Assessing the Zero Hunger Target Readiness in Africa in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic

Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin (Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), [Scopus ID: 57192949082])
Oluwaseun Aramide Otekunrin (Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan)
Folorunso Oludayo Fasina (Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-ECTAD), Dares Salam, 14111)
Abiodun Olusola Omotayo (Food Security and Safety Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Mmabatho)
Muhammad Akram (Department of Eastern Medicine, Government College University, Faisalabad)

Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
Vol 35, No 2 (2020): October

Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) is hinged on achieving zero hunger target globally by 2030. Many developing countries, especially African countries, are challenged with extreme hunger that are often caused or compounded by bad governance, conflicts and climate change. In this paper, we assess Africa’s readiness towards attaining the zero hunger target by 2030 in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. Patterns of Global Hunger Index (GHI) and each of its indicators across Africa are compared before the pandemic (2000-2019). The effect of the pandemic on the hunger situation in Africa is discussed by highlighting the mitigating measures put in place by selected African governments. We have found that most African countries have recorded steady reduction in their child mortality rates but high prevalence of undernourishment, stunting and child wasting indicates significant challenges hampering the achievement of the zero hunger target. The study recommends that African governments should prioritize sustainable agricultural practices and give serious attention to the formulation and implementation of policies that reduce hunger against the COVID-19 pandemic.