Helping Africa Build Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable Food Systems

Summary

In 2020, Africa faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, particularly impacting the most vulnerable. Despite setbacks in health and poverty reduction, the continent harnessed innovation in agriculture—a key sector for prosperity. The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), with its partnerships and knowledge, focuses on supporting smallholder farmers, improving access to inputs, and linking them to markets. The forum emphasizes the importance of agricultural transformation to address hunger, poverty, and environmental issues, using the pandemic as a catalyst for planning a sustainable and transformative future.

Takeaways

• 🌎 The year has been challenging, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, with plans and strategies disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 📉 Significant gains in health and poverty reduction have been lost during the pandemic, affecting Africa and its agricultural sector.
• 🌾 Despite setbacks, there is a reminder of the potential for progress, even in difficult times, through harnessing the continent's resources.
• 🔄 The pandemic has highlighted the importance of focusing on the strengths of African economies, particularly agriculture.
• 🌱 Agriculture is crucial for Africa's recovery and prosperity post-COVID-19, emphasizing the need for transformation in the sector.
• 🤝 The AGRF (African Green Revolution Forum) is vital for exploring and building solutions to support agricultural transformation.
• 📚 AGRF's collaborations and publications, such as the Africa Agricultural Status Report, are key to supporting the agricultural sector.
• 🏆 Recognitions like the Africa Food Prize by AGRF are part of the efforts to drive innovation and improvement in agriculture.
• 👨‍🌾 Smallholder farmers are central to Africa's agricultural backbone, and AGRF works to improve their access to inputs and markets.
• 🚧 Infrastructure like roads and energy is essential to link farmers to markets and ensure the safety and quality of agricultural products.
• 🌱 Agricultural transformation is key to addressing long-term challenges like hunger, poverty, and climate change in Africa.

Q & A

What challenges did the year 2020 present, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable?

The year 2020 presented unprecedented challenges, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, due to the emergence of COVID-19, which led to setbacks in health and poverty gains.

How has the pandemic impacted Africa's progress in health and poverty reduction?

The pandemic has resulted in the loss of hard-won gains on health and poverty in Africa, highlighting the need for a focus on the continent's strengths and opportunities.

What role does agriculture play in Africa's economy and recovery post-COVID-19?

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Africa's prosperity and is key to building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic, as most of Africa's economies are driven by it.

Why are forums like the AGRF important in the context of Africa's agricultural transformation?

Forums like the AGRF are crucial as they explore and build solutions to support transformational change in the agricultural sector, leveraging the continent's strengths and opportunities.

What are some of the initiatives being undertaken to support smallholder farmers in Mozambique?

Initiatives include working with input providers to demonstrate the best use of seeds and fertilizers to increase productivity, and ensuring that smallholder farmers have access to markets.

What infrastructure is needed to link smallholder farmers to the market?

Infrastructure needed includes roads for transporting produce to markets, energy for proper storage and processing of perishable goods, and addressing food safety for consumer protection.

How does the AGRF contribute to the support of smallholder farmers?

The AGRF contributes by bringing together a wealth of experience, partnerships, and knowledge through collaborations and initiatives aimed at supporting the backbone of Africa, the smallholder farmer.

What are some of the long-term issues that agricultural transformation can help tackle in Africa?

Agricultural transformation can help tackle long-term issues such as hunger, poverty, environmental degradation, and climate change in Africa.

How does the AGRF plan to use the challenge of COVID-19 to drive agricultural transformation?

The AGRF aims to use the COVID-19 challenge as a catalyst for planning a way forward for agricultural transformation, to address and solve large, persistent problems in Africa.

What is the significance of the Africa Agricultural Status Report (AASR) and the Africa Food Prize in the context of the AGRF?

The AASR and the Africa Food Prize are significant as they provide trailblazing recognition and knowledge, contributing to the service of Africa's smallholder farmers and the overall agricultural sector.

What is the call to action for the audience in the context of the AGRF 2020?

The call to action is to join the AGRF 2020 to contribute to making agricultural transformation happen, leveraging the collective efforts and resources to overcome the challenges faced by Africa's agricultural sector.