The Status of African Agriculture and Capacity Development Challenges for Sustainable Resilience from Global Economic Shocks

Abstract:

Agriculture is one of the natural blessings and beauty as well as livelihood of Africa despite a number of worrisome agricultural characteristics and trends. The paper examines the status of production, yield, and hectarage allocation of major agricultural crops. Secondary data were used. Statistical analysis involved use of descriptive statistics. The paper shows that agriculture has contributed to food security and African export among other uses of its produce despite inadequate resource allocation. Adequate transformation is a prerequisite for agriculture to contribute to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and objectives of other initiatives to ensure African resilience from global shocks. Capacity development challenges for African agriculture to resist shocks discussed included: providing sustainable and profitable market access to small holder producers, improvement in agricultural research and efficient technology dissemination,  extension of areas under sustainable land management, irrigation and efficient water control options, re-capitalization with improved microfinance and access to agro inputs. It opined that development partners and African government should supply more fund and technical assistance for the transformation. Improvements in agricultural policy and   use of political will to mobilize social energies towards the target are recommended.