The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced a significant initiative aimed at increasing food production across the continent, with a target of producing an additional 120 million tonnes of food by 2025.
This declaration was made by Abdul Kamara, the Director General of the AfDB Nigeria Country Department, during a side event at the 2024 West and Central Africa Regional Wheat Summit held in Abuja.
Kamara explained the pressing need for enhanced wheat production in West and Central Africa, noting that the region faces critical challenges in its agricultural sector. The summit, themed “Prioritising Policy, Innovative Technologies, and Investments in Wheat Transformation towards Sustainable Food Security and Economy,” served as a platform to address these issues.
He pointed out that rising population growth and urbanization have driven an increasing demand for wheat, yet domestic production has not kept pace, resulting in a heavy reliance on imports.
The ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have further intensified vulnerabilities in the region's food supply.
In light of these challenges, Kamara highlighted the AfDB’s Feed Africa initiative, which was launched in 2016 as part of a broader strategy to transform agriculture into a competitive agribusiness sector across the continent.
He articulated that this ten-year strategy aims not only to boost agricultural productivity but also to lift approximately 130 million people out of poverty.
The initiative is expected to assist over 40 million farmers by 2025, with goals to double productivity across various sectors including crops, livestock, and fisheries.
Kamara emphasized that wheat is a staple food for millions in Africa and plays a vital role in ensuring food security and fostering economic growth. He called for a concerted effort to reduce import dependency and enhance local wheat production to secure the region's food future.
