Angola's Food Security: Self-Sufficient Or Import-Reliant?

Angola is a country with a rich agricultural history and the potential for high productivity. However, its ability to feed its own people has been impacted by various factors, including its independence from Portugal in 1975, the subsequent Angolan Civil War, and poor global market prices. Before 1975, Angola was self-sufficient in all major food crops except wheat, exporting coffee, maize, sisal, bananas, tobacco, and cassava. By the 1990s, however, its production had drastically decreased, and it became dependent on commercial imports.

Angola has been working to recover its agricultural sector since the end of the civil war in 2002, but it continues to face challenges such as landmines, limited rural infrastructure, and a lack of incentives for people to return to farming. Despite these obstacles, Angola's agriculture is expanding, and the country produced significant quantities of various crops in 2018.

So, does Angola grow enough food to feed its people? The answer is complex. While Angola has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production and has made strides towards recovery, it has yet to reach the levels of productivity it once enjoyed.

Angola's agricultural potential

Angola has the potential to become an agricultural powerhouse on the African continent. The country has an abundance of arable land—35 million hectares—with fertile soils and a favourable climate, suitable for producing a variety of agricultural products. Angola's agricultural sector is currently expanding due to the end of the civil war in 2002 and increasing foreign investment.

However, Angola's agricultural potential has been untapped since the civil war of the 1990s, which virtually ended all of the country's agricultural exports. During the civil war, most small-scale farmers reverted to subsistence farming, and large areas of land were rendered uncultivable due to landmines. The war also led to the collapse of commercial agricultural production, and the departure of Portuguese farmers and traders further undermined productivity.

In recent years, the Angolan government has been revitalising its rural economy and its vast agricultural resources. Angola has set ambitious goals to harness its agricultural potential, particularly in the production of cereals and livestock, to meet the growing demand for food imports. The country aims to increase agricultural productivity and market access for commercial farms through initiatives like the Angola Commercial Agriculture Project.

Angola's agricultural sector faces challenges, including water security and climate change vulnerabilities. The country is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years, impacting the food security of 1.58 million people. Additionally, the Russia-Ukraine war has led to steep increases in food prices, affecting the poorest Angolans. To address these challenges, the World Bank is supporting Angola through initiatives like the Smallholder Agricultural Transformation Project, which aims to transition the country from vulnerable subsistence farming to climate-resilient farming.

Food imports and exports

Angola has a rich agricultural history and a diverse range of food exports. However, due to various factors, including the civil war, the country has struggled to produce enough food to meet domestic needs and has become dependent on commercial food imports.

Angola's food exports have fluctuated over time due to historical and economic factors. Before its independence from Portugal in 1975, Angola had a thriving agricultural sector, exporting coffee, maize, sisal, bananas, tobacco, and cassava. However, by the 1990s, production had declined significantly, with coffee output falling to less than 1% of its previous volume, and cotton, tobacco, and sugarcane production ceasing almost entirely.

The Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) severely disrupted the country's agricultural productivity, leading to a dependence on commercial food imports. During this period, most small-scale farmers resorted to subsistence farming. The departure of Portuguese farmers and traders after independence also impacted agricultural output. Despite efforts by the government to revitalise the sector, challenges such as landmines, limited rural infrastructure, and a lack of incentives for farmers have hindered a full recovery.

In recent years, there has been a push for greater inter-regional trade within Africa to reduce dependence on foreign food imports. A World Bank report from 2012 highlights the potential for African countries, including Angola, to feed themselves and generate additional revenue by removing cross-border restrictions on food trade within the region.

Angola has a diverse range of food exports, including:

• Cassava: Angola was the 9th largest producer of cassava globally in 2018, and it is a key ingredient in many Angolan dishes.
• Bananas: Angola was the 7th largest producer of bananas worldwide in 2018.
• Maize: Angola produced 2.2 million tons of maize in 2018.
• Sweet potatoes: Angola contributed 1.2 million tons of sweet potatoes to global production in 2018.
• Pineapple: With 597 thousand tons produced in 2018, Angola was the 13th largest producer of pineapples in the world.
• Sugarcane: Sugarcane production has declined since the 1970s but remains a part of Angola's agricultural output.
• Coffee: While coffee production has significantly decreased since the 1970s, it is still grown in Angola and is used in various traditional dishes.
• Meat and seafood: Angola's long Atlantic coastline provides access to seafood, and the country also exports meat, including goat and cattle.

Angola's cuisine is a blend of indigenous African ingredients and Portuguese influences, with some ingredients brought over from other Portuguese colonies like Brazil. Staple foods in Angola include rice, beans, pork, chicken, sauces, and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and cassava leaves.

While Angola has a diverse range of food exports, the country has faced challenges in meeting domestic food needs due to historical and economic factors. However, with the end of the civil war and increasing foreign investment in the agricultural sector, there is potential for Angola to rebuild its agricultural productivity and reduce its dependence on food imports.

