Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) is currently conducting its 4th International Conference on Drylands with the theme: Ecosystem Restoration and Natural Resource Management: Exploring Opportunities for Food Security in the Drylands from 11th to 14th September, 2023.
The conference, which was organized in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), represents a convergence of minds, hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better and more sustainable future in the world’s dryland environments
The theme of the conference aligns with the current United Nation’s Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, which underscores the need to restore the planet’s fragile ecosystems and food security challenges, said the Director CDA, Professor Jibrin Mohammed Jibrin during the opening session.
The Director noted that “through rigorous training, cutting-edge research and meaningful outreach, we have strived to enhance the adaptability of these regions to the ever-changing environmental dynamics. He said the 4th international conference is more interesting and enriching experience because it goes concurrently with the Food for West Africa network conference.
“In this year’s conference, we proudly introduce an existing collaboration with the Food for West Africa Network (Food4WA), an alliance of Africa Centres of Excellence in agriculture funded by the World Bank and AFD. He explained that Food4WA’s mission to maximize the collective capabilities of ACEs in West and Central Africa resonates with our commitment to addressing development challenges and enhancing food security through research, training and community engagement.”
The conference he said intended to address multitude of challenges confronting West Africa and central Africa relating to low agricultural productivity, climate change and high population pressure through knowledge sharing platforms.
The Vice Chancellor, Bayero University Kano, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas described ecosystem restoration as pivotal in shaping research, policies and programs to achieve food security in Africa.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Mahmoud Umar-Sani, the Vice-Chancellor said the CDA was committed to creating natural environment that empowers the peasants of dryland to achieve food security.
“It underscores the importance of fostering collaboration and dialogue among scholars, practitioners and policy makers to address the unique challenges of Africa,” he said.
Earlier speaking, the Chairman of the local organizing committee, Professor Salisu Aliyu Salisu Barau, emphasized the need for concerted efforts and funds to address ecological crisis, hunger, food insecurity, extreme poverty and supporting the hard to reach populations of the region.
Barau noted that Africa most especially west Africa is currently embroiled in vulnerabilities and uncertainties that are unconnected to land degradation and climate change.
Also speaking, the Project Manager, Africa Centres of Excellence for Impact (ACE), Dr Sylvia Mkandawire said the Association of African Universities (AAU) would do its best to support this initiative even beyond the project time to transform agricultural landscape not only in West Africa but in the region.
Dr Mkandawire noted that one of the critical issues in the ACE project is sustainability, but assured that it would be one of the issues to be discussed at the next Africa Centres of Excellence for Impact Regional meeting to be held in November this year in Abidjan.
Keynote speeches were delivered during the plenary sessions on the first day by Dr Victor R. Squires, an international dryland management consultant, Adelaide, Australia; Professor Rajeev K. Varshney, Director, State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Director, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, International Chairman in Agriculture and Food Security, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Australia and Kevin Vail Pixley, Wheat and Dryland Crops Programs Director, CIMMYT, Mexico.