Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that Africa is standing “at a historic crossroad” in its battle against food insecurity, calling for urgent investment in technology, infrastructure, and policy to transform agriculture across the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) in Kigali, Rwanda, Jonathan said the continent faces a choice: to continue struggling with outdated systems and fragmented markets or to embrace innovation and become a global food powerhouse.
“With the projected growth in our population, we have no choice but to increase food production in Africa,” Jonathan said. “The time to act is now. Let us invest not just in seeds and fertilisers but in science, policy and people.”
The former president called for an overhaul in how Africa approaches farming, urging governments and the private sector to invest in cutting-edge technologies such as precision farming, artificial intelligence, satellite imaging, and drones. These, he said, could revolutionise every step of agriculture, from planting and harvesting to storage and distribution.
Jonathan highlighted that progress is already visible in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda, where tech platforms are helping farmers access weather forecasts, credit, and markets. However, he stressed that such innovations must be scaled across the continent with better rural infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordable internet access.
“For too long, agricultural investment in Africa has been sporadic and donor-dependent. This must change. Agriculture must be seen not as aid but as a strategic economic driver,” he said.
He also called on African governments to honour their Maputo and Malabo Declaration commitments, which call for allocating at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture. In addition, he urged development finance institutions to create financing models that support smallholder farmers and agripreneurs, especially youth to make agriculture a viable career path.
Rwandan Prime Minister Dr Édouard Ngirente, who officially opened the conference, echoed Jonathan’s sentiments. He stressed that beyond technology and tools, African agriculture needs supportive policies, investment in infrastructure, and the active participation of farmers in shaping solutions.
“Technology is not just about platforms; it’s about people,” Dr Ngirente said. “It’s about the young farmer using a mobile phone to check crop prices or the innovator designing drones to detect crop diseases. It’s about a continent that believes in its capacity to feed itself and thrive.”
The ACAT conference brings together policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and farmers to share ideas and forge partnerships aimed at modernising Africa’s agricultural systems.
As food insecurity continues to challenge millions on the continent, both leaders urged immediate and united action to ensure Africa not only feeds itself but becomes a major exporter of food to the world.