Divert some food spending to research, African governments urged

Researchers have urged African governments to divert part of the $35 billion spent annually on food in the continent to agricultural research to help ease youth unemployment.

The call was made at a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa held on 25 November in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Fina Opio, the executive director of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, said investing in agricultural research will generate jobs for the youth who comprise 70 per cent of the continent’s population.