Clinton: Step up research for food security

By Alex Ndegwa

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants Africa to invest more in research and technology to tackle food insecurity.

Speaking at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) yesterday, Mrs Clinton announced a $3.5 billion grant from the US Government to develop agriculture in various countries.

Clinton painted a grim picture of the global food crisis, saying chronic hunger affected an estimated one billion people, with one in every three victims being African.

She praised Kari, the country’s premier research centre, for taking the lead in the region to spearhead research.

"Kari is leading in scientific breakthroughs achieved in laboratories to ensure farmers support their families and do not have to pull out children from school to survive food shortages," she said.

She also commended joint US and Egerton University research on wheat, aimed at fighting stem rust.

"Kenya can be the leader for the rest of Africa. Let us strive to help those who do the work, particularly women who plant, harvest and take produce to the markets," she said.

The top US diplomat said the world could soon turn to Africa as the future food basket, since arable land is disappearing fast elsewhere. She said challenges curtailing agricultural potential should be addressed.

Broader strategy

"There must be a broader strategy to strengthen the agricultural sector. Most of the arable land is now left in Africa," she said.

She listed war, disease, climate change and slow adaptation of technology as major challenges facing the continent’s agriculture.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto said collaboration in research and technology transfer would strengthen extension services and inform farmers. Kenya, he said, hoped to benefit from Agoa through increased trade in her tea, coffee, pyrethrum and cashew nuts.