Fostering Rural Transformation in Africa through research generated solutions

Abstract

Research is fundamental for generating technical innovations, practices and information to guide planning and for lesson learning. This Issue of the African Journal of Rural Development, Volume 10 (2), presents nine research papers covering aspects on multistakeholder engagement for technology uptake, use of AI generated solutions for plant disease management, status of post-harvest handling in rural areas of Uganda, enhancing agricultural productivity through greenhouse farming, promoting growing of underutilized legumes for enhancing food and nutrition security and management of urban waste. The papers cover important issues that need attention for improving agricultural productivity and wellbeing amongst rural and urban dwellers and of the need to develop circular economies. AFJRD calls for increased investment to support building Africa’s science capacity to generate solutions for improving productivity and sustainable agricultural practices for strengthening agrifood systems. In these endeavors, attention need to be placed on multi-actor partnerships in addressing research issues and emerging opportunities.

Keywords: Africa, Aflatoxins, AI solutions, groundnut rosette disease, multi-actor partnerships, research for development, underutilized legumes