The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has called on African nations to increase investment in science, research, and innovation, stressing that the continent must become a global leader in agricultural technology instead of relying on solutions developed elsewhere.
Kyari made the appeal during the opening of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.
He said Africa’s abundant natural resources, including fertile land, rich biodiversity, and a youthful population, can only translate into lasting prosperity through knowledge, innovation, and enterprise.
According to the minister, agricultural transformation depends on turning scientific research into practical innovations that create businesses, generate employment, and improve the lives of citizens.
Kyari described the Africa Agriculture Science Week as the continent’s leading platform for sharing knowledge, strengthening partnerships, shaping policies, and advancing scientific solutions capable of transforming Africa’s agricultural sector.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has placed agriculture at the heart of its Renewed Hope Agenda, recognizing that food security is closely linked to national security, economic growth, and social stability.
The minister highlighted ongoing government efforts to expand irrigation, promote year-round farming, strengthen agricultural mechanization, improve access to quality seeds and fertilizers, expand agricultural financing, encourage digital agriculture, and support agro-industrial development.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural research through investments in research institutes, universities, extension services, and strategic collaborations.
Kyari emphasized that science remains the foundation of successful agricultural development, helping policymakers make informed decisions, attracting investment, reducing uncertainty, and providing farmers with improved technologies.
He pointed to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite applications, biotechnology, digital platforms, and data science as powerful tools capable of transforming agriculture across the continent.
According to him, Africa now has an opportunity not only to adopt global innovations but also to develop homegrown agricultural technologies tailored to its unique environmental conditions and production systems.
The minister said achieving this goal would require continuous investment in research institutions, universities, innovation hubs, digital infrastructure, and scientific talent, alongside stronger collaboration among governments, researchers, development partners, private investors, and farmers.
He further stressed that Africa’s future agricultural success will depend more on the strength of its scientific institutions and commitment to knowledge than on the size of its natural resources.
Kyari urged stakeholders to ensure that research delivers practical solutions that increase productivity, create jobs, improve climate resilience, strengthen food security, and stimulate economic growth.
He also called for greater cooperation among African countries in tackling common challenges such as climate change, land degradation, emerging pests and diseases, food insecurity, and market instability.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, described livestock production as a critical pillar of Africa’s agricultural transformation, economic empowerment, food security, and rural development.
Maiha expressed concern that despite Africa’s vast livestock population, the continent continues to rely heavily on imported animal protein. He said this situation is unsustainable and called for increased investment in modern livestock production.
He explained that Nigeria’s Ministry of Livestock Development is implementing reforms through the National Livestock Master Plan and the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy to modernize the sector using climate-smart production systems, improved infrastructure, stronger value chains, and greater private-sector participation.
According to Maiha, the government aims to grow Nigeria’s livestock industry from its current value of $32 billion to $74 billion within three years.
He also encouraged researchers and development partners to focus on developing drought-resistant livestock technologies, improved artificial insemination techniques, and stronger disease surveillance systems to support the sector’s long-term growth.
