Experts urge mechanised farming to tackle food crisis in Africa
Agricultural experts have emphasized that mechanized farming is essential for boosting food production and creating jobs in Africa. Professors Olawale Ogunkola of the University of Ibadan and David Luke of the London School of Economics, speaking at a book presentation, argued that mechanization shifts labor demands toward skilled technical roles. Ogunkola explained that successful implementation, not just policy creation, is vital, requiring political will and investments in rural infrastructure and finance.
Professor Luke noted that most African nations fail to meet their commitment to allocate ten percent of national budgets to agriculture, as pledged under the African Union’s Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme. He identified limited access to finance, due to high bank rates and land tenure issues, along with climate change impacts and unfair international competition from subsidized goods, as major obstacles. He stated that Africa must leverage its domestic financial systems to support agricultural development and move beyond exporting raw commodities.
Lennart Oestergaard of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria added that increased food production stabilizes prices, while value addition to exports is necessary to combat poverty and improve nutrition across the continent.
