ACADEMICIA: An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

In most developing countries, agricultural growth is at the core of poverty reduction and improved food security. However, Sub-Saharan Africa (hence referred to as Africa) is the only area in the world whose agricultural output per capita has stayed unchanged for the last 40 years. The application of customized methods and technology has revolutionized agricultural practice and production throughout Asia and Latin America, resulting in the so-called "green revolution." On the continent, no indigenous African green revolution technology have been disseminated. This chapter will argue that if adequate investments are made in key interventions such as soil fertility improvement, improved seeds, water management, market access, extension services, access to credit, and weather forecasting, Africa can achieve similar increases in productivity and food security. Where they have occurred, even in part, the results have been spectacular. However, bringing them to scale in a manner that increases agricultural production and alleviates poverty on a long-term basis would need greater investments and novel institutional structures. Thankfully, many research and development initiatives on the continent, such as the Millennium Villages Project, are giving useful information. Finally, this chapter highlights the major difficulties that remain.