Ngirente: Africa must leverage tech, innovation to develop agriculture

Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente has highlighted ways Africa can achieve a technology-driven agricultural sector, underscoring the vital role of innovation in driving the industry forward. He was delivering his remarks on Tuesday, June 10 as he officially opened the four-day African Conference on Agricultural Technologies which is taking place in Kigali under the theme “NextGen Ag-Tech Solutions for Africa’s Farmers.” It has brought together over 900 participants including scientists, innovators, farmers and policymakers from across the globe. ALSO READ: Major agric meet in Kigali discusses improving farmers' access to technologies Ngirente said that each person at the conference —farmers, policymakers, researchers, and innovators—has a role to play in shaping the future of agriculture. “This future depends on ensuring that every farmer has access to reliable and sufficient inputs, precision farming tools, and real-time market data, among others,” he said. Technology, he stated, is not just about tools; it is about people. “It empowers farmers, regardless of their age, to make informed decisions and improve their livelihoods. Most importantly, it strengthens Africa’s belief in its ability to feed itself and develop.” ALSO READ: Africa’s food import bill doubles to $75 billion in seven years “Agriculture remains the backbone of our economies, employing over 60 per cent of the population and contributing approximately 23 per cent to Africa’s GDP,” the Prime Minister said. However, he said, despite the vast potential of the continent’s land and human capital, many African farmers continue to face significant production challenges due to climate conditions, outdated agricultural practices, limited access to markets, and inadequate financing. “To address these barriers and secure the future of agriculture in Africa, we must leverage technology and innovation as essential drivers of its transformation,” he stated. ALSO READ: Small-scale farmers decry high cost of irrigation technologies Currently, hard work alone is no longer sufficient, Ngirente said, pointing out that “agriculture must be sustainable and attractive, especially for our young generation.” “To achieve this, we need to integrate technology and innovation across our efforts to transform the sector. Indeed, technology and innovation are essential pillars of modern agriculture and are no longer optional,” he stated. He said that Rwanda considers agriculture as one of the key pillars of its sustainable development. The country continues to make strategic investments to strengthen the sector, underscoring the significance of de-risking the sector and making farming more attractive and profitable. “We have implemented several initiatives across the value chain. These initiatives include ensuring the availability of quality agricultural inputs, improving access to affordable financing, promoting crop and livestock insurance, scaling up irrigation infrastructure, and improving agricultural extension services,” he said. With the right innovations, Ngirente observed that agriculture can be sustainable and profitable. “The future of African agriculture will depend on how well we integrate technology with practical solutions,” he said. To build a strong, technology-driven agricultural sector, Ngirente held that Africa must focus on three key areas. First, he said, there is a need to empower young innovators by providing funding, training, and resources to scale their smart farming solutions. Second, Africa must de-risk agriculture to safeguard farmers from uncertainties, he noted. “Expanding access to crop and livestock insurance, affordable financing, and climate-resilient seeds will ensure greater stability and long-term security in the sector of agriculture,” he observed. Likewise, he said, improved livestock care and reliable farming tools are essential for making the sector more productive. “Third, expanding digital farming tools such as precision farming, automated irrigation, AI-driven advisory tools, and pest detection systems are essential to making agriculture more efficient and profitable,” he said.

News

Ngirente: Africa must leverage tech, innovation to develop agriculture