The African Development Bank (AfDB) plans to improve the agriculture sector in Africa by embarking on an ambitious seven-point plan which aims at transforming the sector and be able to empower the small scale farmers and youths.

AfDB Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department, Chiji Ojukwu, said agriculture remained a major source of income in Africa, but its untapped potential had resulted in persistent poverty and deteriorating food security.

Ojukwu said the AfDB, in collaboration with some partners, had come up with seven enablers that would address the various challenges which had been noted as hindering the growth of agriculture in Africa.

 “The AfDB, in collaboration with partners, will contribute to orchestrate, architect, scale and replicate transformation through seven enablers,” he said.

In his presentation on Day 2 of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Lusaka on “The Road to Agricultural Transformation in Africa”, Ojukwu said among the strategies mapped up was to increase productivity, realised value of increased production and increased investment in hard and soft infrastructure.

Other enablers hinge on financing expanded agricultural, improved agribusiness environment, increased inclusivity, sustainability, nutrition and coordination.

He said to achieve the “Feed Africa” goal of the Bank’s High 5 development priorities, there was need for substantial investment and results in substantial revenues.

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