Africa’s agriculture remains the core backbone of Africa continent. The majority of inhabitants living in rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa are engaged in small-scale agriculture. Small-scale agriculture is, and will remain, the dominant means of income for the majority of rural households. Agriculture continues to diminish, and supplies most of the continent’s food needs, though profitability in export sectors has declined sharply in recent years. Among the numerous problems the crop-growing sectors have contended, crop pest & disease, post-harvest losses and water scarcity remains the principal and growing threats. In the realm of food security, the reduction of Crop Pest & Diseases post-harvest losses has been identified as a way to boost production. This is in addition to the ongoing introduction of new water sources, coupled with altered irrigation methods and more water efficient crops. Henceforth, expanding the area used by commercial agriculture for staple crops, expanding irrigated agriculture and increasing the use of yield enhancing inputs, therefore promises long-term security.

In Sub-Saharan Africa as much as 50% of fruits and vegetables, 40% of roots and tubers and 20% of cereals, legumes and pulses are lost before they even hit the market. In recent years Pest & Diseases and Post-Harvest losses have also contributed to problems with food safety. Poor food handling, including poor storage and sanitation, may also result in food losses. Food safety standards and practices have been put in place in Africa but not all are feasible for adoption by small farmers and traders due to lack of adequate cash (as such adoption is costly). More must be done to help people who fall into these groups if the continent is serious about tackling food loss.

By the year 2030 Africa’s continent population is expected to grow by almost a half, between 1.65 billion and 1.71 billion and by about a half 2.5 billion- 2.8 billion by 2050 (United Nations and (Euro-monitor International). This will cause huge increases in demand for agricultural produce and products; but urban use of land and water will also increase enormously. The amount of fresh water allocated for agriculture will be reduced radically, by 50%, in 2040. By 2020 it is unlikely to exceed this amount, and may well be considerably less. At the same time, the amount of suitable land available for farming will also be some 34% less than at present. Part of the higher demand notably for field crops (such as cereals, vegetables and sugar) and for milk products, fish and beef will have to be met by increased imports. Nevertheless, a substantial part of the additional requirements will have to come from increased domestic production. Sweeping changes like a 28 % increase in the labor force and a reduction in irrigated field crops, such as rice will be required to make water available for growing fruit and vegetables for the local market.