A new report by the World Bank identifies transport as one of the main barriers to food security in Africa, with Mozambique among the most affected countries. Despite advances in agricultural production, a large part of the African population remains vulnerable to food insecurity due to inefficiencies in supply chains and the fragility of transport and storage infrastructure.
Titled “Improving Transport Connectivity for Food Security in Africa: Strengthening Supply Chains,” the report, released on May 19, reveals that 58% of Africans, including millions of Mozambicans, live in food insecurity. In Mozambique, as in the rest of the continent, logistical problems hinder the effective distribution of agricultural products, causing significant post-harvest losses and preventing locally produced food from reaching consumers.
According to the document, up to 37% of food produced locally in Africa is lost or wasted due to a lack of adequate storage infrastructure. The situation is particularly critical in rural areas, where about 60% of the population lives more than two kilometers from an all-year-round passable road. This reality isolates producers from main markets, raising product costs and limiting access to basic food for both urban and rural populations.
In addition to degraded rural roads, transport costs on the continent, including in Mozambique, remain high. The report points out that monopolistic practices in the sector and a scarcity of competitive operators result in inflated tariffs, which directly increase the final price of food. On average, food supply chains in Africa are four times longer than in Europe and represent up to 45% of the cost of some staple goods such as rice, cereals, and cassava — all fundamental parts of the Mozambican diet.
Poor regional integration is another obstacle identified. Although Mozambique shares borders with countries with agricultural surpluses, non-tariff barriers, such as customs delays and hidden costs, hinder intra-African trade. This contributes to a high dependence on imports, worsening food insecurity during external shocks such as climate or geopolitical crises.
What solutions does the report propose?
To address these challenges, the World Bank proposes investing in port and logistics infrastructure, with special focus on ports and corridors serving agricultural zones and densely populated urban areas. It also suggests improving rural transport networks to link producers to consumer markets, as well as removing trade barriers and harmonizing regional policies to facilitate food trade with neighboring countries.
The report further recommends expanding storage capacity, promoting competition in the transport sector to reduce operational costs, and strengthening infrastructure resilience to ensure continuity even during extreme weather events.
“Food security in Africa is not just about producing more, it is about fixing the broken systems that prevent food from reaching where it is most needed. By investing in and improving transport, we can eliminate key bottlenecks, reduce costs, and ensure more reliable access to food for millions of people,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director of the World Bank.
Nicolas Peltier, Global Transport Director at the World Bank, adds, “Although food security is a complex issue with multiple factors involved, investment in transport is an area where countries can take concrete action. Improving ports, roads, and border crossings not only facilitates food transport between producers and consumers but also contributes to job creation in the logistics sector.”
Mozambique has frequently faced floods, droughts, and cyclones that compromise food production and distribution. Implementing the report’s recommendations could represent a strategic turning point for the country by more efficiently linking production zones with consumption areas, reducing losses, stabilizing prices, and contributing to hunger eradication.
Text by: Nário Sixpene
