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Food security, poverty, and economic policy in the Middle East and North Africa

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  • Lofgren, Hans
  • Richards, Alan

Abstract

In MENA, household food insecurity, which is closely related to poverty and undernourishment, is most severe in rural areas and concentrated within Iraq, Sudan, and Yemen. 25% of the MENA population may be poor and 7% undernourished. The key to increased national and household-level food security is pro-poor growth, driven by export-oriented, labor-intensive sectors. Agricultural sector policies should be subordinate to the pro-poor growth goal and not to the goal of food self-sufficiency. Such a strategy requires conflict resolution; macroeconomic stability; physical and human capital accumulation; reliance on markets and the private sector, and diffusion of ecologically friendly farming practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Lofgren, Hans & Richards, Alan, 2003. "Food security, poverty, and economic policy in the Middle East and North Africa," TMD discussion papers 111, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:tmddps:111
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    Cited by:

    1. Urban, Frauke & Benders, René M.J. & Moll, Henri C., 2009. "Energy for rural India," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(Supplemen), pages 47-57, November.
    2. Zolfaghari, Mehdi & Jariani, Farzaneh, 2021. "Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)," MPRA Paper 105078, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Eihab Fathelrahman & Stephen Davies & Safdar Muhammad, 2021. "Food Trade Openness and Enhancement of Food Security—Partial Equilibrium Model Simulations for Selected Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Wichelns, Dennis, 2004. "The policy relevance of virtual water can be enhanced by considering comparative advantages," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 49-63, April.
    5. Jane, Harrigan, 2011. "Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis," CEI Working Paper Series 2011-5, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.

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