By Faridat Salifu
The African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Union (AU), have teamed up to work together towards tackling food crisis in Africa.
The leading development organisations agreed to work together and find solution to boosting food production in Africa during the just concluded African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.
This partnership aims to cultivate resilient African food systems by promoting diverse, nutritious and climate adapted crops grown in fertile soils.
The development organisations called upon African nations to embrace the VACS strategic partnership and align with the AfDB’s flagship initiative, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).
They focused on five priority crops including cassava, orange-fleshed sweet potato, sorghum, millet, and high-iron beans, the VACS initiative spearheads a transformative approach to agricultural development.
It was observed that with the backing of the United States Department of State and major agricultural organizations, this collaboration holds immense promise for the future of African agriculture.
Driven by a shared commitment to a prosperous and food-secure future, these organizations are leveraging cutting-edge technologies and climate-smart practices to enhance food production across the continent.
Through initiatives like TAAT and the African Union Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, millions of smallholder farmers stand to benefit from improved seed varieties and sustainable farming practices.
The urgency of the situation at hand is not lost on leaders like the U.S. Special Envoy for Food Security, Dr. Cary Fowler. Recognizing the critical link between soil health and crop productivity, these initiatives underscore the importance of sustainable agricultural practices to address the pressing challenges facing African agriculture.