Partnership, innovation, and investment were the key words as Sierra Leonean President, Dr Julius Maada Bio, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, his counterparts from Borno and Plateau states; Professor Bamanga Zulum and Caleb Mutfwang, other leaders and experts brainstormed on carting a new pathway to economic growth.
While emphasizing the need to leverage on technology and modern techniques to mechanized farming, panelists, during the third day of a the Presidential Visit Program in Ibadan stressed the urgent need for a united approach to attain food security at both local and continental level.
This call was made during a high-level panel discussion held today during an ongoing 4-day high-level stakeholders engagements with the theme: “The Power of Improved Technologies and Public-Private Partnerships To Accelerate The Feed Salone Strategy” held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state.
The panel discussions espoused the critical link between food security, economic growth, and employment, while call was made for increased investment and regional cooperation in agriculture to end food importation, capital flight, and advance continental policy cohesiveness.
During the panel discussions, the three governors highlighted strategic efforts made in their various states to provide enabling environment for businesses to thrive and encourage large scale farming while also providing insights into the accomplishments recorded so far.
Various speakers during the three sessions panel discussions which include President Bio, governors Makinde, Zulum, Mutfwang, and other experts, lamented capital flight on the African continent which was occasioned by food importation. Bio remarked that importation of food that can be produced locally implies that Africa has kept sending its money to foreign countries thereby, frustrating its own people to chase the job opportunities abroad while losing other gains the continent could have recorded if such money was retained within Africa.
The panelists in their various submissions equally highlighted the lack of commitment from many African governments in allocating the agreed-upon 10% of national budgets to agriculture.
President Bio in one of his submissions, cited efforts made to increase agricultural spending in their country from 2 to 7 percent as a sign of commitment, but acknowledged that more needs to be done, while stressing the urgent need to build essential infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, and water, to support agricultural productivity, especially in rural areas.
While narrating efforts made by Sierra Leone in transforming its agricultural sector as a key driver of its economy, President Bio emphasized that due to the relatively small size of individual African economies, regional collaboration is essential.
Panelists proposed the establishment of joint agricultural facilities, including fertiliser production plants, to reduce costs and dependence on imports.
Morocco’s OCP and Nigeria’s Dangote Group were cited as existing examples of large-scale fertiliser production, but leaders during the discussions stressed the need for more coordinated efforts across the continent.
The discussion also emphasized the need for African governments to create an environment that attracts private sector investment in agriculture. It was noted that while businesses seek profit and prefer to invest in already developed infrastructure, governments must first take on the heavy lifting such as building roads and power facilities to make agricultural investments viable.
Another focus point of discussion during the panel sessions was the need for Africa-wide collaboration in agricultural research and technology.
Panelists suggested creating a centralized Pan-African Agricultural Research and Technology Centre, potentially expanding the work of IITA, to drive innovation in seed development and farming techniques.
Also, irrigation was identified as another area requiring urgent action, with calls for joint projects to build large-scale irrigation systems and dams that would benefit multiple countries.
Beyond agriculture, the discussion also touched on Africa’s limited influence in global financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Hafez Ghanem, former World Bank Vice President and ex Assistant DG at FAO, who also serves as Africa’s representative in UN Security Council reform negotiations, compared Africa’s struggles in these financial institutions to its ongoing battle for permanent representation at the UN Security Council.
While there have been calls for greater representation of developing countries, resistance from powerful nations has stalled meaningful change. Panelists agreed that Africa must continue advocating for reforms to ensure a stronger voice in these global institutions, arguing that increased African representation would enhance their credibility and effectiveness.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who recalled the early days of his administration revealed some his strategies and strategic planning that have transformed the Agricultural landscape to make Oyo state an investment destination for investors and other global development partners.
Makinde, who recalled his approach to mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19 in Oyo state as against the directive to shut down all states however, called for caution while calling for support from international financial partners stressing the need for Africa to prioritize homegrown solutions above foreign recommendations that may not adequately reflect the true position of situations in Africa.
“My own inclination is that they don’t tell us the whole story or the truth when putting forward solutions for us to follow. So, whatever solution or ideas that are coming forwardforward. We need to have a local variant, basically, to it. And why am I saying this? I remember, he (pointing to Prof Zulum) must have been at that discussion when Covid hits, and they said look, everywhere should shut down. We had that discussion at the national economic council meeting and I told the vice president who was the chairman of the council then that in Oyo state, I can not shutdown because of Covid simply because there are people here that if they don’t go out today, they’ll not have food to eat tomorrow.
“People sitting in Washington may not understand that, so for us, our solution would definitely lie within us.” Governor Makinde stated.
The panel sessions ended with a strong message by panelists that Africa must take charge of its own food security and economic future. With global development funds dwindling, the leaders urged African nations to mobilize domestic resources and strengthen partnerships with research institutions and the private sector.
Highlight of the event was a tour of the entire delegation of dignitaries including President Bio to Fashola Farm located at Awe in Oyo area of the state where the Makinde’s administration through public-private partnership being spearheaded by its Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) has cultivated a large scale industrial farm with various segments.