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Measures for Increased Nutrition and Utilization of Non-Conventional Food Resources during Disasters in Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Idris M. Nur
Idris M. Nur*
Affiliation:
Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Division, Organization of African Unity (OAU) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
*
P. O. Box 1460, Omdurman, Sudan
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Abstract

The basic causes of the poor performance of the food and agricultural sector in the different parts of Africa are external, internal, and natural. The general recession in the Continent limits the capacity of the respective countries to import food to supplement inadequate domestic production and supplies.

There are a number of nutritious food resources, both cultivated and gathered in the different ecological zones of Africa, whose production and consumption can be increased to ensure adequate food security and a nutritious diet, especially during disasters. These food resources could include: cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish, and insects. These food resources already are available over wide geographical areas in Africa and are utilized or utilized to a limited extent.

Therefore, strategies to increase food supply, eradicate hunger and malnutrition, and keep people alive in times of disasters should have as a priority, the cultivation and consumption of non-conventional food resources in the respective communities and countries.

Keywords

Africaagriculturedomestic resourcesfoodgatheringhungermalnutritionnutritionproductionrecession
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 34 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1999

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References

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