Abstract
Grain production across Africa is increasing year by year, mainly due to population growth and rising food demand. Corn, in particular, stands out as the most produced cereal, with production reaching 92.8 Mt in 2022. Maize is primarily used for food, but also plays an important role as animal feed and for export. This trend can be attributed to African countries’ efforts to adopt agricultural technologies and expand cultivated land. However, in some regions, climate change and lack of infrastructure may limit growth in production, and some countries will continue to depend on imports. As for exports, many countries prioritize domestic consumption, so export volumes remain at a relatively low level compared to production volumes. Overall, the challenge is to achieve both food security and economic growth.
Production(production (production volume))
Since 1961, grain production in Africa as a whole has steadily increased due to developments in agricultural technology, the expansion of cultivated land, and rising demand as a result of population growth. Corn, in particular, is a major grain, recording its highest ever production volume of 100Mt in 2021. However, in 2022 it is expected to fall by 7.3% from the peak to 92.7Mt. This decline is likely due to droughts and infrastructure shortages caused by climate change in some areas, as well as rising prices of agricultural inputs. However, corn production volumes far exceed those of other cereals and it remains important for a wide range of uses, including animal feed, processed products, and exports. Going forward, the promotion of climate-adaptive agriculture and efficient resource management will likely be key to supporting stable production.
The maximum is 100Mt[2021] of Corn, and the current value is about 92.7%
Production (food)
The amount of wheat produced as ”food” in the overall grain production in Africa has shown a long-term upward trend due to population growth and urbanization. Notably, in 2021 it reached 64.6Mt, the highest on record. This level is still being maintained, with production volume remaining at 100% compared to peak levels. Wheat is becoming increasingly important as a food ingredient due to the increasing demand for processed foods such as bread and pasta. However, wheat production in Africa is concentrated in certain regions and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change and agricultural input prices. Furthermore, despite increased production, many countries continue to rely on imports to meet domestic consumption demand. In the future, reducing dependence on imports and improving productivity will likely become important issues.
The maximum is the latest one, 64.6Mt of Wheat
Import and export (exports)
In terms of cereal exports across Africa, maize was the largest export commodity in 1961, reaching 5.68 Mt. Grain exports for the year averaged 1.22Mt and totalled 9.76Mt, with maize dominating the exports. At the time, exports consisted mainly of surplus production being distributed on international markets, and were limited to a few countries with well-developed agricultural infrastructure. Exports were also vulnerable to harvest stability and international market prices. Overall, Africa has had a strong tendency to prioritize domestic demand since then, and export volumes have been limited compared to production volumes. This situation has not changed significantly to date, due to the effects of rising domestic consumption, climate change and lack of infrastructure.
The maximum is the latest one, 38Mt of Corn
Animal (feed)
The use of animal feed in cereal production across Africa has shown an increasing trend from 1961 to the present, with maize in particular dominating as the primary feed crop. The latest data shows that maize feed use has reached 38Mt, the highest on record. This increase is due to increased demand resulting from the expansion of livestock production and the development of the livestock industry. Rising demand for meat and dairy products, especially in urban areas, is driving up demand for feed crops. On the other hand, while its use as feed is increasing, competition with food and exports has become an issue, and regional yields and stability of supply are becoming increasingly important. Going forward, there will be a need for sustainable feed crop production and efficient resource utilization.
The maximum is the latest one, 38Mt of Corn
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