Experts at the 6th African Science Week held recently in Accra, Ghana affirm that Africa can only get out of poverty through investments in the agricultural sector, especially research and development, writes SALIMAT GARBA
The participants at the 6th African Science Week held in Accra, Ghana, between July 15 and July 20, underscored the need for African countries to adequately finance researches and promote traditional technologies.
The experts said that if research was sustained, it would boost food production and food self-sufficiency on the continent.
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Dr Kanayo Nwanze, who spoke at the occasion, stressed that Africa, must make concerted efforts to push the frontiers of science and innovation.
“Africa must be bold in pushing the frontiers of science, innovation, knowledge and experimentation; it should not shy away from questioning the logic and sequence of events and processes.
“We must also be careful not to get carried away by a desire to always be at the cutting edge of modern technology. Certainly, new breakthroughs have their place in agricultural development.
“Agricultural bio-technologies, including marker-assisted selection and marker-assisted breeding as well as tissue-culture and embryo-rescue techniques offer many benefits.
“They can boost productivity, improve the tolerance of seeds and plants to drought, temperature, stress and pests, and make nutrient use more efficient.
“But we must recognise that technology is only a tool; it is not an end in itself. As a scientist, I understand the excitement of new discoveries.
“As a development practitioner, I have seen the miracles that take place when we give farmers the tools to enhance existing and, sometimes, traditional technologies,” he said.
Nwanze, who highlighted the potential of biotechnology in boosting agricultural productivity, said that research in natural resource management, conservation agriculture and simple agronomic practices would boost production beyond imagination.
“Often, simply optimising conventional approaches, such as the use of fertilisers and micro-irrigation, or using trees to improve soil fertility and moisture content, yield dramatic results,’’ he added.
Nevertheless, the African Union, AU reiterated its determination to end hunger in Africa by 2025 via the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, CAADP.
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture in the AU Commission, AUC, Mrs Rhoda Tumusiime, the said that CAADP was an African-led initiative to increase food security, reduce poverty, promote economic growth and create wealth through agricultural development.
“The AU is reaffirming the significant role of education, training, research and development in the evolution of African agricultural science, technologies and innovation platforms in advancing the vision of a food-secure Africa,’’ she said.
Tumusiime said that the AU was collaborating with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF to promote Public-Private-Partnerships, as the African private sector was currently under-utilised.
She also stressed that science and technology would stimulate the improvement of agricultural productivity in Africa.
“Africa must get out of poverty and this can only be done through investments in the agricultural sector, especially research and development,’’ she said.
Also speaking, Dr Denis Kyetere, the Executive Director of the AATF, said that the foundation was established to address Africa’s food security challenges and prospects via technological interventions.
He listed the mandate of the foundation as linking up African farmers with practical technology solutions; using appropriate technology to reverse low agricultural productivity in Africa and unlocking the potential of African smallholders, among others.
Kyetere, nonetheless, noted that technologies varied in relation to the priority needs identified by farmers, adding: “The needs can be chemical, mechanical, biological, biotechnological and process-based solutions.’’
He said that the foundation was working on a couple of biotechnology-based projects that were designed to improve agricultural research and development, while encouraging the use of science and technologies in agriculture so as to boost productivity.
“For instance, we are working on the Maruca-resistant cowpea, which we expect to be commercialised in Africa by 2017. Maruca-resistant varieties were developed from traditional varieties.
“The varieties will only be improved by adding the Maruca-resistant trait so they will retain all their qualities; these varieties of cowpeas have protections against Maruca damage in the field,’’ he added.
Kyetere said that Maruca was a pest that preyed upon cowpea plants in many African countries, thereby causing huge damage on the plants.
“The Maruca moths lay eggs on cowpea plants and the emerging caterpillar feed on the plants; this damages and affects the quality of leaves, flowers and seeds; leading to severe yield loss,’’ he explained.
All in all, the participants at the African Science Week called on African governments to devote adequate resources to finance agricultural researches.
They bemoaned the current level of funding and underscored the need for increased private-sector participation in agricultural research and production.
They noted that most of the researches on the African continent were funded by international organisations.
“Development is by choice, nobody can help Africa to grow. Africa must be ready to feed Africans; only Africans can develop Africa,” some the participants said. (NANFeatures)