60% Growth In Food Demand Possible For Nigeria, Others – World Bank

Food demand in sub-Sa
haran Africa, including Nigeria, has been projected to grow over the next 15 years by about 60 per cent and 30 per cent in South Asia according to a recent report released by the World Bank Group.
With 800 million people going to bed hungry every night, countries combating hunger must build better food systems that raise agricultural productivity in rural areas and invest in improving nutritional out- comes for young children and pregnant women.
They should also boost climate-smart agriculture that can withstand a warmer planet, the report released at the ongoing spring meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington DC, USA said.
The report titled. “Ending Poverty and Hunger by 2030: An Agenda for the Global Food System”, according to the President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, “is critically important because it provides overview of key actions that should be taken to end widespread  hunger”.
He said countries should ensure that farmers have access to markets, receive far value for crops and grow foods that will withstand the rigors of a changing climate.
“They should invest in food, health and care for young children and pregnant women and improve access to nutrition’s food”, he said.
According to the World Bank boss, taking such steps toward ending hunger could impact other important issues globally even as he said would check extreme poverty and also tackle climate change and end the scourge of malnutrition that robs many children of a better future.
According to the document, climate change is projected to reduce crop yields by 15 to 20 per cent in the poorest regions if temperatures rise above two degrees Celsius.
“This is also where food demand is expected to increase the most”, it added.
Agriculture, forestry and other land-use changes account for about 25 per cent of harmful green house gas emissions, with emissions projected to increase.
The report further said the food system must increasingly deliver three wins simultaneously: higher agric productivity, greater climate resilience and reduced carbon emissions.