“After three decades of low investment in agricultural research in Sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA), African governments now have a range of new opportunities for such investment. The structural adjustment and market liberalization of the 1990s have generated increased private investment in agriculture, and agricultural growth is returning to 1970s’ levels in several of the region’s countries. Rising global food prices have made both donors and national governments treat agriculture as a priority again and, together with the rising prices of metals and other commodities, have sparked increased foreign investment in the region. This note provides a summary of the current state of agricultural research and development (R&D) in SSA and identifies important opportunities to address the many challenges R&D faces in SSA in terms of investments, human resources, organization, and achieving impact.”
