Why does Gabon import much of its food?

Gabon imports a significant portion of its food primarily due to the decline of the agricultural sector, which has struggled to keep pace with the country's needs. While agriculture occupies about one-third of the workforce, its appeal as a way of life has diminished as young people have migrated to towns and cities in search of better educational and employment opportunities.1

This rural exodus has left the countryside depopulated, making it difficult to raise sufficient foodstuffs for urban markets. Historically, efforts to boost domestic production—such as promoting market gardening and reviving cocoa and coffee cultivation—have yielded only modest results. Additionally, the prevalence of the tsetse fly long hindered the development of a domestic beef and dairy industry, further increasing reliance on imports. Consequently, by 1980, Gabon was producing only enough food to satisfy 10 to 15 percent of its requirements.1