DOREEN NAWA, Accra, Ghana
WITH agriculture emerging as Africa’s best bet for increasing food security and expanding economic opportunity, officials gathered here have launched a new prestigious US$100,000 award called the Africa Food Prize.
“We want to celebrate individuals and institutions that are changing the reality of farming in Africa, from a grueling struggle to survive to a profitable family business that thrives,” said former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is chairing the Africa Food Prize Committee.
The Africa Food Prize was announced at the 12th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform, which is seeking new sources of investment and financing for African farmers and agriculture businesses.
The Prize celebrates Africans who are taking control of the continent’s agriculture agenda, both in the field and the marketplace.
“The Africa Food Prize is another way we can drive a search for solutions to fundamental problems, like a chronic lack of financing, that prevent African farmers from achieving their potential,” said Strive Masiyiwa, chairperson and CEO of Econet Wireless International and board chairperson of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
The Prize is a call to action in ensuring that African farmers make progress by being innovate in their production despite the many challenges they face.
In addition to a dearth of financing, millions of farmers lack understanding of good agricultural practices and they have limited or no access to high quality agricultural inputs, safe storage, and basic processing, which collude to stifle production and income opportunities.