Farmers drum support for enhanced Agri-Policies to get Africa on track with global goals

The first Vatican Roundtable of African Farmers [courtesy]

African farmers have called for outcome-driven, technology-open and evidence-based agricultural policies, which will help Africa get back on track to meet global goals on food security and nutrition.
The first Vatican Roundtable of African Farmers provided farmers from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to bring their unique perspectives and concrete experiences to the forefront of global discussions on agricultural development.
Farmers from Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe presented concrete cases of agricultural innovation and technologies and advanced key policy recommendations. They discussed key challenges and opportunities for agriculture in Africa at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in Vatican City on Wednesday, October 11th.
The event, sponsored by Bayer with the patronage of the Pontifical Academy for Life, represented an important moment to put at the center the voice of those who are at the forefront of agricultural production but who often find themselves relegated to the back row in global debates on agricultural development.
Mildred Nadah Pita, Head of Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability at Bayer for Africa, highlighted the importance to learn farmer needs and pains.
"It is crucial to learn and understand from farmers what their pain points are, what opportunities they see and how together we can find lasting solutions to their challenges," She said.
World Agriculture Prize and Africa Food Prize laurate Prof Eric Danquah spotlighted a multi-pronged strategy essential for transforming the continent's agricultural sector, including a robust focus on the development of staple crops, revitalizing agricultural education, fostering strategic public-private partnerships, empowering farmers with knowledge and skills, harmonizing policies for agricultural growth, and, crucially, amplifying political commitment from African governments.
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, today called for immediate action to help Africa get back on track to meet global goals on food security and nutrition, pointing to science, technology and innovation, investments, and the continent's reservoir of resourceful youth, as potential solutions.
"Africa is unfortunately not on track to meet the global goals on food security and nutrition set out in the 2030 Agenda, nor the goals of the Malabo Declaration agreed to by Members of the African Union", said Dr Dongyu.
He noted that science, innovation and technologies can deliver great potential by first ensuring it is accessible for everyone.
"This will enable farmers to drive a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable agriculture, and contribute to the enhancement of food security and the overall development of the region, have farmers recommended policies that are focused on outcomes, open towards technologies and practices, and based on scientific evidence," said Dongyu.