WECA wheat summit: Issues stakeholders brought to the table

Yesterday, stakeholders in the West and Central African wheat value chain began a two-day summit to look at issues affecting production and widening the demand gap in the region.

The summit, which ends today (Thursday) brought together seed scientists from numerous universities in West and Central Africa, the organised private sector, wheat farmers, processors, representatives of the African Development Bank, the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), and agricultural research institutes that has wheat as mandate crop from the region.

Stakeholders at the conference identified the growing “food gap” caused by population growth, urbanization, changing dietary preferences, bread and various other pastries, noodles and innovative wheat-based products as some of the factors driving the widening demand-supply gap for wheat in West and Central Africa.

Benjamin Ewa Ubi, a Professor of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology and the Regional Coordinator of West & Central Africa Wheat Development Network (WECAWheat), in his opening remarks noted that “in West and Central Africa, Nigeria alone consumed 6.06 million metric tons of wheat, with the 2023 wheat production figures estimated at 200,000 metric tons, leading to a wheat import volume and value of approximately, six million metric tons and USD3.03 billion, respectively.”

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On his part, the executive director of the Lake Chad Research Institute in Maiduguri, Borno State, Professor Baba Gana Jugudum Kabir, emphasised that immediate action is required to increase wheat output to meet the rising demand in the nation and the region.

Prof. Kabir stated that just around 5% of the nation’s domestic demands could be satisfied by the existing output level, pointing out that productivity, cultivable land, and the time it takes to produce new varieties must be improved upon.

Speakers from Chad, Cameroon, Sudan, Benin Republic and Niger Republic have all expressed the need for the West and Central African sub-region to improve its strategies on wheat to reduce its vulnerability to food insecurity.

Among the issues covered were how to prioritize policy changes that support value chain growth, sustainable wheat production, and wheat commerce in West and Central Africa by encouraging talks amongst important stakeholders, such as regional organisations like ECOWAS and ECCAS.

To increase productivity, lower post-harvest losses, and boost overall efficiency, the experts are also looking for countries in the region to support the adoption/clearing and deployment of cutting-edge research and innovative technologies in wheat cultivation, processing and distribution.

Also, they believe that if investment opportunities in the wheat sector are effectively marketed to entice the private sector, funding and resource mobilization, and collaborations for infrastructure development, agro-inputs, research and capacity building, then sustainable production is very likely.

Stakeholders also deliberated on capacity-building plans and knowledge transfer initiatives/extension services aimed at improving the skills and capabilities of farmers, agribusinesses and stakeholders throughout the wheat value chain.

To guarantee long-term food security and economic resilience in West and Central Africa, experts at the summit highlighted the significance of climate-smart techniques, environmental conservation/soil health, and sustainable agricultural practices in wheat production.

Speakers agreed that to encourage collective action and innovation in the wheat sector, regional collaboration, partnerships, and networking among governments, international organisations, regional crop networks, research institutes, agribusinesses, farmers’ associations and others are needed to deal with the issues.