NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 7 – Stakeholders in the agriculture sector across the continent have called for increased public investments in agricultural research, development, and extension as part of measures to rebuild and sustainably enhance Africa’s food systems.
A newly launched report dubbed 2021 Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR21) has indicated that agricultural spending is still low in Sub-Saharan countries amounting to less than one percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in most countries.
The report, which was unveiled on Tuesday during the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) summit held in Nairobi also noted that maximizing yields and productivity on existing farmland has the potential to make African food systems more resilient.
Andrew Cox, AGRA’s Chief of Staff and Strategy said this will reduce pressures for continued expansion of cropland, and preserve valued forest ecosystems and the biodiversity that they provide.
While agricultural production in SSA has grown rapidly since 2000, the report noted that three-quarters of the growth is usually driven by the expansion of cropland, over yield increases.
“With Africa’s population expected to double to nearly 2,5 billion by 2050, now is the time for stakeholders to put the steps in place to increase production without compromising the continent’s natural resources,” the report noted.
Agnes Kalibata, President of the summit said the COVID-19 pandemic unveiled the fragile nature of Africa’s food systems which remains susceptible to shocks.
“We must take the opportunity we have to rebuild from the pandemic, to make our food systems more resilient without putting further pressure on the environment,” Kalibata added.
The summit, Kalibata noted, presents an opportunity for the relevant stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in the creation of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in Africa.
“The AASR21 should serve as a wake-up call of the need to act urgently to support the creation of resilient food systems and reverse or mitigate the impact we’ve seen on the environment,” Jayne added.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn are among the high-level speakers who will attend the four-day summit which will also bring together members of the civil society, private sector leaders, scientists, and farmers.
