How West Africa Food Supply Suffers Ukraine/Russia War, ECOWAS Reveals

The Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) has outlined how ongoing Ukraine and Russia war affects the region’s food insecurity and supply.

Commissioner, agriculture, environment, and water resources, ECOWAS, Sekou Sangare explained that due to the Ukraine war, it would be disastrous if urgent steps are not taken to address the food insecurity menace.

He stated this while delivering a report at the ongoing 2022 first ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Tuesday.

He claimed that the fighting had deteriorated the region’s food and nutritional status by disrupting supply lines and raising food and fertilizer prices.

“The war between Ukraine and Russia, which started at the end of February, has had aggravating effects on the difficult food and nutritional situation in all the countries of the region,” he said.

“It has aggravated the grain deficit in the region with, in particular, the disruption of the food supply chain, the amplification of the rise in food prices, and the price of fertilisers.

“The two countries in conflict are major suppliers on the international markets and also suppliers of wheat, maize, edible oils, and fertilizers for the majority of ECOWAS member countries” he said.

He did add, though, that a number of steps had been implemented, including tax exemptions on food imports, price controls, and cash transfer activities.

Moreso, in May and June 2022, the ministerial technical committee in charge of agriculture met with the commissioner of agriculture to address the limits. And, together, develop appropriate and practical methods to guarantee our farmers receive adequate fertilizer supplies, promote cross-border food and fertilizer transactions, and reduce the effects of the food crisis and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

He further outlined some measures that were adopted by the associations of professional agricultural organisations, the West African Association of Fertilizer Professionals, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, West African Bank of Development (BOAD), and other technical and financial partners.

• With immediate effect, African Union member states should improve farmers’ access to fertilisers through the provision of subsidies to the fertiliser sector, with the support of Africa’s development partners, with a focus on poor farmers.
• Lift the restrictions taken by the member states on the free movement of foodstuffs such as rice, maize, soya, sorghum, millet, roots and tubers: cassava, yam, fruits, and vegetables. Livestock, meat, fisheries and aquaculture within the community area.
• Urgently mobilise internal financial resources to assist people affected by the crisis within the framework of social protection net projects: cash transfer, food for work.”