Agriculture, the key to reduce Africa's poverty

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The report, which was launched this week by former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, also demands international action to end what it describes as the plunder of Africa's timber and fisheries.

"After more than a decade of growth, there is plenty to celebrate," Annan said. "But it is time to ask why so much growth has done so little to lift people out of poverty - and why so much of Africa's resource wealth is squandered through corrupt practices and unscrupulous investment activities. Africa is a continent of great wealth so why is Africa's share of global malnutrition and child deaths rising so fast? The answer is that inequality is weakening the link between economic growth and improvements in well-being."

Although average income has risen by one-third in the past decade, there are more Africans living in poverty now - around 415 million - than at the end of the 1990s. New global development goals are likely to aim to eradicate poverty by 2030 - but on current trends, one African in five will still be in poverty when that deadline arrives.

Importance of rural sector

The report's authors identify agriculture as the key to growth that reduces poverty. They point out that most of Africa's poor live and work in rural areas, predominantly as smallholder farmers. "Countries that have built growth on the foundations of a vibrant agricultural sector - such as Ethiopia and Rwanda - have demonstrated that the rural sector can act as a powerful catalyst for inclusive growth and poverty reduction," Annan said.

The report calls for a 'uniquely African green revolution' that adapts the lessons provided by Asia to African conditions. Africa currently imports $35bn worth of food because local agriculture is dogged by low productivity, chronic underinvestment, and regional protectionism. Increased investment in infrastructure and research could dramatically raise the region's yields and the incomes of farmers. Meanwhile, eliminating the barriers that restrict trade within Africa could open up new markets.

While critical of African governments, the report also challenges the international community to support the region's development efforts. It highlights fisheries and logging as two areas in which strengthened multilateral rules are needed to combat the plunder of natural resources.

Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing has reached epidemic proportions in Africa's coastal waters. West Africa is conservatively estimated to lose $1.3bn annually. Beyond the financial cost this plunder destroys fishing communities who lose critical opportunities to fish, process and trade. Another $17bn is lost through illicit logging activities.

Leaders have failed

African political leaders have failed to manage natural resources in the interests of the true owners of those resources - the African people. As well as losing money through natural resource plunder and financial mismanagement, Africans miss out on money from abroad, not only when aid donors fail to keep their promises but even when those in the African diaspora send remittances home to their families. It is estimated that that the continent is losing $1.85bn a year because money transfer operators are imposing excessive charges on remittances.

"Africa's resilience and creativity are enormous," Annan said. "We have a rising and energetic youth population. Our dynamic entrepreneurs are using technology to transform people's lives. We have enough resources to feed not just ourselves but other regions, too. It is time for Africa's leaders - and responsible investment partners - to unlock this huge potential."