African nations urged to invest in cutting-edge technologies to address climate-induced challenges in agricultural sector
The Secretary General of the Africa Society, Ambassador Ahmed Haggag has called for the urgent need for African countries to invest in innovative technologies to address the continent's agricultural challenges exacerbated ny climate change.
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He said the continent was bearing the brunt of climate change and that the surest way to withstand the shocks and maximise food production was to integrate cutting-edge technologies.
“There is no doubt that climate change is no longer a distant threat, it is an immediate reality affecting our farmers and food systems.
To withstand the climatic conditions such as drought, floods and heave waves, we must embrace innovative technologies" he said.
Training
Ambassador Haggag made the call when he addressed participants at the 59th training course for African journalists in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday.
Organised by the Union of African Journalists (UAJ) in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the three-week training programme brought together 13 journalists from various African countries.
It is an annual event which affords African journalists the opportunity to build their capacities, acquire new skills in diverse areas, as well as network and share ideas on how best to tell the African story.
Participants include journalists and media professionals from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, the Ivory Coast, Algeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Chad, and Egypt.
Energy generation
Delivering a lecture on the topic "Energy in Africa, Possibilities and Challenges", Ambassador Haggag pointed out that more than 800 million people in the continent were deprived of electricity despite being rich in energy such as solar and fuel.
That, he said, was negatively affecting economic development and widening the poverty gap in the continent.
To address the situation, he stressed the need for African countries to form synergy and invest in the energy sector to ensure efficiency coverage across the continent.
"African countries have similar energy resources so if we form synergy and invest in the sector, we will be able to even import to other foreign countries as well as attact investors " he added.
On trade, the Diplomat said "there are still many obstacles impeding free trade in Africa despite the conventions and regulations promulagulated by the regionall bodies. So we must work together to strictly implement these conventions to promote free trade in continent".
Unified voice
Speaking on the topic "International Competition in Africa and its impact on the interests of the continent", a Political Researcher on African Affairs, Ahmed Embaby emphasized the need for Africans to have a unified voice towards global issues and make good uses of resources and expertise.
He added that" the African continent is full of enormous potential which is of little benefit to Africans. We must invest the potential and take advantage of partnerships with Westerners seriously, we must also join the G20 and speak with one voice".
Writer's email:mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh