Browsing: Arable land in Africa

• With 65% of the global uncultivated arable land located in Africa, AfDB says there is potential for the continent to feed itself and the rest of the world.
• The lender is now committing to focus on securing long-term financing for research activities and enhancing researcher CGIAR’s effectiveness across the continent.
• AfDB and CGIAR also anticipate engaging in capacity building for country-based national agricultural research services partners, young scientists, extension workers, and private-sector seed growers to produce certified seeds.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) have committed to enhancing food security through improved production to offer better nutrition for Africa’s growing population.

This commitment involves strengthened collaboration between the parties, leveraging the robust arable land the continent possesses. “With 65 percent of the global uncultivated arable land, we believe that the continent can feed itself and the rest of the world,” AfDB …

The solution to the recurrent food insecurity problem lies in investing in the sector to ensure that the agriculture and agribusiness value chains become attractive to those most affected – Africans themselves. 

First, governments which are key stakeholders and players in the sector need to formulate and implement policies that will ensure that the issue of value chains in agriculture is addressed. For starters, with an estimated 33 million smallholder farmers, Africa’s agricultural value chain is deeply fragmented.  …