Despite advancements in food production over the last thirty years, more than half of Africa's population still faces food insecurity. A recent report titled "Improving Transport Connectivity for Food Security in Africa: Strengthening Supply Chains" highlights transport connectivity as a critical factor influencing this challenge. The report points out that poor transport infrastructure, inefficient ports and border crossings, and high trade costs contribute to lengthy food supply chains that fail to deliver essential goods reliably.
The study examines land and water transport routes, port efficiency, border crossings, and storage capacity. It addresses key questions such as why locally produced food is wasted, why African countries depend on distant markets for staples, and how transport investments can be prioritized to alleviate food insecurity.
Key findings indicate that 37% of locally produced food is lost due to inadequate storage facilities. Furthermore, African supply chains are significantly longer than those in Europe, affecting the price of basic commodities like rice and grains.
To improve the situation, the report suggests scaling up investments in modernizing trade logistics and infrastructure. Enhancing intra-African trade is also emphasized as crucial since 25% of Africa’s food is imported. Improvements in seaports, customs processes, policies, and infrastructure could boost internal trade significantly.
The focus on critical ports and border crossings is another strategic recommendation. Although numerous ports exist across Africa, only a small number significantly impact continental food security. Targeting these locations could optimize key trade routes and reduce costs.
Reducing regional trade costs by addressing bureaucratic delays is also highlighted as essential for improving food security. Priority actions include investing in advanced infrastructure at key ports, removing trade barriers to cut down delays at borders, strengthening resilience of critical links facilitating large-scale food flows, expanding storage capacities to minimize losses, enhancing competition within the transport sector to lower costs, and scaling access to resilient markets.
Nicolas Peltier from the World Bank emphasizes the importance of transportation investments: “While food security is a complex issue with many contributing factors, transport investments are one area where countries can take real action. Improving ports, roads, and border crossings not only makes it easier for food to move between farms and consumers but it also helps create jobs in the logistics sector.”