July/August 2005

Green Revolution in Africa

This background document was presented at the 31st Session of the Committee on World Food Security held 23-26 May 2005 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

At the Thirty-first Session of the Committee on Food Security (23-26 May 2005), a Special Event on the “Green Revolution in Africa” was held on 24 May 2005, in which the Research and Technology Service served as focal point. The Special Event had the following objectives:

Discussion on the role of research and technology dissemination and adoption as key elements of a long-term strategy for agricultural development in Africa.

Discussion on the main components that require more short-term actions and investments to avert food insecurity in Africa.

The Special Event comprised High-level and Technical sessions. The High-level was attended by H.E. Absalom Themba Dlamini, Prime Minister of Swaziland, who served as Chairperson; H.E. Emmanuel Ondo-Methogo, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Land Planning of Gabon; H.E. Habib Sy, Minister of State, Minister for Agriculture and Water Control of Senegal; and The Hon. Mtiti Fakudze, Minister for Agriculture of Swaziland. The Director-General gave the welcoming and key note speech.

The technical session consisted invited panellists and FAO staff member representing key technical divisions. The panellist were; Mr Monty Jones, Executive Secretary, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); Mr Paco Sereme, Executive Secretary, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD); Mr Wilberforce Kisamba-Mugerwa, Director, International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR); Mr Dietrich E. Leihner, Director, Research, Extension and Training Division gave; Mr Mahmoud Solh, Director, Plant Production & Protection Division; and Mr Samuel Jutzi, Director, Animal Production & Health Division; and Mr Prabhu Pingali, Director, Agricultural & Development Economics Division.

The participants highlighted the following:

Increased investment in research and technology, supported by favourable policies and institutional arrangements, can provide the basis for the Green Revolution in Africa.

Africa needs to overcome key structural limitations of inadequate investment in water control, infrastructure and modern inputs through substantial investment in order to bring the Green Revolution to Africa.

The need for Africa’s commitment to mobilize its own resources first for the implementation of programmes within the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s (NEPAD) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and then through external funding and partners in implementing agreed priorities.

Peace, security, good governance, fair trade, access to markets, land tenure and incentives were also considered as essential to attaining the Green Revolution.

Livestock system enhancement and its integration with crop production will have to play a significant role in agricultural development in Africa and make a unique contribution towards harnessing the Green Revolution in Africa. This Revolution, due to the multidimensional aspects it needs to address, would be better termed as “Rainbow Revolution”.

The technical background document attached was prepared by the Research and Technology Service in collaboration with various technical divisions and served as basis for panel discussion.

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For related information, please see:

31st Session of the Committee on World Food Security (23-26 May 2005)