As part of its initiatives to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and learning among its stakeholders, IITA–CGIAR, on 20 February, hosted the first Knowledge Café of the year, focusing on Africa’s agricultural transformation, how the private sector can enhance agricultural productivity and welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa’s evolving food markets.
The seminar commenced with IITA Nairobi Agricultural Economist Alene Arega introducing the speaker, IITA Visiting Scientist Lenis Saweda. He highlighted her roles as an agricultural food and resources economics professor at Michigan State University in the United States of America and a researcher at IITA Ibadan. Arega emphasized that her research focuses on emerging issues concerning smallholder agricultural productivity and welfare within dynamic and transforming food markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, he mentioned her membership on the Advisory Board of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and her extensive publication record in leading agricultural economics and policy journals.
Saweda shared her dedication to empowering smallholder farmers through modern agricultural technologies with a focus on the role of the private sector and aims to promote the transformation of Africa’s food system. Saweda highlighted the link between smallholder productivity and the expanding agri-food value chains. She highlighted the importance of technology adoption and market dynamics in shaping the future of African agriculture.
Saweda discussed her research on input supply chains, unveiling the impact of private sector engagement on agricultural development in Nigeria and Zambia. Through collaborative efforts with institutions such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, she explored strategies to bridge the gap between smallholder farmers and modern agricultural technologies.
After her presentation, attendees asked about various aspects of Saweda’s research and its implications. They inquired about the effectiveness of private sector engagement strategies, the challenges smallholder farmers face in adopting modern agricultural technologies, and the potential scalability of interventions explored in her study.
Saweda responded by emphasizing the importance of dealing with problems rural areas face when adopting new technology, not just getting the tools. She also talked about working together, trying new ideas, and using facts to make decisions for farming. She mentioned the need for more research to find better ways to help African farmers.
IITA Deputy Director General, Partnership for Delivery (DDG-P4D) Kenton Dashiell commended Saweda’s excellent research and the successes and challenges it highlighted, especially the importance of working with companies in helping farmers. He spoke excitedly about Notore’s idea helping farmers more, though he worried about some problems, such as wrong use of coupons and inadequate funding for research to promote farming innovation in Nigeria. Dashiell committed to learning more about these things to help farmers better.
Contributed by Omolara Sanusi
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