Leveraging on technology for agricultural sustainability in Africa

Agriculture stands as a key pillar for economic growth across various African countries. However, the sector faces formidable challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, hindering its full potential. Achieving agricultural sustainability in Africa necessitates the establishment of robust partnerships among governments, private sectors, and local communities to drive innovation, investment, and knowledge sharing. Aggrey Agumya, the Executive Director of Fara Africa, recently addressed the pressing issues facing agricultural development in Africa during an insightful interview on CNBC Africa. Agumya highlighted the critical need for increased research and investment in agricultural technology to tackle food insecurity on the continent. He emphasized the importance of investing in human capital to effectively adopt existing technologies from successful agricultural systems in countries like Brazil. A significant barrier, however, lies in the lack of infrastructure and skilled personnel to implement these technologies on a large scale. The deficiency in research and innovation funding has impacted the sector's performance, as Africa currently falls short of the recommended 1% agricultural GDP investment in research. Agumya stressed the imperative of enhancing technology generation in Africa, particularly in primary production, to bridge the substantial food import gap and bolster economic growth. Boosting productivity in staple crops and livestock presents a primary challenge requiring innovative solutions and advancements in agricultural science. The conversation shifted towards climate resilience and adaptation in the agriculture sector, with Agumya underlining the necessity of research, innovation, and knowledge sharing to address the escalating impact of climate change. Africa faces mounting challenges such as increased droughts, rising temperatures, and flooding, necessitating the development and adoption of climate-adapted technologies from other regions and the creation of new solutions tailored to Africa's evolving climate conditions. Despite the favorable climatic conditions in East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda for agriculture, the region continues to rely heavily on imports, exposing gaps in production and market inefficiencies. Agumya identified poor market functioning, post-harvest handling issues, and trade policies as significant hurdles hindering East African countries from harnessing their agricultural potential. Insufficient infrastructure for irrigation and soil productivity enhancement further restricts agricultural productivity, warranting strategic interventions across the entire agricultural value chain to unlock Africa's agricultural prosperity. By addressing these multifaceted challenges through increased investments in research, technology, and market development, African countries can propel their agricultural sectors towards sustainable growth and food security.