According to a professor at the University of the Free State, Africa has 60% of the land for increasing arable agriculture to feed the world. “Yet, food imports have been increasing, especially as the continent’s food systems change with increased urbanisation. By 2020, Africa’s annual food import bill has reached US$35 billion, a reduction from $40 billion in 2019. Notwithstanding, these worrisome statistics have a silver lining.”
One of the recipients of an honorary doctorate from the university, Prof. Adipala Ekwamu, addressed the graduates of the Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Economic and Management Sciences at a graduation ceremony at the Qwaqwa campus on 14 April 2023.
Prof. Ekwamu said the continent, “like the rest of the world, faces multidimensional development challenges – from economic, socio-economic, and political to biophysical challenges such as climate change.”
He further posed a question to the graduates. He asked them what they are doing to change the continent so that it becomes the powerhouse its natural resources promise.
“We have a wealth of land, water, forests, grasslands, solar, coastal, wind, mineral, and human resources. Africa has 60% of the land remaining for increasing arable agriculture to feed the world. Yet our food imports have been increasing, especially as our food systems change with increased urbanisation.
According to the Brookings Institute, while sub-Saharan Africa imports much more food today than it did two decades ago, it exports much more too. Indeed, from 2016 to 2020, Africa imported roughly $40 billion per year and exported roughly $35 billion – food imports not being symmetrical across the continent,” said Prof. Ekwamu.
He concluded his acceptance speech by highlighting the fact that he dedicates his honorary degree to academics and university leaders across the continent. He challenged graduates to be drivers of change in their respective industries.
“I was very impressed by the quality of the students and graduates this university has trained. May I remind everyone that universities have always been the drivers of development and reform? Elsewhere, and in Africa too, they have contributed to the political discourse and catalysing the rate of economic development. I appeal and call upon all universities to remain the powerful drivers of innovation and environmental protection, poverty reduction, and inclusivity in all their undertakings.”
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
