African govt tasked on increased spending on agricultural research, extension

African governments have been tasked on the need to increase spending on agricultural research development and extension to build sustainable and resilient food systems in the continent.

The Senior Director, African Development Institute (ADI), Professor Kevin Chika Urama stated this during a virtual media briefing session to mark the commencement of the 11th Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2021 Summit in Nairobi, Kenya with the theme: “Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems”.

The summit kicked off September 7, 2021, in Nairobi, Kenya convening close to 7,000 participants virtually, including African presidents, agriculture Ministers, agricultural stakeholders and experts to discuss ways the continent can transform food systems and accelerate progress to eradicating hunger and poverty.

Urama said the need for the increased spending is to honour the Maputo declaration in which they agreed to commit 10 per cent of national budgetary resources to the agricultural sector.

According to him, this will help the continent depend less on what comes from outside so as to take a lead in terms of Africa led agricultural productivity growth on the continent.

Speaking on the Africa Agriculture Status Report 2021 (AASR), a report that aims to address the challenges and opportunities in the creation of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in the continent, Urama quoted the report as saying, “Sub Saharan African has registered a rapid rate of agricultural production growth since the year 2000.

He said: “Our output expanded by 4.3 per cent compared to 2.7 per cent in the rest of the world. But this output growth has been largely driven by area expansion, by growing more crops in more pieces of land and over 75 per cent of that reported growth comes from this expansion while 25 per cent comes from productivity growth.

He stated that the status report is set out to identify actionable strategies towards building sustainable and resilient agric food systems in Africa.

He, however, reiterated the need to marry both the agroecological principles, the modern green revolution technologies, input systems among others to ensure sustainability and also.

“The next 10 years we need to transition from a result dependent agric output growth to productivity led agric output growth, this comes from knowledge, capacity, technology and the kind of implements we use in our agriculture going forward.

“We need to build locally adaptive technologies, local institutions to be able to do agriculture in a way that will focus on productivity led growth,” he added.

Also, Deputy President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Dr Fadel Ndiame, noted that Africa has made a lot of progress in increasing production, he said what is required is a more productivity-driven approach which is about a new way of thinking about the continent’s performance not only in terms of agriculture but the food system.

“We need to stick to the whole value chain from production, processing and consumption so as to produce better quality food.”

He, however, called on the need for smallholder farmers to have access to knowledge about agricultural practices so as to know exactly what the soil requires.

“We need significant innovations, investment in irrigation and to also have an accessible market.

“COVID-19 created a major shock which provided an opportunity for us in Africa to rethink how we are doing our agriculture. Because of the lockdown and the closure of borders, the global food chain was disrupted,” he said.

Also, the Acting Managing Director AGRF, Ms Jennifer Baarn said: “The AGRF 2021 Summit is critical for Africa’s agricultural and food systems development.

“However, if we do not advance the commitments we make today and throughout this week, we will not get to zero hunger.

“As Africa reels and rebuilds from the impact of COVID-19, rebuilding efforts must include smallholder farmers, the youth and women as they represent a sizeable percentage of Africa’s population. Our discussions should be inclusive and our plans hereafter should be achievable.”

AGRA Board Chairman, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn said that the Summit marks a defining moment for transforming the continent’s food systems.

“Africa’s agriculture transformation will only happen if we collectively decide to advance past commitments. We know the binding constraints that have hindered progress in achieving national and continental agriculture priorities.

“This Summit brings us together to collaborate and hone our leadership and technical skills useful in unlocking sector implementation challenges.

“By auctioning commitments and discussing challenges on our way, we can partner to empower African communities.”

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

African govt tasked on increased spending on agricultural research, extension

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…  African govt tasked on increased spending on agricultural research, extension    African govt tasked on increased spending on agricultural research, extension