The Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr. Canisius Kanangire, reiterated on Monday the crucial need for African countries to invest in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to achieve food security across the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the inaugural African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Kanangire highlighted that while science, technology, and innovation are rapidly advancing, they have not received the necessary policy support required for effective deployment of tried and tested products in Africa.
He emphasised that African countries have yet to create an enabling environment for research and development, and even when progress is made, it tends to be slow.
The ACAT was attended by AATF’s Goodwill Ambassador and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as well as heads of government agriculture agencies in Africa, scientists, academics, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Dr. Kanangire lamented the ongoing struggles of the African continent in providing food for its people. The World Food Programme and the FAO’s hunger status projection for June to December 2023 report that “acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in 18 hunger hotspots globally, encompassing 22 countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Kenya.”
He stressed that rain-fed agriculture and conventional farming methods are no longer sustainable for the continent. Massive investment in research and development, science, technology, and innovation is needed.
Dr. Kanangire pointed out, “Reliance on rain-fed agriculture and conventional methods still dominates African farming. However, this approach is no longer sustainable due to the effects of climate change, unreliable rainfall, and declining soil quality, making this type of farming increasingly challenging and unpredictable.”
He also highlighted the untapped potential of Africa’s growing youth population, which could play a pivotal role in revitalizing the African economy. He expressed concern that younger generations are hesitant to engage in agriculture, and the continent has become a leading food importer despite possessing the largest arable lands globally.
The theme of ACAT, “Agricultural Resilience through Innovation,” aligns with the belief that the resilience of African farmers and food systems depends on embracing and integrating innovative technologies into the food production system for the benefit of farmers and the entire population.
Kanangire emphasized that the sustainability of farming systems for long-term food and nutrition security necessitates a shift toward intensive farming based on modern innovative technologies that address the most pressing challenges faced by farmers. These challenges include the need to increase food production on limited land, combat pests and diseases, adapt to climate change, and maximize profit margins from produce.
Dr. Kanangire reaffirmed the AATF’s commitment to the efficacy of science, technology, and innovation in the agricultural value chain. Their work in over 24 African countries, in close partnership with governments, national research organizations, and partners, has yielded valuable lessons that are worth sharing.
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