Roots, tubers can alleviate poverty in Africa –Mahama Roots and tubers have been identified as two classes of crops that could help in alleviating poverty in Africa, but only if their competiveness is improved. This observation by Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, is based on the consideration that 80 per cent of people in the rural areas depend on agriculture as a source of livelihood. Mahama, who was represented by Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Innovation, Mohammed Alfa, said at the 12th symposium organised by the International Society for Tropical Root Crops-Africa Branch (ISTRC-AB) in Accra, Ghana, that “Root and tuber crops (sweet potato, cassava, and yam) provide great opportunities for long-term poverty alleviation and food security much more than any other staple food produced in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions.” Root and tuber crops, which are widely consumed across Africa, play a key role in the continent, providing incomes for farmers, generating wealth, and cushioning the effect of cereals’ shortfall. For instance, cassava is a source of livelihood for over 300 million people in Africa, and with climate change, the root crop is becoming increasingly important, thanks to its ability to withstand drought and growth on soils with marginal fertility. ISTRC-AB president, who is also the Country Representative for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in DR Congo, Dr. Nzola Mahungu, said: “Root and tuber crops play an important role in ensuring food security in Africa, and we must tap the opportunities of these crops. “But the potential of these crops is yet to be fully exploited.” IITA Director-General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, who was represented by the Deputy Director General (Partnerships and Capacity Development), Dr. Kenton Dashiell, said the meeting was timely especially in the light of the growing threats to food security and rising unemployment in the continent. Sanginga noted that, if properly harnessed, the root and tuber crops would help in absorbing the burgeoning number of unemployed youths, and put this pool of human resource to productive use. He also called on scientists to ensure that their research outputs were creating the desired change at the farm level by addressing the constraints of development.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:50:31 +0000
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