In his introductory moderation session on the topic “Towards a Middle –Income Continent” during the 2nd Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference themed “Anticipating the Future of Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa: Outlook for Maize, Wheat, Rice and Sugar,” Mr. Chance Kabaghe, the chairperson of Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI) stated that strategic and sustainable agricultural interventions through Public-Private partnerships in terms of delivering continuous agricultural research funding, evidence based policies, climate mitigation technologies, inventions and innovations, good quality seeds and seedlings, veterinary services, harmonized trade policies, agribusiness parks, and value addition enterprises are crucial.

In most African countries, a closer examination of agricultural commodity exchanges, especially the development of grain markets, reveals that as much as private financial and banking firms are willing to effectively lend actors in the grain sector, their willingness is hampered by the regulatory framework of the National Banks. Strict financial conditions and high interest rates have deterred cereals producers to acquire financial assistance from the banks. There is need for governments and private financial and banking firms to enable famers easily access assistance from financial institutions. Access to finance will spur growth in the agricultural sector and increase productivity. Agribusiness parks complete with water and reliable power supply will attract private sector investors in agribusiness and other value addition industries, which ultimately will attract business opportunities along the agricultural value chain.

International crops improvement centers such as International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and private seed companies like SEED-CO, an African seed company have proved a force to reckon with in producing, high quality seeds that are drought tolerant and high yielding. For instance, the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA), under Global Maize Program of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) have enabled four million farmers in thirteen sub-Saharan countries to improve their yields, with majority of the farmers registering double yields despite droughts. Such farm inputs can be subsidized for farmers who cannot afford through cooperatives as successfully implemented in South Korea during its initial stages of transforming its agricultural sector.

It is important for the African governments to increase their funding to their National agricultural research centers and agricultural policy research institutes to promote agricultural inventions and innovations, and help in developing policies that can transform agricultural sectors. There is also need of promoting standards that can prohibit counterfeit in farm inputs.

CIMMYT is already working with seed companies and farmers in countries such as Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Malawi to supply hybrid seeds that are projected to approximately benefit 2.5 million people. African governments should create more national, regional and communal business incubation centers and train entrepreneurs on utilizing agricultural techniques to increase productivity. In conclusion, public and private collaboration is essential to spur agricultural productivity. 
 
By Moses Hategeka

The author is a Ugandan based Independent Governance Researcher, Public Affairs Analyst, and Writer

Email: [email protected]