African indigenous crops vital for food security – Dr Amissah

Story: Isaac AIDOO, Accra

SENIOR Lecturer at the University of Ghana and West Africa Regional Hub Manager for the ‘Feed The Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture’, Dr. Naalamle Amissah, has emphasized the vital role of African indigenous crops in achieving food security.

Speaking at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, she noted that indigenous fruits and vegetables, rich in nutrients and well-suited to local climates, can significantly improve food and nutrition security across the continent.

She noted that for too long, African indigenous crops, particularly fruits and vegetables, have been overlooked in favour of non-native species. These indigenous crops are naturally adapted to local climates, making them more resilient in the face of environmental changes such as droughts and extreme weather conditions. Additionally, they are nutrient-dense, providing essential vitamins and micronutrients that are crucial for combating malnutrition and ensuring healthy populations. By focusing on these crops, Dr. Amissah believes that Africa can reduce its dependence on foreign food sources and promote food sovereignty.

The significance of Dr. Amissah’s vision lies in the broader context of Africa’s agricultural landscape, where many countries continue to rely heavily on imported food items, often at the expense of their own agricultural diversity.

Indigenous crops like amaranth, moringa, and baobab, which have been staples in many African diets for centuries, are now receiving renewed attention for their health benefits and environmental sustainability.

These crops are not only vital for nutritional security but are also aligned with climate-smart agricultural practices, offering a sustainable pathway to address climate change.

However, the path to realizing the full potential of these crops is fraught with challenges. One of the key obstacles Dr. Amissah pointed out is the lack of market demand for indigenous crops.

Farmers, though aware of the benefits, are hesitant to grow them on a large scale due to limited consumer interest.

This is where the concept of value addition becomes critical. Dr. Amissah stressed that without creating new products such as nutrient-dense snacks, baby foods, or ready-to-use ingredients from these indigenous crops, it will be difficult to stimulate market demand and drive widespread production.

Her call for value addition reflects a need for innovation across the agricultural value chain. By developing improved varieties of these crops and investing in processing and packaging technologies, African entrepreneurs and food businesses can tap into new markets and cater to the modern consumer. For example, preserving fruits during off-seasons and creating ready-to-use leafy vegetable products could transform indigenous crops into convenient, year-round food options for busy, urban populations.

Dr. Amissah also highlighted the need for a holistic approach to improving agricultural practices. She spoke about climate-smart solutions such as converting agricultural waste like rice husks and palm kernel husks into biochar to enhance soil fertility.

Healthy soils are the foundation of productive agriculture, and incorporating organic fertilizers into farming practices will ensure long-term sustainability. While inorganic fertilizers provide a quick solution, organic alternatives help build the soil’s immune system, ensuring future resilience.

At the summit, she passionately called for Africans to take charge of solving their own problems. She advocated for action over mere dialogue, urging African nations to harness the knowledge they already possess to build resilient food systems.

She praised the work of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture, which adopts a locally-led, globally-supported approach, allowing countries in West Africa to prioritize their indigenous crops.

The lab is actively involved in profiling these crops, engaging with both producers and consumers to understand their roles in the value chain, and developing solutions that ensure the success of these crops in the marketplace.

Dr. Amissah’s collaboration with key institutions like the World Vegetable Center, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and researchers at the University of Ghana demonstrates a commitment to advancing the cultivation and commercialization of African indigenous crops.

Through these partnerships, her work aims to introduce improved varieties that meet the needs of both local farmers and consumers, furthering the goal of widespread adoption.

The 2024 Africa Food Systems Annual Summit, organized by AGRA in collaboration with the Africa Food Systems Forum, provided a crucial platform for stakeholders across the continent to explore innovative approaches to achieving food security.

Dr. Amissah’s contributions at the summit highlighted the need for a renewed focus on indigenous crops as a sustainable solution to Africa’s food security challenges.

As the global food landscape shifts towards healthier and more sustainable alternatives, the opportunity to leverage Africa’s rich agricultural biodiversity has never been more promising.

According to Dr. Amissah, Africa must reclaim and elevate its indigenous crops, not just as a matter of cultural pride, but as a strategic move towards achieving long-term food security and resilience. By focusing on innovation, value addition, and climate-smart practices, she believes that Africa can not only feed itself but also contribute to global food systems in a meaningful way.