CGIAR Urges Intensive Agriculture to Bridge Yield Gaps and Boost Food Sufficiency in Africa

In a bid to address hunger and enhance food sufficiency in Africa, the Group of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) emphasizes the necessity for intensive agriculture across the continent.

CGIAR, a global partnership comprising 15 International Agricultural Research Centres, is dedicated to researching food security with a focus on reducing rural poverty, improving human health, and enhancing nutrition.

During a visit to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, CGIAR Executive Managing Director, Dr Ismahene Elouafi, stressed the pivotal role of adequate investment in the agricultural sector as a solution to food insufficiency in many African countries.

Elouafi highlighted data revealing that African nations are currently producing only 10% of their agricultural potential, leaving a significant 90% yield gap that needs to be addressed.

 To bridge this gap, CGIAR advocates for intensive agriculture in various sectors, including animal husbandry, fisheries, and crop cultivation.

The CGIAR Executive Managing Director urged African countries to embrace technology, innovation, irrigation, and mechanization to significantly increase food production and reduce dependence on food imports.

Many African nations currently import a substantial portion of their agricultural needs, contributing to the high cost of food commodities.

Expressing admiration for Agribusiness innovations at IITA, Elouafi emphasized the need for further development in agricultural business and continued investment in research and development.

CGIAR’s new strategy focuses on research for development, collaborating with the private sector and national systems to deliver technology to smallholder farmers, ultimately increasing their agricultural yields.

Dr Simeon Ehul, the Director General of IITA and CGIAR Regional Director Continental Africa, echoed the call for sustained funding in the agricultural sector across Africa.

With the continent facing a significant increase in population growth, nearly 300 million people grapple with hunger due to insufficient agricultural production. 

Ehul appealed to African leaders to prioritize efforts in tackling food insecurity and malnutrition, recognizing the critical role agriculture plays in shaping the continent’s future.