IITA sets agenda for food security in Africa

Rising from the IITA’s stakeholder consultation workshop of the Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC) Mid-Term Review (MTR) Mission, the experts expressed optimism that with commitment to agriculture by the governments in Africa, the goal will be met within the stipulated time.The SARD-SC project sponsored by the African Development […]

Rising from the IITA’s stakeholder consultation workshop of the Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC) Mid-Term Review (MTR) Mission, the experts expressed optimism that with commitment to agriculture by the governments in Africa, the goal will be met within the stipulated time.
The SARD-SC project sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB) has the mandate to intervene in the development of the value chains of four main commodities – rice, maize, cassava and wheat in 21 African countries, with a view to achieving food security in the continent within the shortest time possible.
Addressing the forum, the SARD-SC Project Coordinator, Dr. Chrys Akem, said that progress was made towards attaining the target, adding: “We need African governments to show more commitment to encourage the growers. The basic challenge to food security in the continent is commitment from the governments.  We want them to embrace good policy shift by picking up what we introduced and also guarantee local farmers of good post-harvest sales for their products.”
On rice production, he said that the Project’s area of intervention was in the promotion of its mechanisation so as to massively produce, adding that was why recently machineries were imported from Asia, both for cultivation and training of local artisans to ensure food security and increase income level of farmers.