Addressing Africa's food security challenges

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has exacerbated the food crisis in Africa, leaving millions vulnerable on a continent where the availability and affordability of food have long been a challenge. Ramesh Moochikal, the Group CEO at Agribusiness & Tropical General Investments Group, recently sat down with CNBC Africa's Tania Habimana to discuss the pressing issues surrounding food security in Africa. Moochikal highlighted the difficulties faced by his organization in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of reorganizing the business model to adapt to the new normal. He emphasized that leadership is a 'contact sport' and that leading through a screen presented its own set of challenges. However, Moochikal remained optimistic about the potential for local production and processing to solve Africa's food security issues. The TGI Group's model focuses on buying local produce, processing it locally, and distributing it to meet local tastes. Moochikal believes this model not only addresses food security concerns but also promotes import substitution, employment generation, and upskilling in local communities.