THE 2022 Africa Food Prize laureate and Founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana, Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah has emphasised the urgent need for African governments to allocate more resources to agricultural research and development.

His call comes amid growing concerns about food security and the impact of climate change on the continent’s agricultural systems.

Professor Danquah who was speaking at the at the 2024 Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda last Friday (September 6) urged governments to fully implement the Malabo Declaration, which commits African nations to allocate at least 10 per cent of their national budgets to agricultural development and one per cent specifically to research and development.

He stressed that, without sustained investment in these areas, Africa risks falling behind in the race to develop climate-resilient and nutritious crops that are essential for addressing the continent’s food security challenges.

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“Agriculture is the bedrock of Africa’s economic transformation,” Professor Danquah said. “If we are to harness the full potential of our agricultural sector, governments must commit to funding research and development at levels that will enable us to innovate, scale, and sustain progress. The Malabo Declaration is not just a goal—it is a pathway to the future we need,” he said.

Call for capacity building

Professor Danquah also emphasized the importance of capacity building in agricultural science, noting that the continent’s ability to develop modern technologies and new crop varieties depends on the expertise of top-notch scientists.

He called on the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to intensify its support for human capital development in agricultural research.

“AGRA deprioritised funding human capacity development, but the need is greater now than ever. Africa requires a new generation of scientists equipped with cutting-edge skills to lead the development of climate-resilient, nutritious crops. Without significant investments in our scientists, there is no way we can innovate, accelerate, or scale solutions for sustainable development,” he said.