The African Agrarian ideology and the food security challenge in sub-saharan Africa

The African dominated sub-Saharan African (SSA) region has an unacceptably high population of hungry people. All the countries in this region have underperforming agricultural sectors. Their economies stagnated throughout the last century and their agricultural GDP has remained far below the world average of 4 percent. Food production has not kept pace with population growth. Looking at the better performance within the Arab-dominated Maghreb, the Indian-dominated Islands of Mauritius and Madagascar and the European-dominated southern Africa, a line of thought is emerging which suggests that what is urgently needed is a revolution in the mindset of SSA farming communities in order to motivate sustainable food production growth in that region. This article is a thought provoker, seeking to make a link between prevailing mindsets of African peoples and the chronic food insecurity in the SSA. The analysis is synoptic and is based on empirical data from literature by the African Union and the United Nations system. The article suggests a way forward through putting in place an inspiring vision and identifying lead champions to spearhead it, fostering an unwavering spirit to succeed among the farming communities, acquisition of requisite skills, knowledge and experience to produce adequate food and also develop an ability to accumulate funds to internally drive efforts for food production. © 2014 Society for International Development.