NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 25- Africa is turning to its staple crops in a renewed push for food security, with governments and policymakers calling for greater investment in rice, cassava, maize and other locally consumed foods while building industries around them to cut dependence on imports.

📻 Breaking It Down

Agriculture and science officials say the continent must move beyond measuring food security by how much is harvested and instead build value chains that connect farmers to quality seed, processors, research institutions, regulators and consumers.

The shift would see staple crops treated not only as food sources but also as raw materials for manufacturing and other value-added industries.

Sierra Leone offers one example of the approach placing rice and cassava at the centre of its Feed Salone strategy, while supporting farmers, processors and markets in bid to create reliable demand for locally produced food.

📌 What You Need to Know

Dr. Isata Kamanda, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, said countries should concentrate investment on crops that form the foundation of their food systems.

“I think the way to go is to invest on your major staples,” Kamanda said, citing rice, cassava and vegetables.

She was speaking on the first day of the Africa Bioeconomy Workshop in Nairobi which has brough together policymakers, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs and development partners to explore ways of accelerating the commercialisation of Africa’s biological resources and scientific capabilities.

Kamanda said Sierra Leone had raised average rice yields from about 1.5 metric tonnes per hectare to 2.7 tonnes, helped by farmer support and improvements to the country’s seed system.

Under the strategy, farmers are being connected to processors that collect, add value to and package their produce. Locally produced rice is also being incorporated into school-feeding programmes to create a dependable market for domestic farmers.

Cassava is similarly being positioned for industrialisation, including the production of flour that can substitute wheat in products such as bread.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya