Food security: Why African governments should increase support to innovative agriculture

By Dr Alexandre Rutikanga 

Africa is one of the most fertile places on earth for cultivating food crops for both domestic and commercial purposes. However, food security on the continent remains one of its biggest challenges.

The paradox is striking: A continent endowed with vast arable land, diverse agroecological zones, and a youthful population, still finds itself grappling with persistent hunger and malnutrition.

Food security challenges in Africa worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted supply chains, halted cross-border trade, and exposed the fragility of local food systems. Compounded by climate change, internal and external conflicts, and widespread economic hardships, millions of people across the continent were pushed deeper into food insecurity.

A 2023 survey on hunger in Africa carried out by various organisations, among them the African Union Commission, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Regional Office for Africa, and World Food Programme, indicates that one in five people in Africa faced hunger; a striking contrast to the global figure of one in 11. This translates to about 298.4 million people facing hunger in Africa in 2023, according to FAO.

Additionally, a significant portion of the African population was either moderately or severely food insecure, with 21.6 percent facing severe food insecurity, according to the United Nations.

The problem is not only widespread but also worsening. If current trends continue, an estimated 582 million people will be chronically undernourished by 2030, more than half of them in Africa, according to FAO.

This stark reality demands urgent, innovative, and sustained action. Traditional methods of farming, while culturally significant, are no longer sufficient in the face of climate unpredictability, pest and disease outbreaks, and degraded soils. What Africa needs now is a bold shift with advanced technological investments becoming central to its strategy to achieve food security.

Technology offers several practical solutions that can help farmers optimise crop yields while reducing waste. These include precision agriculture, which uses GPS mapping, soil sensors, and data analytics. Drought-tolerant and disease resistant seeds, developed through biotechnology, can stabilise yields during unpredictable weather patterns, occasioned by climate change. Digital platforms such as mobile apps, can provide farmers with timely information on weather, pest control, and market prices.

There are already success stories that show what is possible with the use of innovative technologies in agriculture. In Kenya, AI-powered tools like Plant Village have helped farmers diagnose crop diseases using smartphones, significantly improving productivity.

In Rwanda, the Smart Nkunganire System has digitised the distribution of agricultural subsidies, cutting down corruption and ensuring that inputs reach those who need them the most. Meanwhile, Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags have helped millions of smallholder farmers across West Africa reduce post-harvest losses, a critical issue that accounts for nearly 30 percent of food waste in the region.

Despite these successes, the adoption of innovative agricultural technology in Africa remains uneven and slow. Many smallholder farmers, who produce over 70 percent of the continent’s food, still lack access to affordable technology, training, and financing. Government policies in many countries are not keeping pace with the rapid changes in agri-tech, while research institutions and private-sector innovators often work in silos.

To truly harness the power of innovation, African governments must prioritise investment in agricultural technology. This means increasing public funding for research and development, expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas, and forming public-private partnerships to scale up proven solutions. Moreover, comprehensive farmer education and capacity-building initiatives are needed to ensure even the smallest producers can benefit from modern tools.

Food security is not just a humanitarian concern. It is also an economic, social, and political imperative. Without access to affordable, nutritious food, health systems falter, economies stagnate, and political instability increases. But with the right technological investments, Africa will not only feed itself but also become a global agricultural powerhouse.

In a world where innovation is reshaping every sector, agriculture in Africa cannot afford to be left behind. The tools exist, the need is urgent, and the time to act is now.

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The writer is the Chief Technical Advisor of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda.