AFRICA – The West and Central Africa Wheat Development Network (WECAWheat) have called on regional governments to prioritize the development and enforcement of policies aimed at fostering strategic investments in wheat production in the region.

The network’s call came in a communiqué issued at the close of its Second Regional Summit held in Abuja on October 14, 2024.

The summit, which brought together key stakeholders from member countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Lake Chad, and Togo, aimed at transforming wheat production to ensure sustainable food security and economic growth within the region.

The wheat sector in West and Central Africa has long faced significant challenges, including climate variability, low productivity, and a heavy reliance on imports. This situation has made the region vulnerable to food insecurity and external shocks.

To counter these challenges, the summit participants, comprising experts from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), and various regional agricultural institutions, emphasized the urgency of addressing these vulnerabilities by accelerating local wheat production.

The communiqué issued by WECAWheat outlined several key recommendations aimed at boosting wheat productivity in the region.

Firstly, governments were urged to scale up irrigated and rain-fed wheat production, utilizing 20–40% of currently underutilized land. This step is seen as critical to improving short-term productivity and reducing reliance on wheat imports, which have skyrocketed in recent years.

Moreover, participants called for an immediate rollout of advanced agricultural technologies and extension services to empower farmers across the wheat value chain. By enhancing the skills of farmers and equipping them with modern techniques, regional governments can significantly improve wheat yields and ensure more sustainable production.

Harmonisation of policies and infrastructure upgrades

The summit also placed strong emphasis on the need for regional cooperation, calling on governments within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to harmonise policies supporting sustainable wheat production.

This includes aligning regulatory frameworks, upgrading infrastructure, and facilitating trade in wheat seeds, grains, and wheat-based products both regionally and internationally.

Such measures would not only promote economic growth but also stabilise food supplies across the region within the medium term of four to seven years.

Climate-Smart Innovations and Soil Health

A key pillar of the summit’s recommendations was the need to adopt climate-smart farming techniques and sustainable agricultural practices.

Participants encouraged innovation in wheat farming, particularly with a focus on improving soil health, which is critical to long-term productivity.

They highlighted the importance of climate-resilient wheat varieties, urging scientists to advance research into high-yielding strains that can withstand the harsh environmental conditions typical of the region.

To further safeguard the environment and enhance productivity, WECAWheat called for the promotion of sustainable pesticide use to protect wheat crops while minimizing environmental harm.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the WorldHERE.