Reference no: EM13298857

Why Food insecurity is primarily urban problem in East Africa currently?

Introduction

In terms of social, economic and agricultural development Africa is, without a doubt, the least developed continent. Global and regional trends in urbanisation and the dimensions of urban poverty and food insecurity in general in Africa and in particular in East Africa, arguing that the rural bias of the contemporary food security agenda is misplaced and inconsistent with Africa's increasingly urban future. Different articles explore different ideas that why food insecurity becomes the primarily problem in Africa cities. Within the context of Africa, urban, not rural; food security is the emerging development issue. The reason that why food insecurity was the primary problem in East Africa is that, urban development has been neglected not only in the context of East Africa but also other African cities and towns.

Definitions, comparisons of , Food insecurity and Food security

Comparison between Rural and urban food insecurity problems.

Essay points (Body paragraphs):

1. Urban feature in Ethiopia

Little is known about the extent of food insecurity in Africa cities, making it difficult for development practitioners and policy makers to quantify the challenge and to pro-actively plan to reduce the urban food gap.

2. International food insecurity agenda.

The first section of my essay reviews the recent emergence of food security as a central development issue in Africa and on the global agenda, arguing that rural bias is being reproduced and perpetuated in these policy agendas. Over the last decade, the issues of urban Food insecurity and rural- urban Migration of people have risen to the top of the international development agenda.

3. Why are food and hunger a problem in East Africa?

East Africa has suffered from several famines, and many Africans are chronically hungry. This is due to political, economic, weather and environmental reasons. The most commonly given reason for famine is drought, and parts of Ethiopia do have unpredictable and low rainfall that can lead to droughts.

4. Conclusion

Therefore finally I would like to conclude that food insecurity has historically been seen as a rural phenomenon. The development discourse in the continent and in the African context has been focused on the rural context, with little direct attention paid to questions of urban poverty and development(de Bruijn et al., 2001; Potts, 2006). However, urban food security is emerging as a significant challenge as more people move to urban areas (Frayne B, et al, 2009).