African nations affirm the need for research and innovation for agricultural productivity

Dignitaries at the S3A Rollout. Photo: FARA

The Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A), a framework for achieving the goal of doubling agricultural productivity levels in Africa by 2025, was rolled out during a workshop held in Accra, Ghana. Participants at the workshop included representatives of the African Union Commission, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank, ICRISAT, NGOs and farmers’ organizations.

A study by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) revealed that none of the eight countries analyzed was likely to achieve the target of doubling agricultural productivity by 2025; responding to this, the countries resolved to strengthen private sector participation in innovative research in agriculture, underlying its importance on productivity growth. They also stressed on the significance of domestic funding for research and development in agriculture and related sectors.

Speaking at the event, Dr David Bergvinson, Director General, ICRISAT, described the current ICRISAT strategy within the scope of S3A. FARA and ICRISAT are keen to identify collaborative opportunities towards achieving the S3A goals.

Read the complete report on the S3A Synthesis and Validation Workshop here.