Africa risks worsening food insecurity, low agricultural productivity, and continued dependence on external support unless governments make sustained investments in agricultural innovation, Dr. Roy Mugiira, Senior Manager, Programme Development at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), has warned.
Speaking during a training session in Kaduna, Dr. Mugiira said Africa already possesses the scientific expertise and proven technologies needed to transform agriculture but lacks the investment required to scale them.
“Africa is not short of solutions. The real gap is awareness, enabling policies, and, most importantly, consistent domestic funding to move innovations from research to farmers’ fields,” he said.
His remarks come as African scientists record significant breakthroughs in modern agricultural technologies. In Nigeria, insect-resistant and drought-tolerant maize varieties have increased yields from an average of 2.2 tonnes per hectare to as much as 10 tonnes, while pod borer-resistant cowpea has reduced pesticide use and improved farmers’ incomes.
Despite these successes, adoption remains slow and uneven.
Dr. Mugiira attributed the gap to low public awareness, misinformation about biotechnology, restrictive regulatory frameworks, and inadequate government funding for extension services and technology deployment.
He noted that while many African governments have invested in upstream research through universities and national agricultural institutes, commercialization and farmer access remain critically underfunded.
Using TELA maize as an example, he explained that its delivery depends on partnerships involving multinational companies such as Bayer, international research institutions, national agricultural systems, and donors including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“This model works, but it is not sustainable if African governments do not step in more decisively. We cannot rely indefinitely on donor-driven systems to feed our populations,” he said.
Although African leaders have pledged to allocate at least 10 percent of national budgets to agriculture under the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, implementation has lagged in many countries, weakening seed systems, farmer education, and regulatory efficiency.
Dr. Mugiira urged governments to match policy commitments with increased funding for agricultural innovation, stronger extension services, enabling regulations that attract private investment, and expanded public-private partnerships.
“The future of Africa’s food systems depends on decisions made today. Innovation is not optional. It is essential. But it must be funded, owned, and driven by Africa,” he said.
