Productivity and Stress Management

Why is this Important?

Agricultural innovations that can sustainably optimise agricultural production systems will build resilience of agricultural and food security systems, address farmer needs and contribute to agricultural transformation in Africa.

Agriculture is a major component of the economies of SSA, reaching further into everyday life than in any other part of the world. More than half of the total labour force is involved in agriculture-related activities. Smallholder farms constitute approximately 80% of all farms in SSA and employ about 175 million people directly. For that reason, improvements in agricultural technology have the potential to impart broad-based economic benefits and help to sustain the economic growth that SSA has been experiencing. The World Bank estimates that agriculture and agribusiness in Africa have the potential to grow to a US$1 trillion industry by 2030, up from the current US$300 billion.

Our Contribution

We believe in the potential of agriculture as a catalyst for transformation of the economies of SSA, and the central role that agricultural technology plays in attaining the visions of the Malabo Declaration and Agenda 2063. We therefore continue with our traditional role of accessing and adapting innovative agricultural technologies to address the needs of Africa’s smallholder farmers.
With input from farmers, scientists and other stakeholders, we have put mechanisms in place to facilitate the transfer of technologies to smallholder farmers. Together, we identify appropriate agricultural technologies and products for addressing farmers’ constraints, scout for these technologies and negotiate their access.
These technologies are developed and adapted into tangible products, which will be made available to farmers through various delivery pathways including public, private and development channels.

However, Africa’s agriculture has been facing new and emergent challenges such as climate change threatening the ability of the continent to achieve food security, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. In addition, new pests and diseases such as fall armyworm, are exacerbating the situation. This calls for advanced agricultural techniques including conventional and biotechnological approaches for genetic improvement of crops, inputs, and equipment that can radically transform the region and sustain the growth trajectory that African countries have been experiencing.

Current Projects and Special Initiatives

TELA Maize Project

Published: 17th April 2019

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