Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen traveled to a small farming community in rural Zambia to deliver a big message: Africans can help feed the world, Axios‘ Hans Nichols reports.
Why it matters: Yellen wants to convince Africans — from women entrepreneurs to government ministers — the U.S. will be their partner for the long haul.
- That includes helping them to become more food secure and survive the effects of climate change.
Driving the news: “Farmers — like the ones we work with here — are often the first witnesses of the changing climate and its consequences,” Yellen told a few dozen subsistence farmers in Chongwe, Zambia.
- But she also said Africa “has the potential not only to feed itself but also to help feed the world.”
The big picture: Devastating droughts across Africa, coupled with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have increased food insecurity and driven up energy costs across the continent.
Catch up fast: Throughout her 10-day African trip, Yellen has done a combination of listening and selling.
