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Experts have called for the urgent modernisation of agriculture across West Africa, stressing the need to move beyond increased production and focus on transforming agricultural value chains to ensure food security and improved nutrition amid growing climate and population pressures.
They made the call at the close of the 2nd West Africa Afri Show and 3rd National Annual Livestock Day, organised by Azalix Business Media, under the auspices of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on September 29 and 30.
The forum brought together exhibitors, policymakers, development partners, private sector players, technology providers, and other stakeholders across the agricultural value chain from West Africa and beyond to discuss the future of agriculture in the region.
Speaking at the event, Ms Françoise Sayi, the Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Benin, and Mr Bright Kwadzo Demordzi, National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, acknowledged the significant role agriculture continues to play in the region’s development.
However, they emphasised that the future of West Africa’s agricultural sector would depend not only on increasing crop and livestock production but also on strengthening value chains through improved storage, transportation, processing, and marketing systems.
Ms Sayi noted that without efficient post-harvest management and market systems, increased production would continue to result in significant losses, leaving many households vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.
“Production alone is not enough. We must store, process, market, and distribute food effectively so that nutritious, safe, and affordable food reaches every household and community member,” she said.
She commended the organisers of the conference and exhibition, describing such initiatives as critical to strengthening South-South cooperation, promoting knowledge-sharing, and accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies tailored to Africa’s agricultural needs.
According to her, these collaborations would also help mobilise the investments required to build more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems across the continent.
Ms Sayi further encouraged young people to take ownership of Africa’s food future by embracing opportunities within the agricultural sector.
Mr Demordzi reiterated that agriculture remained a cornerstone of West Africa’s economic development but said its long-term sustainability depended on modernisation.
“The future of agriculture will increasingly depend on our ability to move beyond primary production towards modernised agricultural systems. We need greater value addition, agro-processing, efficient markets, technology adoption, and stronger private sector participation,” he said.
He explained that in Ghana, the government was transforming agriculture from a largely subsistence activity into a commercial, competitive, and technology-driven sector through the Feed Ghana Programme. Under the initiative, farmer cooperatives are being supported to increase production for both domestic consumption and industrial use.
Mr Demordzi emphasised that governments alone could not provide all the technology, quality inputs, affordable financing, reliable markets, and infrastructure needed to transform the sector. He therefore called for stronger public-private partnerships to drive agricultural growth.
“I encourage farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, technology companies, research institutions, and investors across Ghana and West Africa to use this platform not merely as an exhibition, but as an opportunity to build partnerships, exchange knowledge, and identify practical investment opportunities,” he said.
Source: GNA