Don’t invest in seeds, fertiliser alone, but also in science – Jonathan

A former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that Africa stands “at a historic crossroad” over food insecurity. He said, “On one road lies the continued struggle with food insecurity anchored on underutilised land, limited use of innovative technology and fragmented markets, on the other lies a bold vision – one that beholds Africa […]

A former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that Africa stands “at a historic crossroad” over food insecurity.

He said, “On one road lies the continued struggle with food insecurity anchored on underutilised land, limited use of innovative technology and fragmented markets, on the other lies a bold vision – one that beholds Africa as a global powerhouse in food and nutritional security, powered by innovation, partnerships and transformative investment.”

Addressing delegates at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) in Kigali, Rwanda, he said, “With the projected growth in our population, we have no choice but to increase food production in Africa.”

“The time to act is now. Let us invest not just in seeds and fertilisers but in science, policy and people. Let us build systems that are resilient, inclusive and just. Let us ensure that Africa will not only feed herself but will be a net exporter of food to other parts of the world.

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“The future of agriculture on our continent is intricately tied to our ability to embrace and scale available and emerging technology.  From precision farming and satellite imaging to drone technology and artificial intelligence, digital tools can revolutionise what we do with every seed or grain in our hands – how we plant, irrigate, harvest, store, market and sell our crops.”

Jonathan, however, expressed hope that already, the continent was witnessing promising innovations across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda, where tech-driven platforms are connecting farmers to markets, providing weather forecasts and facilitating access to credit.

But to scale up these innovations, the continent must deliberately invest in rural infrastructure, digital literacy and affordable connectivity.

The former president is worried that, “For far too long, agricultural investment in Africa has been sporadic, short-term and donor-dependent. This narrative must change. We must view investment in agriculture not as aid but a strategic economic imperative.

“Africa’s agricultural transformation will require bold, long-term financing from both domestic and international sources.

“Governments must fulfil and go beyond their commitments under the Maputo and Malabo declarations, which propose allocation of at least 10 per cent of national budgets to agriculture.

“Private investors must be incentivised through clear policies, risk guarantees and public-private partnerships. Development finance institutions must innovate financing models that work for smallholder farmers and agri-preneurs. This will encourage young people to go into agribusiness.”

The prime minister of the Republic of Rwanda, Dr Édouard Ngirente, who presided over the official opening ceremony, noted that the continent needed supportive ecosystems, including enabling policies, investments in infrastructure and access to finance; and most importantly, the voices and agency of farmers themselves must shape the solutions.

He urged all the stakeholders attending the conference to use the ACAT platform to not only share knowledge but also forge practical partnerships that can scale proven innovations and bring real transformation to smallholder farmers who are the true custodians of Africa’s food systems.

“Let us remember that technology is not just about tools and platforms, it is about people. It is about a farmer – young or old – in a rural village using a mobile phone to check crop prices. It is about a young innovator developing a drone to monitor pests and diseases. It is about a continent that believes in its capacity to feed itself and thrive,” Dr Ngirente said.