“Around 660 million people may still face hunger in 2030.”

Food and agriculture organization (FAO)

Agripreneur, John Dumelo has publicly expressed his concerns about the current state of agriculture in Africa and it’s bearings on food security now and in the future.

He said,

• “By 2050, Africa’s population would have doubled from the present 1.2bn to about 2.4bn people. That’s in 29 years.”

• “What are we doing to ensure we grow enough to feed ourselves?”

• “What is the future of agriculture on the African continent?”

Questions that need actionable answers and fast.

Food insecurity has been one of the main concerns of the African continent and the world for that matter.

Currently, the world is at a critical juncture when it comes to food security and there is a need to reimagine solutions that will help tackle or at best reduce it significantly.

In 2020, between 720 and 811 million people faced hunger

FAO, 2021

The FAO defines food security as “When all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”

Currently, 18 out of 54 African countries have reached the Millennium Development Goals 1C that seeks to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Food insecurity is a multidimensional problem

MAHAMAT KABIROU DODO, 2019

It is a problem that is linked to healthcare, conflicts, policies, politics, leadership, strategic vision, trade and economic interests, agricultural production, food system, global food industry trade politics, and the environment.

It requires a synergy of efforts on all sides, all spaces and all facets of human engagement to really address it.

Mr Dumelo continued by saying we needed to invest heavily in technology. “We(Africa) can’t keep using hoe and cutlass and expect maximum productivity.”

“We also need to invest in high yielding and disease resistant varieties of crops. The Agro industry is worth billions of dollars and we need to cash in”.

“In 2030, the number of people facing hunger may be close to double the current population of the United States or triple that of Brazil.”

FAO

Below are some suggestions by the general public on the way to go:

Currently, the largest players on the continent aren't even African. I think we as Africans need to integrate Agribusiness into our educational structures, roll out more extensive policies and push for value addition to curb the copious waste that currently exists. My thoughts. https://t.co/7Uvehe0eLJ

— C-Real (@C_RealMC) August 23, 2021

Stepping up the use of mechanized equipment and new technology is another key way to attract young people – and will also improve productivity, experts say.

Today, 50 to 85 percent of farm work in Africa, such as ploughing and sowing, is done manually

— Quabena Boateng Asiedu (@FuturistQuabena) August 23, 2021

I see future of agriculture where technological applications will be widespread in the various facets of value chain in agricultural production. In effect boost production to met the demands by then.

With than being said, we need to explore the technology available today and

— H 🇬🇭 (@HalilSalifu) August 23, 2021

We should approve Genetically modified food in Africa ,especially Ghana. It’s less time consuming,healthy, low price .large quantities that would feed large populations for many years,within 2 month thousands of agric products can be produced,

— Kwesitrigg (@kwesitrigg) August 23, 2021