African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

African Development Bank (AfDB) president Dr Akinwumi Adesina defended the continent’s technology capabilities in scaling-up farming, calling for robust financing to support agricultural initiatives.

Adesina this week addressed the 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week in Durban, South Africa.

The event is the continental platform for stakeholders from agriculture and agribusiness research and innovation in Africa, bringing together 1,500 stakeholders every three years to take stock of progress on research and innovation, share information, create business alliances, and map out priorities for joint action.

The AfDB president told the participants that Africa has the necessary partnerships and technologies to eradicate hunger and needs support, including robust financing.

He said: “We must pull together the best of science, technology, and innovations to drive a more productive, efficient, and more competitive agricultural system.”

Adesina added that African food systems potentially can reach $1 trillion in value over the next seven years.

“To achieve this, we must strengthen and support the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research with a lot more resources, ensure that it works in and delivers for Africa based on our priorities, and support regional research and development institutions, such as The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa and the sub-regional agricultural research organizations,” he said.

AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko said Africa needs to leverage its potential, including science, and be proactive rather than reactive to shocks.She urged the continent must use its youthful population and immense natural capital.

“Let us unlock the potential we have … We should feed Africans, and we should feed the world,” Sacko said.