Future of agriculture in Africa

Africa is at a turning point when it comes to agriculture, with the potential for a green revolution on the horizon. CNBC Africa's Bronwyn Nielsen recently sat down with Jennifer Blanke, Vice President of Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank, to delve into the future of agriculture on the continent. Blank highlighted the enormous potential that Africa holds in the agricultural sector, contrasting the current high levels of imports with the untapped capacity of the continent. She emphasized the need for Africa to move up the value chain in order to unlock higher revenue and create more job opportunities. With low-cost manufacturing jobs bypassing the continent, agribusiness emerges as a key driver of Africa's development. Blank stressed the importance of leveraging agriculture to bolster economic growth and social development in the region. When discussing the role of women in agriculture, Blank underscored the significance of empowering female farmers who face challenges in accessing funding and resources to enhance productivity. The African Development Bank is committed to providing support to women and SMEs in agribusiness to enable them to thrive and contribute to the sector's growth. A key question posed was whether Africa could achieve self-sufficiency in food production within a decade through the deployment of appropriate technologies. Blank expressed confidence in the continent's capacity to undergo a green revolution akin to India's success in the past. Despite challenges such as famine in certain regions, the vision is for Africa not only to feed itself but also to become a major player in global food production. Moving swiftly is imperative for the success of this agricultural transformation, requiring effective leadership and rapid implementation. Blank highlighted the necessity for African leaders to prioritize and act decisively to harness the potential of agriculture and agribusiness in creating employment opportunities and driving economic growth. The recent African Development Bank report projected a positive economic outlook for the region, with expected growth rates of 3.4% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2018. Blank acknowledged the ambitious nature of these targets but expressed optimism in the combined efforts of political leaders and the resilience of African economies to bounce back from low commodity prices. While challenges remain, Blank remains bullish on Africa's prospects for sustainable growth and development in the agricultural sector.