The impact of the Angolan Civil War

The Angolan Civil War (1975–2002) had a devastating impact on the country, its people, and its infrastructure. The war was a power struggle between two former anti-colonial guerrilla movements with incompatible leaderships: the communist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the anti-communist National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). A third movement, the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), also played a role in the conflict, initially fighting alongside UNITA.

The war resulted in the deaths of between 500,000 and 800,000 people and the internal displacement of over one million. It severely damaged Angola's infrastructure, public administration, economy, and religious institutions. Large areas of agricultural land were left uncultivated due to landmines, and the rural economy and farming sector deteriorated, dealing a final blow to the country's agricultural productivity.

The war also contributed to ethnic tensions and social difficulties, with the three rebel movements rooted in differing positions within colonial society. The MPLA, primarily an urban-based movement, drew its support from the Ambundu people and the multiracial intelligentsia of cities such as Luanda, Benguela, and Huambo. On the other hand, the FNLA and UNITA were rural groups, with the FNLA consisting mainly of Bakongo people from Northern Angola, and UNITA composed mainly of the Ovimbundu people from the Bié Plateau.

The conflict was further exacerbated by foreign military and political involvement, with the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies Cuba and South Africa, assisting the opposing factions. This Cold War proxy conflict was closely intertwined with the Second Congo War in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo and the South African Border War.

The Angolan Civil War had a lasting impact on the country, and even after the war ended in 2002, Angola continued to struggle with the consequences. The country became dependent on commercial food imports, and two-thirds of the population still depend on agriculture for food, income, and employment. The return to productivity in rural areas has proven difficult and slow, and large areas of land remain uncultivated due to landmines.

Angola's staple foods

Funge is the base of the Angolan diet and is considered the most popular food in the country. It is made from fuba (flour) of cassava or corn. The texture of funge is sticky and mild in flavour, so it is often accompanied by a sauce. The northern region of Angola typically eats more Funge made from cassava, while the southern part of the country prefers corn-based Funge.

Mufete is the second most popular dish in Angola and is usually eaten on weekends. It is a combination of grilled fish, beans with palm or red oil, boiled plantains and sweet potatoes, chopped onion, and flour. It is typically made with Cacusso, a fish found on the shores of Luanda.

Calulu is another common dish in Angola, made with either fish or dried meat and served with Funge or rice. It often includes additional ingredients such as spices and strong flavours.

Jimboa is one of the most commonly consumed vegetables in Angola, originating from the southern region of the country. It is rich in fibre and proteins and can be prepared with salt, vinegar, tomatoes, and sometimes palm oil. It is typically served with Funge, Calulu, and frequently with beans.

Kizaca are the leaves of the cassava plant, usually boiled and seasoned with ingredients like tomatoes, onions, salt, oil, and vinegar. It is often accompanied by fish, meat, or chicken and is eaten throughout the country.

Other staple foods in Angola include rice and beans, grilled or dried catfish, cabbage, and roasted peanuts.

Angola's food trade barriers

Angola has faced several challenges in its agricultural sector, impacting its ability to feed its people and creating trade barriers. Here are some key factors that have contributed to these issues:

Historical Context

The country had a flourishing tradition of family-based farming before its independence from Portugal in 1975 and was self-sufficient in all major food crops except wheat. However, the aftermath of the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002) dealt a significant blow to its agricultural productivity. The rural economy deteriorated, and the farming sector was neglected, leading to a decline in crop production.

Landmines and Safety Concerns

One of the significant challenges in Angola's agricultural sector is the presence of landmines, which render large areas of land unsuitable for cultivation. Additionally, safety concerns and the fear of attacks have forced farmers to reduce the areas under cultivation, especially those far from their villages.

Infrastructure and Investment Challenges

Limited functioning infrastructure in rural areas, such as poor roads and high transport costs, hinder the distribution of food products within the country. Angola has also faced challenges attracting investment in modern trucks and logistics, further exacerbating transportation issues.

Trade Policies and Restrictions

Angola has implemented several trade policies and restrictions that impact its food trade. For example, the Angolan government has established import quotas on food and beverage products, prioritizing domestically produced goods. While the implementation of these quotas has been deferred due to pressure from importers and the diplomatic community, it still creates barriers for importers, requiring them to register through a new process with detailed company information and warehousing/refrigeration capacity demonstrations.

Production Capacity and Import Dependence

Angola's production capacity for certain food items falls short of meeting domestic demand. For instance, the country produces only about 13% of the total market demand for chicken meat, making it heavily dependent on imports. This dependence on foreign purchases, including from the US, the EU, and Brazil, contributes to its trade deficit in food and agricultural goods.

Marketing and Transportation Difficulties

Marketing and transportation challenges have also played a role in Angola's food trade barriers. Small-scale farmers, who make up about 80% of the country's farmers, face difficulties in bringing their products to market due to limited infrastructure and a lack of incentives to return to farming.

To address these issues, Angola has been working to attract foreign investment in the agricultural sector, and its production is currently expanding. However, the country still faces challenges in revitalizing its agricultural productivity and ensuring food security for its people.

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