Poor Nations Need Farm Investment or Face Importing More Food
- UN says improvements needed in agriculture amid urbanization
- Poorest countries risk becoming more dependent on food imports
A man picks melons in a field by the River Yobe, near Diffa, Nigeria.
Photographer: Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The poorest countries risk a greater dependence on food imports unless more is invested in their rural agriculture industries as people move toward cities, according to the United Nations.
As urban populations rise, diets are changing and consumption of foods like meat, fruit and vegetables are set to rise, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. To meet that extra demand, rural areas will need more investment both on and off farms to improve output and sustainability.