Invest in rural infrastructure to address food shortage-call

In the wake of food shortage in 51 districts in the country, Faculty Chair of Harvard Kennedy School in USA, Professor Calestous Juma has said the situation should prompt urgent investment in rural infrastructure, starting with roads. 

Professor Juma author of the ‘New Harvest: Agricultural innovation in Africa’ was in the country recently, delivering lectures on agricultural innovation in Africa to academicians, agricultural researchers, scientists, students and the media at the Commission for Science and Technology(COSTECH) in Dar es Salaam.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Prof Juma who also directs the agricultural innovation in Africa project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said such investment can be achieved with the help of military and other public institutions that have access to machinery. 

He said the next step could be mobilising the expertise of ministries responsible for agriculture, science and technology, energy, transportation and others to offer technical support to farmers. 

“One way of supporting small scale farmers is by viewing them as entrepreneurs, not just as producers. Farmers can also become more innovative if they organise themselves through rural enterprises,” he said.Continue Reading