A former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has said that Africa stands “at a historic crossroad” over food insecurity. Jonathan 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”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) in Kigali, Rwanda, the ex-President 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 fertilizers, 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. 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”.
Jonathan expressed his optimism that 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. The former President disclosed 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”, he said.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, Dr. Édouard Ngirente, 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 at the conference to use the Assistive Conference on Agricultural Technologies (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. 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”, Ngirente revealed.
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