In 2023, between 713 and 757 million individuals, which correspond to 8.9 and 9.4 percent of the global population, may have experienced starvation, according to the recent FAO report "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024." Considering the mid-range (733 million), this represents an increase of approximately 152 million individuals from 2019.
According to the report, "by 2030, Africa will replace Asia as the region accounting for more than half the undernourished people in the world."
According to the report, "by 2030, Africa will replace Asia as the region accounting for more than half the undernourished people in the world."
To discuss the matter and the ways to resolve it, Sputnik Africa sat down with Professor Sunday Ojo Adigbo from the Department of Plant Physiology and the Crop Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and Crop Research Programme of the Institute of Food Security Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR).
One of the most important instruments to fight hunger on the continent and battle the effects of climate change is crop research, he said.
Crop research can significantly impact the resilience of African agriculture to climate variability through diversification. By using different crop species and varieties, farmers can hedge against unpredictable weather patterns. Some varieties are resistant to drought and other climate stresses, offering a buffer against climate impacts.
"For instance, if you are planting rice, there are several kinds of varieties that one can plant, even species among rice. So if you combine species with varieties together [not quite clear: that species and then that if] is I have, for instance, plant yam, plant rice of different variety, if weather, of course, is not favorable yam would have escaped that risk," Adigbo explained.
Research in crop production also aims to improve nutrition, he underlined, which is significant for the survival and well-being of the rising population. Certain rice varieties cater to health needs, like basmati and aromatic rice for asthma patients.
"Besides, we [African nations] have orange potatoes, which have vitamin A. We have bio-fortified cassava with vitamin A. We also have high-protein maize. These are attained through research. This will go a long way in improving the nutrition of Africans," the professor underlined.
The effective transfer and adoption of the latest crop research and technologies by smallholder farmers require involving them right from the beginning. Farmers should be considered end-users, similar to how car manufacturers design vehicles based on consumer needs, he said.
Moreover, according to Adigbo, to facilitate technology adoption, it's crucial to engage farmers in the development process. Ensuring that innovations address farmers' specific needs will drive higher adoption rates and practical application in the field.
"So it is high time we should be thinking of quality, not just quantity alone. Quantity is good, but it should be combined with quality," he emphasized.
The expert further argued that African nations should take steps to secure stable and affordable Russian fertilizer supplies to ensure food sovereignty on the continent. One approach is to adopt a regional strategy due to diverse agroecology. Each sub-region—North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa—should assess its specific fertilizer needs and coordinate bulk purchases accordingly, the professor said.
"The fertilizer needs for West Africa are different from East Africa. And so I would think that each sub-region and each country should make a bulk purchase using a high-level political forum," Adigbo explained.
Moreover, Belarus, as a leading tractor manufacturer, which has recently announced plans to redirect its agricultural machinery exports to Africa following the European Union's ban on tractor imports, can improve the situation drastically.
"Africa must rise to go into mechanization. The age of hoe and cutlass is gone. For us to sustain, to be self-sufficient, we must go [for] mechanization. In fact, if we must also allow the promising technology like precision farming that require high sensitive equipment, we must go for the Belarus equipment because I gathered that it is integrated with computer," the professor concluded.