Improving African agricultural sector is the most promising strategy against food insecurity

To effectively fight against food crisis that threatens certain regions of Africa, agriculture is perceived today by the major international institutions and African countries as a vital solution. Agricultural development has become the central concern of the continent in the recent years. The idea is to use agriculture as a tool for the continent’s development.

 Beside the questions of crop yield, it is necessary to master food processing and packaging in order to represent a true agricultural sector that is able to feed all the population of the continent.

The scientific week on post harvest management systems for crops, livestock and fisheries in Africa

Initiated by the Council and West-African Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), the Agricultural Scientific Week of West and Central Africa provides a framework for exchanges on agricultural innovations. This meeting, held in Benin in May 2010, strives to promote the transfer of post-harvest technologies through an effective partnership between all stakeholders, including the private sector.

It also aims to establish cooperation in agricultural production-marketing chains to support the community development policy across the sub-region.

The post-harvest operations: an essential component of the commodity production chain in West and Central Africa

In the processing sector, women mainly produce and process agricultural products for African households. For this reason, the USAID assisted the processing unit of agricultural products in Rufisque, Senegal, to the tune of four hundred thousand dollars. Launched by the African Renaissance Women of West Africa (WAWAR), this project aims to professionalize and standardize food processing activities, performed by these women, to make a sustainable business. These 700 women were able to modernize their processing techniques for local cereals, fruits and vegetables and oilseeds. This is a concrete initiative to fight against poverty on the continent.

But there are also agro-food processing companies who transform agricultural products into food or beverage.

Developing technologies and innovative strategies to promote access to the modern transformation of agriculture, fishery and livestock products

Numerous studies that took place in the sub-region over the past decade have revealed the need to focus on post-harvest technologies and techniques so that agriculture can serve as an engine of economic growth.

According to the recent studies, post-harvest losses are still too large. In West and Central Africa, they cover over 30% of agricultural production in the region. Losses in the rice sector reach some 2.3 billion CFA Francs.

 AFRIQUE  AVENIR

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