Green Revolution Experts call for careful utilization of Africa`s soil
By Yinka Adeyemi, Communication Officer, ECA
18 November 2004

Twenty five experts from 15 countries who today ended a three-day meeting on the review of a design and training manual on African Green Revolution urged African countries to avoid irreversible degradation of the soil as they use land for agricultural production.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the experts said such irreversible degradation could be achieved through the use of integrated soil fertility and land quality management, which may require lower levels of inorganic fertilizers.

"With good soils and good genotypes, we cannot fail," they said.

They called for the involvement of farmers in all part of work related to the soil "because the indigenous knowledge of farmers is important."

The experts also called for a re-design of Africa's farming systems to cater to the growing populations, slow agricultural growth and small arable land area per person.

The components of a Green Revolution should include biological crop-livestock technologies, chemical and crop management, biophysical and complementary technologies, improved post-harvest handling, enabling socio-political institutions, appropriate on-farm testing, yield increases and sustainable development.

"Africa has funds to finance a Green Revolution and Policy makers should be sensitized to make funds available for the cause," the experts said.