Nairobi - Africa needs to boost agricultural productivity and
address the debilitating hunger that affects 27% of its
population if it is to sustain its economic boom, the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said on Tuesday. African
economies grew at an average of more than 5% during the past
decade with many countries benefiting from surging commodity
prices, as well as growth in services, construction and
agriculture. But the character of the growth has done little to
reduce extreme poverty and hunger. More than 40% of African
children under five are malnourished, which means they suffer
irreversible mental and physical disabilities, the UNDP said.
"The situation is quite bleak," said Sebastian Levine, a UNDP
policy adviser for Africa. "This economic resurgence that we
have seen has not really had the impact that we would expect."
Africa is the second fastest growing region after Asia, yet 48%
of people were found to be living in poverty in 2008, compared
to just 14% in East Asia and the Pacific. Af