WASHINGTON / MENA Newswire / – The World Bank Group said the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region needs higher investment in water-efficient irrigation and agricultural innovation to strengthen food security. Its new report, Building Food Security, Creating Jobs, links food systems, nutrition, water use and employment across a region facing rising demand and tight natural resources.
The report says 18 percent of people in the region face some level of food insecurity. It also says 42 percent cannot afford a nutritious diet. Food demand across the region will rise 67 percent by 2050, according to the report. Conflict remains the chief cause of outright hunger, while food affordability and poor nutrition affect a wider share of households.
The report estimates that ambitious investment and business climate reform can add 5 million jobs by 2050. Agrifood systems already support about 63 million jobs across the region. That equals nearly three in ten workers. The sector includes farms, processing, transport, storage, logistics, trade, retail and food services that move food from producers to consumers.
Water pressure drives investment need
The report says the region needs US$12 billion in additional annual investment for water-efficient irrigation and agricultural innovation. It says coherent policy reforms must support that spending. The measures would target higher domestic food supply, better resource use and stronger farming systems. Agriculture accounts for 87 percent of water use in the world’s most water-stressed region.
The investment estimate covers a region where groundwater pressure remains a central constraint. The report says the planned measures could more than double fruit and vegetable production by 2050. It also says cereal yields could rise 72 percent over the same period. These estimates rely on investment, innovation and reforms that improve irrigation and farm productivity.
Food systems extend beyond farms
The report highlights food loss and waste as a major challenge. It says nearly one-third of food is lost or wasted from farm to consumer. Better logistics, storage and consumer incentives can reduce those losses. The report says such steps can conserve scarce resources, lower fiscal pressure and improve access to healthier food.
The World Bank said resilient trade, better public spending and private capital can help reshape agrifood systems. It also linked the work to AgriConnect, a global initiative focused on smallholders, jobs and food security. The report says jobs in processing, logistics and food services are growing at twice the global rate, even as on-farm employment declines.