More irrigation and pastoralism could change Africa’s Sahel region, says WB

BY STANDARD REPORTER

The World Bank has called on the international development community to protect and expand pastoralism in Africa.

It has also asked for more large-scale irrigation to help move Africa towards embracing climate smart agriculture that can manage competing demands for land, water, and other natural resources.

The bank said African countries and communities should also join the effort to protect pastoralism on behalf of the over 80 million people living in The Sahel who rely on livestock as a major source of food and livelihood.

The Bretton Woods institution noted that over 50 per cent of the meat and milk, which people consume in West African coastal countries, come originally from the Sahel.

 The Sahel is the eco-climatic and biogeographic zone of transition, in Africa, between the Sahara desert to the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south.

The Bank’s views are contained in background papers released ahead of two major agriculture summits to be held in Mauritania and Senegal on October 29 and October 31, 2013, respectively. The World Bank’s Vice President for Africa Region, who will open the Pastoralism Forum in Mauritania said African agriculture employs a massive 65-70 per cent of the continent’s labour force and accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of GDP.

“It represents the single most important industry in the region, and therefore its transformation and growth is vital to reduce poverty in a region like The Sahel,” he said.

Living standards

 Diop noted that boosting investment in the Sahel would help to significantly improve living standards for people and reduce the frequency and severity of food crises

According to the Bank, Africa is home to some 50 million pastoralists with 16 million of them living in The Sahel and in extreme poverty.

On irrigation, Diop observed that  more water in The Sahel region means more development in the form of food, more jobs, more money and opportunity, especially for young people, and women in particular as farmers and traders.