners, FAO representatives, regional technical organizations, civil society organizations, among others.