The role of food aid in Africa’s food insecurity has come under sharp scrutiny in the wake of an estimated 120 million people on the continent facing starvation; 6.2 million of these from Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s premier, Meles Zenawi, has cautioned his parliament to be wary of  the  ‘food aid  industry’ as it reaps huge benefits for playing an intermediary role; exaggerates the numbers of affected people to suit its ideological, political and economic ends; and feeds the industrial might of donor countries.

Meles Zenawi’s observations are true. Ever since food aid was introduced in the 60s, Africa’s food habits have changed; agricultural activities on the continent focus on the production of exotic crops that demand far much input than indigenous ones; and agricultural productive abilities have been disrupted to justify land acquisitions by wealthy nations.

Whereas probing hostile programs from wealthy nations is noble, Africa must also look inward and rethink policies that hinder food movement from food secure areas to food deficient ones. According to UNESCO for example, Africa’s available water resources are underutilized. Only three percent of its renewable water is withdrawn annually for domestic, agricultural and industrial use; only six percent of the cultivated land is irrigated and less than five percent of its hydro power potential is used. The volume of water lost in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi because of leakages and illegal connections could meet the water needs of Mombasa, the country’s second largest city. Does it require outside help to fix these anomalies?

The fact that Africa’s food situation has not changed for the last three decades is a clear indication that the food aid industry is keen to feed Africa but not help Africa feed itself, as this would drive it out of business. African leaders must consequently shun the palliative and strive for the cure of the continent’s food insecurity.