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“Africa's future lies in Green Revolution”-Kofi Annan
Koforidua, June 19, Ghanadot/GNA- Former UN Chief, Mr Kofi
Annan, says the most critical question for Africa’s future
is a ‘Green revolution’ that would ensure that African
farmers “dramatically increase their output so that Africa
can feed itself and not be dependent on food aid.”
“I think no question is more important for the future of our
continent” than to “enable African farmers to dramatically
increase their output, so that Africa can feed itself and
not be dependent on food aid, that is what the Green
Revolution is all about.”
Fielding questions from a section of the world’s media on
the global food crises, its impact and solutions in Africa
recently, Mr Annan demanded a set of actions that includes
aid to the hardest hit and “a pro-poor approach to raising
productivity and food security in Africa.”
In the long term, however, he proposed that a coalition of
African governments together with researchers, civil
society, the private sectors and donors be formed with the
aim of instigating food security on the continent.
Ghana News Agency was assisted by the International
Institute for Journalism, Berlin, to submit questions
on-line to the Institute of Development Studies, UK and the
Future Agricultures Consortium, who jointly organized the
event under their Salzburg Global Seminar platform.
Mr Annan, who is Chairman of the Alliance for a Green
Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said there was the need for the
right “pro-poor policies that encourage rural development”
in order to turn around the agricultural situation in
Africa.
Critical for the sustainability of agriculture in Africa, Mr
Annan observed, is the need to focus on the impact of
climate change, and help build capacity so as to “increase
the resilience and reduce the vulnerability of the people
for them to be able to maintain their livelihood.”
Dr Akinwumi Akin Adesina, Vice-President of AGRA, urged
African governments to see the food crisis as an opportunity
to invest more in agriculture, raise agricultural
productivity, and get a Green Revolution that would really
address the problem at its roots.
The General Coordinator of the Conference of Ministers of
West and Central Africa, Mr Baba Dioum, said in addition to
climatic concerns, African governments should also spare
soil fertility and water management, since those two
components were critical for agriculture development.
GNA
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