Floods, drought, excessive rainfall, desert encroachment are some of the climate related events that have gravely impacted Africa’s ecosystem, compounding the continent’s struggle for attaining food security.
Series of reports have also linked these factors to Africa’s inability to rave its agricultural productivity beyond the subsistence level, as they have been found to be the reason behind continent’s shrinking arable lands, and the consequential reduction of soil fertility that have resulted in farmers reliance on excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
Also, Sub-Saharan African have become a hotbed of insecurity occasioned by banditry, farmers-herders conflicts and communal conflicts, and terrorism that have kept farmers away from the farms.
With limited land space for farming, farmers, most of whom have been confined to small portions of farmland and no option to expand, now hardly practice shifting cultivation, a traditional farming practice that allows the soil to heal after being used for farming.
Meanwhile, insect and pest infestation have become a nightmare for African farmers as their crops are consistently attacked on the field thereby resulting, in some cases, zero harvest, low harvest or unwholesome crop harvests.
Whereas many regions across the world have taken giant steps towards leapfrogging these challenges with the introduction and adaptation of modern technologies in agriculture, Africa is still lagging grossly behind in the adoption and deployment of modern and emerging technologies for improved food production amid the fast growing population.
Experts have established that the adoption of modern technology in agriculture can reverse the unsavoury trends in Africa, as it holds the potential of permanent solutions to some of the age-long problems facing farmers in the region.
While some countries in the developed world are recording 15 to 20 tons per hectare, Africa’s yield per hectare is still between 5 to 10 tons, this situation calls for concern.
It is with his in mind that African governments have invested more towards getting improved seeds that can get more yields.
As a measure towards, exploring the opportunity biotechnology have been identified as game changer in the African agricultural production and the road towards achieving food security in the continent.
Genetic engineering which is a component of biotechnology has the capability of producing seeds that can use the limited land available to produce more food.
Genetic engineering and genome editing can addressing this situation by inserting genes resistant to these insects and pests on the crop or editing and strengthening existing genes in the crop in order to resists the attacks.
It has been severally predicted Technology must be deployed through the introduction of climate smart seeds, improved seeds or transgenic seeds to address flood, drought and other
The African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) has been at the forefront, leading local and international partners to deploy technology across Africa.
In Nigeria for instance, the AATF in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria have made significant efforts using biotechnology to develop transgenic crops that addresses some of the challenges farmers encounter on farms.
For example, they IAR in partnership with AATF and other partners developed and released the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea which resists the attacks of the deadly Pod Borer Insect.
This cowpea variety is also early maturing and has a higher yield than the conventional variety which has been planted and confirmed by many farmers in the country.
Also, the AATF facilitated the development and release of BT Cotton which aims to resuscitate the moribund Nigerian fabric industry.
There is also the TELA maize which was developed by IAR Zaria in partnership with the AATF. This new maize variety when released will be able to withstand drought and give more yield than the conventional variety.
Recently, the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubabar Kyari said that, in order to conserve the fast eroding genetic resources for food security, the Ministry will deploy technology to establish two new national gene bank facilities.
In another development, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu said application of biotechnology in Nigeria’s agriculture sector is key to unlocking the full potentials of plant breeding.
Also recently, the Executive Secretary of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Sharubutu harped on the need to invest in agricultural technology by African leaders, this he said will feed the growing population of the continent.
“Africa’s agricultural landscape is one of immense promise and untapped potential. With a rapidly growing population, the importance of agricultural research and technological innovation cannot be overstated”, Professor Sharubutu said.
The Nigerian Minister of Science, Innovation and technology, Chief Uche Nnaji recently said that existing technologies such as genetic engineering, modern methods of improving soil fertility and other emerging technologies can address concerns about food security.
Since the Nigerian government has identified technology as a driving force in advancing food production, it is however important that action is taken to match these submissions.
This also goes to other African countries to take proper steps towards developing frameworks that will allow seamless deployment of technologies to the farmers to make agriculture attractive and beneficial.
Africa must not continue to be an importing continent with its immense resources, instead it should be an exporting continent.
It is time for some of the food of Africa origins be seen and the shelves of the western countries.