This 2013 Global Food Policy Report is the third in an annual series that provides an in-depth look at major food policy developments and events. Initiated in response to resurgent interest in food and nutrition security, the series offers a yearly overview of the food policy developments that have contributed to or hindered progress in achieving food and nutrition security. It reviews what happened in food policy and why, examines key challenges and opportunities, shares new evidence and knowledge, and highlights emerging issues.
For Africa as a whole, progress has not been enough to achieve CAADP targets of both a 10
percent budget share and 6 percent annual growth for agriculture. Agricultural spending grew steadily, however, averaging an annual rate of 7.4 percent from 2003 to 2010, with a total of 13 countries having met or surpassed the budget target in any single year. Over the same period, Africa’s average annual agricultural growth rate stood at 3.8 percent, a marked improvement but still well below the 6 percent target. However, a few countries—Angola, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda – have exceeded the growth target since 2003. The development community has also responded positively; the share of agriculture in total official development assistance grew at an average annual rate of 10.5 percent during 2003-2010. Improvements in agricultural expenditures and growth have translated into improvements in overall economic growth and reductions in poverty and undernourishment. For Africa as a whole, gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP per capita grew at an impressive average annual rate of 5.0 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, during 2003-2012. Meanwhile, the prevalence of under-nourishment fell slightly from 26.7 percent in 2003 to 24.3 percent in 2010, while the proportion of people living below the US$1.25 a day poverty line fell from 55.7 percent in 2002 to 48.5 percent in 2010. The absolute number of poor has continued to increase, however, rising from 390.2 million in 2002 to 413.7 million in 2010.
Interactive version: http://www.ifpri.org/gfpr/2013
Report: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/2013-global-food-policy-report-overview