Food Security Sustainability in Southern Africa in the Context of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)
摘要
This chapter explores the effects of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by focusing on food security sustainability. In line with the Global Goals (2030), the AfCFTA is poised to boost intra-African trade by around 15–18% due to improved trade facilitation and removal of tariff barriers. The chapter analyzes the demand (population) and supply (production) and the volume of traded cereals across the 14 Southern African countries. It then explores how the removal of tariff barriers will likely influence food security status in the region. Some simulation case studies are also analyzed and applied using the WITS-SMART model, which estimates the welfare effects of tariff changes. The chapter recommends that the AfCFTA must be complemented by nontariff barriers such as improved cross-border facilitation and improvements in hard and soft infrastructure to maximize potential benefits.