Former Ethiopian Prime Minister and Board Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Hailemariam Desalegn, has argued that the continent’s agricultural transformation is impossible without Nigeria.
He observed that one fifth of the entire African population reside in Nigeria that also boasts as the largest economy on the continent.
“To have a systemic and structural change in our economy, we need to change and transform agriculture,” he stated.The ex-PM regretted that Nigeria that was renowned for livestock had receded, stressing the need for the nation to retake his pivotal position as a vibrant player in the industry. He explained that their focus was to raise productivity in three staple crops – maize, soyabean and rice – besides linking growers to market and ensuring climate change resilience.
While acknowledging AGRA’s efforts at increasing productivity and reducing post-harvest losses, Ahmed argued that there was still much wastage in the system, hence the urgency to open up rural roads for farmers to easily access market for their produce.