The continent has 65% of the world’s unexploited arable land, but still struggles to feed itself despite all the efforts made. Aware that Africa is also the continent with the fastest-growing population, the AfDB is banking on private-public partnerships in agricultural research and innovation to take full advantage of new technologies linked to agricultural development.
In my 40 years of experience in agriculture, I have never felt that Africa has the technology to feed itself. On the other hand, it has the means to double or even triple its productivity.
Akinwumi Adesina , President of the AfDB – Nigeria
Agriculture remains the cornerstone of the African economy, as as well as accounting for up to 60% of gross domestic product in some countries, it provides livelihoods for the majority of the population. Aware of its importance, in 2017 the African Development Bank launched the ‘Technologies for Transforming Agriculture in Africa’ (TAAT) initiative, which invites farmers to take full advantage of new technologies, the benefits of digital farming, biotechnologies, precision farming or even artificial intelligence.
We need better and more resilient agricultural technologies and to do that, we need to fund and support research centres and experimental development (R&D) that develop this kind of technology whether it’s for crops, livestock, to obtain better performing breeds, fisheries, because climate change reminds us that we need to continue to fund R&D.
Akinwumi Adesina , President of the AfDB – Nigeria
Agricultural development is high on the political agendas of African countries, as set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. In agreement with the AfDB, the CGIAR, a global partner in food security research, intends to build the capacity of national partners in agricultural research services, young scientists and extension agents, as well as private sector seed producers to produce certified seeds.
We have a common strategy across all the research centres to provide science and technology to transform land, water and food systems in the face of climate change.
Lindiwe Majele Sibanda , Chair of the CGIAR Board of Trustees – Zimbabwe
Implementing agricultural technologies to boost food systems is a priority for African governments. According to Uzziel Ndagijimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance, ‘the crisis in Ukraine has taught us more lessons about the need to strengthen our health and food systems’.
We have been implementing a crop intensification strategy since 2008, and thanks to this strategy we have strengthened agricultural research capacity, built institutions responsible for combining the two types of agriculture, and managed agricultural projects including irrigation systems. We have done all we can to increase support for farmers by providing fertilisers and subsidised seeds.
Uzziel Ndagijimana , Minister of Finance and Economic Planning – Rwanda
According to the AfDB, with 65% of the world’s unexploited arable land, Africa should rightly feed the world and not the other way around. Also thanks to the Technologies for Transforming Agriculture in Africa initiative, more than 800 million dollars have been mobilized with a view to doubling the productivity of crops, livestock and fishing, quickly making available technologies to more than 40 million farmers. proven by 2025.
