Harvesting Diversity: Africa's Path to Agricultural Resilience

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
In Africa, a significant shift is underway in the agricultural sector, aiming to combat hunger and build resilience against climate
change.The continent, rich in biodiversity with 30,000 edible plant species, is currently overreliant on just three crops: maize, wheat, and
rice.This reliance narrows the nutritional spectrum and heightens the risk of famine and vulnerability to environmental changes.Climate
scientist Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi emphasizes the potential of underutilized, resilient crops like cowpea, pigeon pea, millet, and
with diverse crops face lower malnutrition risks, highlighting the importance of agrobiodiversity over monoculture.Governments are
Resilience
(Photo Internet reproduction)The push for diversification in Eastern and Southern Africa has shown promising results.It improves maize
Purchase for Progress in Ethiopia have demonstrated the benefits of such integration, boosting household spending and investments in
education.However, achieving diversification requires a comprehensive approach that balances policy reforms, private sector participation,
and land policy adjustments.This ensures that diversification efforts support, rather than hinder, food production and environmental