To end hunger in Africa by 2025

 

Photocredit: SciDevNet – Copyright: Jackie Opara

 

Initiative to end hunger in Africa by 2025 launched

by Jackie Opara

“What TAAT will be doing is providing a bigger platform [and] technology with a market focus.” – Sidi Sanyang, AfricaRice

Speed read

• The initiative targets priority areas such as cassava, rice and fish farming
• It aims to impact the livelihoods of smallholders through existing technologies
• Experts call for policies that could create enabling environments for farmers

A major initiative aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to aid food sufficiency in Africa has been launched.

The initiative known as Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) is focusing on eight priority areas — self-sufficiency in rice, intensification of cassava, food security in the Sahel, transforming savannas as a breadbasket, restoring tree plantations, expanding horticulture, increasing wheat production and expanded fish farming.

It is being spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The initiative was launched during experts meeting at IITA campus in Ibadan, Nigeria, last month (12-14 April) that was called to brainstorm on how to transform agriculture in Africa to feed the continent and end hunger by 2025.

The experts resolved that the TAAT will work with existing structures,technology and innovation, and vigorously transform agriculture through the eight priority areas.

Read the full article: SciDevNet