This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect agricultural production and markets, experts have called on African governments, seed companies, and regional bodies to promote appropriate agricultural technologies and innovations to cushion smallholder farmers and agri-businesses.
Speaking during a webinar hosted by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) on August 6, 2020, the experts recommended that African governments create an enabling policy environment for commercialisation, support smart agro-input subsidy programmes without distorting market dynamics, and promote digital agriculture solutions.
Dr. Denis Kyetere, Executive Director of AATF, noted that agri-businesses in Africa remain vulnerable to threats such as climatic change, rapid population growth, pests, and diseases, and that the emergence of COVID-19 has complicated matters further, threatening farmers' livelihoods.
Prof. Hamadi Boga, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Agricultural Research in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Kenya, said the government developed measures and strategies to ensure food was available, accessible, and affordable to the general population when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in March 2020.
Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the African Development Bank, noted that the Bank has unveiled a roadmap to assist African countries in tackling the food and nutrition security threat imposed by the COVID-19 crisis through a number of immediate and longer-term interventions under the Feed Africa Initiative.
Prof. Ruth Oniango, Founder of Rural Outreach and winner of Africa Food Prize 2017, said food systems in the continent will emerge stronger post-COVID-19 subject to the adoption of sound policies and innovations.
