Agricultural innovations strategies for sustainable food security in Africa

Abstract

Global progress in ensuring food security and reducing poverty has been substantial, but not satisfactory. Significant advancements have been made in reducing hunger through intensifying staple food production, integrating people and the environment, expanding the role of markets, diversifying out of major cereals, reforming economy-wide policies, and improving food quality and human nutrition in the past few decades. Agricultural development played a central role as a driver of rural poverty reduction. However, recent trends of slowing agricultural productivity
growth and the marginalization of poor farmers as markets evolve have challenged conventional strategies for achieving poverty reduction. Meeting the challenge of global food security will require both short-term and long-term responses to raise productivity, growth and strengthen the supply side of global agriculture. Investment in innovation is thus critical to the enhancement of agricultural productivity and long-term challenge of sustainable development. Food availability, stability, access, and utilization are essential for the wellbeing and productivity of all people. The current state of global food security raise serious concerns as the number of hungry has surpassed 1 billion people. The forces challenging food security include population growth, demographic changes, high and volatile food prices, land and water constraints, under-developed agricultural sector and climate change. A comprehensive policy and investment agenda for achieving suitable for security is needed to (i) improve small holder productivity and market access (ii) keep trade open (iii) promote productive social safety nets (iv) integrate climate change strategies and (v) harmonize food security and sustainability policy. For these to happen, tested and proven innovations in agriculture must be put into use.

Keywords: Agriculture, innovation, food security, climate change, sustainability