Tackling challenges affecting agriculture and food systems in Africa

Agriculture and food systems are inherently interconnected, and within the African context, the distribution of productivity emerges as a focal point of discussion in addressing the impacts of climate change on African populations and economies. During the second day of the conference on “Accelerating Agricultural Adaptation in Africa,” participants delved into the various issues and challenges affecting the agricultural sector. These encompassed the implementation of policies, traditional mindsets, social behaviors of farmers, and other relevant factors.

Dr. Olufunso Somorin, Regional Principal Officer at the African Development Bank (AfDB), pointed out that in the global yield distribution, the African curve remains relatively flat compared to other regions such as America and East Asia. He emphasized that by 2025, Africa’s population is projected to represent 25% of the global population. However, at present, the continent only contributes 3% of global yield production. To address this issue, Dr. Olufunso recommended the adoption of new technologies to bridge the existing gap in agricultural productivity.

Dr. Somorin asserted that the agricultural crisis in Africa can be attributed to the failure of leadership, as leaders often neglect to integrate technology with farmers’ needs. He stressed that the application of technology in agriculture offers solutions to enhance productivity and advised that, in the face of a changing climate, farmers must adapt to survive the impacts of climate change.

Nevertheless, the utilization of agricultural technologies must be supported by established frameworks governing agriculture and land. Expanding on this topic, in his presentation titled “Advocating for Policy Options for Land Governance Toward Sustainable Community-Based Tenure Systems,” Dr. Godwin Ojo, a Political Ecologist and Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, emphasized the crucial connection between policies and land governance as key pillars to address food security and agricultural adaptation in Africa.

Dr. Godwin recommended that, in addressing land governance issues, land allocation should prioritize local farmers to ensure increased productivity through an effective governance system. He also emphasized the necessity of establishing forest management policies for communal forests, especially in situations where land resources are scarce, to effectively combat climate change through agricultural adaptation.

In the context of combating climate change through agroecology and land tenure for climate-resilient communities, Tea Frédéric from the Ivory Coast highlighted the role of agroecology in addressing the impacts of climate change. However, he also noted that youth engagement in this sphere remains relatively low. He recommended that governments and policymakers involve youth and rural communities in decision-making processes related to agricultural adaptation.

All these discussions align with the overarching objective of the conference, which seeks to mobilize a critical mass of stakeholders to accelerate agricultural adaptation. This includes stimulating proactive engagement by smallholder farmers in international climate dialogues and intervention processes. The ultimate goal is to foster an inclusive dialogue that places agriculture at the forefront of climate response priorities for Africa through heightened adaptation and transition measures.