The current situation where Africa relies on food imports from other continents is precarious. Not only does it cause an increase in food prices for its population, but it also leads to shortages as evidenced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

This is one of the observations made by actors in Africa’s agriculture sector on April 26, during the Africa Wide Science Technology and Innovation Conference held in Rwanda.

The two-day event is hosted by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), and the Africa Union Development Agency’s grow Africa partnership.

The conference is being held under the theme "Deepening Conversations to strengthen the role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in transforming agriculture and food systems in Africa.”

A panel discussion on how to strengthen the role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in transforming agriculture and food systems in Africa.Craish Bahizi

"The continent is highly vulnerable because we are importing a massive amount – close to 30 per cent of food in the continent is actually being imported,” said Martin Bwalya, Ag Director for Knowledge Management and Programme Evaluation at the Africa Union Development Agency, (AUDA-NEPAD).

"And that is a huge risk the continent is taking. Because anything can happen in those supply chains, in those systems as we’ve seen it during Covid-19, we’ve seen it now during the Ukraine war,” he observed.

Estimates from the African Development Bank (AfDB) suggest that in 2017, Africa spent $64.5 billion on importing foods, and the food import bill was projected to increase to over $110 billion by 2025, if the status quo remains. This, according to the Bank, is unsustainable, irresponsible, and unaffordable.

Addressing food supply concerns

NEPAD’s Bwalya said that they made a detailed analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war and realised that it has a shock on the socio-economic factors.

They include immediate, medium to long-term consequences. However, he said that there can be opportunities within those chocks.

He said that Russia and Ukraine together do provide close to 20 per cent of the global wheat, massive amount of sunflower, a significant amount of fertiliser into the global market, among other products.

Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources ,Gerardine Mukeshimana addresses the conference

According to AfDB, Russia and Ukraine supply 30 per cent of global wheat exports, the price of which has surged by almost 50 per cent globally because of the war between the two counties, reaching identical levels as during the 2008 global food crisis.

Also, the bank indicated that the prices of fertilisers have gone up by 300 per cent – meaning that they tripled because of the impact of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.

This issue has a likely negative effect on food production on the continent as farmers will get difficulties affording fertilisers needed to increase farm productivity.

Bwalya said that in the short term, Africa is looking at how to mitigate the commodity disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war by looking at alternative sources of food within the continent or elsewhere, especially in terms of wheat, which can help address such supply disruptions.

"But, we are also looking at how to build resilience to shocks of this kind. We have to reduce the extent of importation that we are doing at the movement,” he said.

Delegates follow a presentation during the two day conference in Kigali 

"What we are supporting countries with is especially how to build medium to long term capabilities within the countries and across the countries in Africa, using instruments like the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) to be able to mitigate or minimise the adverse consequences of shocks of this nature,” he said.

Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources said that the recent Covid-19 crisis coupled with climate change conditions have highlighted the need for food systems that are more resilient to shocks.

"One of the lessons we learned from Covid-19, is to halt our continent’s over-reliance on food imports. To achieve this, Africa needs to implement innovative and evidence-based policies to enhance food security, agricultural growth and trade. This will also create jobs for African youth entering the labour market,” she said.

Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) said that agriculture in Africa is characterised by low productivity, and that reflects into low production of food on the continent, which as a consequence goes to food and nutrition insecurity.

Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Canisius Kanangire delivers remarks during the conference in Kigali.All photos by Craish Bahizi

"Also goes with low income for the farmer, which maintains the farmer into the poverty status at a point where a farmer is always synonymous to a poor person,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kanangire said that AAFT has developed seed varieties that are more productive and resistant to diseases and droughts, which could increase farm productivity and food availability on the continent.