Agricultural production in Africa has steadily increased over the past three decades due to various factors including improved access to inputs such as seeds and fertilizer, as well as extension services.
This is according to a new report — Agriculture in Africa: Transformation and Outlook launched at the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform meeting in Durban, South Africa.
“Contrary to popular belief, agricultural production in Africa has increased steadily over the last 30 years,” part of the report read, adding that “cereal production has increased by 125 percent,” while yields and cultivated land had improved by 32 percent and 70 percent respectively.
The major drivers for this increase include improved access to local markets for farmers as well as the existence of a vibrant transport network to move the produce from one place to another.
“Despite frequent imports of certain groups of products, the vast majority of food consumed by urban populations in Africa is now provided by local agriculture,” the report says.
However, it has been noted that productivity has not kept pace with population growth. As such, there is need for African countries to commit more towards agriculture development.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, NEPAD chief executive officer, Ibrahim Mayaki said local farmers continue to experience some challenges in fully exploiting their potential to increase food and agricultural production.
“There is a void about certain critical issues such as the pricing of goods, availability of land and access to credit,” he said.
Other challenges hindering agriculture growth include poor rural infrastructure and neglected agricultural research.
AU Commission commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Tumusiime Rhode Peace urged countries to fast-track the implementation of various regional and continental measures on agriculture and food security.
“All stakeholders should be actively involved in agricultural development,” she said, adding that African leaders had already committed their political will towards agricultural development by declaring 2014 as the year of agriculture and food security.
African leaders adopted 2014 as the year of agriculture at their 33rd summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to encourage the continent to reflect and recommit its efforts to boost production.
At their forthcoming summit scheduled for June in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the leaders are expected to adopt a series of measures to transform agriculture development in the continent.
The 10th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting being held from 18-21 March is therefore one of the main activities that will shape the key decisions to be adopted by the leaders.
CAADP is an Africa-wide framework for revitalizing agriculture, food security and nutrition aims to assist African countries reach a higher path of economic growth through agriculture-led development.
Under this comprehensive programme, African governments have made a commitment to allocate at least 10 percent of their national budgets to the agricultural sector each year.
Ultimately, this ambitious and broad vision for agricultural reform in Africa aspires for an average annual growth rate of six percent in agriculture.
At least eight countries have surpassed the 10 percent target, while many have either attained this target or are on course to allocating at least 10 percent of their budget towards agriculture.
Significant progress has also been made to achieve the six percent annual growth, with the overall agricultural sector in Africa having grown by about four percent a year in the 10 years of the implementation of CAADP, according to NEPAD.
The theme for the CAADP Partnership Platform, which also marks the 10th anniversary of CADDP, is “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.”
Key stakeholders including policy makers, farmers’ organizations, the private sector, civil society, development partners, donor communities and the media are attending the CAADP Partnership Platform meeting.
