Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Tuesday called for greater use of inclusive technology and innovation to advance agriculture across Africa, saying these are key to overcoming the sector’s persistent challenges.
Speaking at the opening of the African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT 2025), Ngirente said the future of farming on the continent depends on providing farmers with access to quality seeds, fertilizers, equipment and timely markets.
“Everyone in this room whether a farmer, policymaker, researcher or innovator plays a critical role in shaping a better future for our agriculture,” Ngirente told the gathering in Kigali.
The four-day conference, which runs through June 12, has brought together more than 800 participants, including government leaders, researchers, and experts in agricultural technology from across Africa.
Despite the continent’s vast arable land and human capacity, Ngirente said many African farmers still face serious hurdles, including erratic climate conditions, outdated land-use practices, limited market access and lack of financing.
“To address these issues and build a sustainable future for agriculture in Africa, we must make technology and innovation the backbone of our development efforts,” he said.
Ngirente also stressed the importance of making agriculture attractive to young people and of investing in sustainable practices.
“Hard work alone is not enough,” he said. “Agriculture must be seen as a viable and promising profession, especially for our youth. That requires integrating innovation into all aspects of the sector.”
Ngirente said Rwanda continues to invest heavily in agriculture, calling it one of the pillars of the country’s sustainable development. He highlighted several initiatives, including improved access to quality inputs, affordable credit, insurance for crops and livestock, and irrigation infrastructure.
The country has also boosted post-harvest storage and preservation efforts and invested in market-driven education programs to support agricultural development.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, also speaking at the conference, urged African governments to promote transparency and stable policies to attract investment and strengthen infrastructure in the agriculture sector.
“Our governments must show commitment by protecting agricultural budgets and building investor confidence,” Jonathan said. “We must also empower farmers, young people and communities through transparent communication and knowledge sharing.”
Agriculture employs more than 60% of Africa’s population and contributes roughly 23% to the continent’s GDP, according to experts attending the summit. They stressed the need to safeguard and modernize the sector to ensure long-term economic growth.
