let's be concrete

Despite "the vast agricultural potential that Africa" ​​expression seemed to me more and more "truism" hunger and malnutrition persist on the continent. In 2003, African leaders had pledged to devote 10 percent of their national budget to agriculture "conscious" of its importance in the economic development.

13 years later, all countries seem to have achieved the goal and Agriculture did not so much change in the continent.

Agriculture priority of priorities right, agriculture future is left African agriculture in general saw speeches and few concrete commitment.

Agriculture remains ranked at the bottom of human activities in Africa. The peasant is considered a second-rate citizen. This is less than nothing. Paradoxical as it may seem, all African countries make agriculture the basis of their development. But they do nothing yet to develop the agriculture. And that's not a euphemism.

When is that African governments will understand that the hoe and hoe will not make Africa self-sufficient nutritionally.

When is that African governments will understand that climate change and population boom must find answers now.

When is that African governments will understand that it is paradoxical to produce cocoa and imported chocolate.

These are all questions that I ask myself in this last day of the 7th African Agricultural Science Week, I think Africa needs a real change of paradigm and political commitment. We must quickly find a mechanism for decision-makers understand that agriculture and research can bring more than weapons in which they have continued to invest without ultimately improve the lives of people.

Africa certainly has everything it needs to be earning in agriculture as saying Akinwumi Adesinia, AfDB President, but it still lacks a true transformational leadership among its son because this is only the African depleting the Africa.

As so aptly signified Martial D-P Ikounga Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology in the Commission of the African Union it is time for Africa to eat the fruits of his actions, not his words.

Blogpost by Arsène Birindwa arsenebirindwa (at) gmail.com, # AASW7 social reporter.

This post Represents the author's views only.

Picture courtesy CCAFS