Adopt modern agric technologies to boost production — FARA

The Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, has urged African countries to adopt modern technologies to boost their agricultural sector.

He said the lack of research and the continuous use of traditional agricultural methods by African countries accounted for the low development of African economies.

“In the Western world, hoes and cutlasses are kept in the museums, but in Africa, these crude tools are used for farming. Africa has a huge potential to develop its economy through developing its agricultural sector. Urgent steps ought to be taken to bring innovation into our agricultural practices,” he said.

Invest in agriculture

Dr Yemi, who made the observations at a forum organised by FARA in Accra last Friday, said it was important for African leaders to invest in the agricultural sector as a matter of policy.

He said in-continent financing of agriculture was the way to go to ensure that African countries made the best use of the fertile land and natural resources bestowed on it.

“If Africa must develop, agriculture ought to be put at the centre of the process. Africa ought to put more effort where her assets are. Africa donor groups ought to be strengthened to invest in the agricultural sector,” he said.

According to him, a holistic approach to promoting agriculture called for effective collaboration with financial institutions in Africa, especially the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Prioritise irrigation

The Director of Corporate Partnerships and Communications at FARA, Dr Aggrey Agumya, observed that African countries ought to depart from rain-fed agriculture towards the development of effective irrigation systems to ensure all-year-round food production.

He said that was one way by which poverty and hunger could be reduced in African countries.

“Agriculture in African countries should not be seen as a preserve of the poor. We have to prioritise value addition and promote the growth of agribusinesses.”

Science week

In line with the initiatives to promote agriculture in African countries, FARA, the regional body for transformation of agriculture through the application of scientific principles, holds a science week every three years.

The week is used to explore modern trends in agriculture and to chart new paradigms to promote the sector in Africa.

This year, the science week is slated to take place in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, from June 13 to 19, 2016.

It is estimated that about 600,000 agricultural scientists in Africa will meet during the week to discuss innovative ways to transform the agricultural sector. 

It will also be a platform to share ideas and sign memoranda of understanding with financial institutions to get avenues for funding the continent’s agriculture.

Dubbed “A call to action”, the week-long meeting will explore how innovations could be used to double agricultural productivity in Africa by 2025.