Africa holds 60% of the world's uncultivated land

 

 

 

Demand for agricultural products is already growing in many emerging markets but is hampered by a decline in local resources. Thus, China is home to 20% of the world's population but holds less than 8% of the arable land and its arable land will total only 129 million hectares in 2020 (135 million hectares today). In other countries, water shortages also add a threat to agricultural production.

 

 

 

With the prospect of a total population of 9 billion by 2050, food production will necessarily have to increase. And Africa will have a key role to play.

 

 

 

FAO has estimated that more than 60% of the world's unexploited arable land is in Africa. Already between 50 million and 60 million hectares of land in sub-Saharan Africa have been bought or leased since 2001. Expansion of arable land, increased yields, better infrastructure for storage and transport will ensure a real boom in agricultural production. With annual returns to double by 2020, according to some analysts.