The African Development Bank (AfDB) has set a goal to produce an additional 120 million tons of food by 2025 as part of its strategy to enhance food security across Africa. This announcement was made by Dr. Abdul Kamara, Director-General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Country Department, during the 2024 West and Central Africa Regional Wheat Summit in Abuja. The summit, themed “Prioritizing Policy, Innovative Technologies, and Investments in Wheat Transformation towards Sustainable Food Security and Economy in West and Central Africa,” focuses on the increasing demand for wheat and the production challenges in the region.
Dr. Kamara highlighted the urgent need for improved wheat production in West and Central Africa due to rising population numbers, urbanization, and changing dietary habits. He pointed out that domestic production currently falls short, forcing the region to rely heavily on imports. “This dependency makes our countries vulnerable to global market fluctuations,” he explained.
He noted that recent global events, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and India’s wheat export ban, have revealed the risks of depending on foreign sources for wheat. “These disruptions highlight the importance of reducing our import dependency and enhancing local production to secure our food future,” Dr. Kamara added.
To tackle these challenges, Dr. Kamara referenced the AfDB’s Feed Africa initiative, launched in 2016, aimed at transforming agriculture into a competitive agribusiness sector through innovative technologies. “The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program seeks to double the productivity of crops, livestock, and fisheries by 2025, reaching over 40 million producers and producing an additional 120 million tons of food while lifting 130 million people out of poverty,” he stated.
He urged stakeholders to engage in discussions to develop resilient agricultural systems that support food security and economic growth in Africa, saying, “Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and build a thriving wheat sector for our communities.”
Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi also spoke at the summit, sharing his state’s efforts to promote wheat cultivation. His administration has allocated 40,000 hectares for wheat production, underscoring their commitment to agricultural development. “We believe in our land, our people, and our determination,” he said.
Dr. Solomon Gizaw, Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse, emphasized the importance of investing in the wheat value chain, noting a 6% increase in wheat consumption across Sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade. He reported that TAAT has distributed heat-tolerant wheat varieties to over 12 million farmers, resulting in a production boost of 25 million tons.
Additionally, countries like Nigeria and Cameroon are developing National Wheat Road Maps to strengthen their domestic production capabilities. Mr. Zubeir Ibrahim, Managing Director of Nile Sun Seed Company Ltd, highlighted the rising demand for heat-tolerant wheat varieties, presenting significant opportunities for the region.
