How agriculture is enhancing food security in a time of climate resilience

Agricultural development plays a critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union's Agenda 2063, and commitments under the Malabo Declaration. However, agricultural productivity in Africa remains low. To address this challenge, the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) is working on enhancing agricultural policies across the continent. FANRPAN, a network focused on food and agriculture research, collaborates with stakeholders in agriculture, including research institutions and farmers, to increase production and ensure food security. Professor Sidi Osho, Chairperson of the Board of Governors for FANRPAN, emphasized the importance of climate-smart agriculture and nutrition-smart agriculture in improving food production and enhancing food security. The issue of climate resilience is crucial in the face of climate change, which poses significant challenges to agriculture. Climate-smart agricultural practices such as drought-resistant seeds and efficient agricultural value chains can help mitigate the impact of climate change on food production. Osho highlighted the importance of educating and empowering farmers with the right agricultural practices and technologies to promote climate resilience. Through regional and in-country dialogues, FANRPAN addresses the best agricultural practices for climate-smart agriculture. One of the key challenges facing food security is the significant amount of food lost during storage, which amounts to an estimated $4 billion per year in Africa. Osho stressed the need to disseminate technologies for improved food storage at harvest, processing, and household levels to reduce these losses. By employing best practices in food storage, stakeholders can effectively address post-harvest losses and enhance food security. Additionally, ensuring food quality through testing is essential for food safety and security. Testing food crops for contaminants and other potential risks throughout the production and consumption process is crucial in safeguarding public health. Osho acknowledged the importance of private sector initiatives and government interventions in conducting food quality assessments and testing for harmful substances in food crops. Investing in food testing facilities and laboratories can strengthen food quality assurance measures across the continent. Governments play a vital role in supporting policies that benefit poor rural farming households and improve agricultural productivity. FANRPAN collaborates with ministries of agriculture and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective agricultural policies. By leveraging successful models from other countries and adapting them to local contexts, governments can enhance agricultural productivity and food security. In-country dialogues facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer, enabling governments to promote best practices in agriculture and inform citizens about sustainable agricultural methods. By working closely with governments and stakeholders, FANRPAN aims to drive positive change in the agricultural sector and enhance food security in Africa.