A Green Revolution for sub-Saharan Africa: Past failures and future prospects

Abstract

The continuing population growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has contributed to a decline in cultivated area per farming population. Consequently, food insecurity is increasingly becoming a major concern in this continent. To ensure food security, a Green Revolution, which dramatically increases crop yield, must be introduced. But, several major questions are being raised: why did SSA fail to achieve a Green Revolution in the past? What are its future prospects? What should be done to realise a Green Revolution in SSA? This article answers these questions based on an examination of crop yield trends, literature review and the results of our own case studies in SSA.