Benin: A professor of Cropping Systems Agronomy at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Sylvester Ewansiha, emphasized the necessity for integrated agricultural solutions to address Africa’s hunger crisis during the university’s 376th Inaugural Lecture. Titled ‘Where, O Hunger, Is Your Cure?’, the lecture highlighted the importance of combining improved crop varieties with sustainable farming practices.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Professor Ewansiha asserted that isolated interventions were insufficient in combating hunger, advocating instead for a synergy of innovations that foster productive, resilient, and sustainable farming systems. Despite Africa’s considerable agricultural potential, millions remain vulnerable to food insecurity due to productivity levels that fall short of their potential.
Professor Ewansiha’s research over the past 34 years has evolved from focusing on crop improvement and nutrient management to exploring intercropping, crop-livestock integration, soil fertility restoration,
and climate resilience. His studies on maize revealed that drought- and Striga-tolerant varieties could maintain productivity under nutrient stress when paired with appropriate fertilizer management. Furthermore, under rainforest conditions, approximately 60 kilogrammes of nitrogen per hectare was identified as an optimal rate for economic viability.
Ewansiha emphasized the need for genotype-specific agronomic recommendations, noting that modern drought-tolerant maize cultivars responded positively to higher plant populations. He underscored that neither improved seeds nor fertilizers could achieve sustainable productivity gains without the support of appropriate agronomic management.
The professor also discussed the potential of crops like cowpea, soybean, and lablab to contribute to integrated food, livestock, and soil fertility systems. Research on Lablab purpureus demonstrated its capability to enhance food security, livestock forage, and ecological benefits through biological nitrogen fixation and biom
ass production. Evaluations of various lablab accessions showed significant genetic variation, with some achieving grain yields of up to 2.4 tonnes per hectare.
Ewansiha advocated for the strategic use of organic materials, such as neem leaf mulch and Chromolaena odorata residues, to improve soil health and nutrient management. He stated that healthy soils are a vital component of sustainable agriculture and food security.
Addressing the link between food security and climate resilience, Ewansiha noted challenges faced by farmers in Edo, including flooding, soil erosion, and declining soil fertility. Farmers are adapting through practices like mixed cropping, intercropping, crop rotation, and adjusting planting dates. However, obstacles such as inadequate credit, limited climate information, and poor infrastructure hinder effective adaptation.
Ewansiha proposed five pillars for transforming Africa’s agriculture: sustainable intensification, climate resilience, integrated farming systems, technological inno
vation, and human capacity development. He called for increased use of precision agriculture, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and digital advisory services, ensuring technologies are accessible to smallholder farmers.
The professor stressed the critical role of universities in developing professionals capable of addressing complex food-system challenges. His career includes 60 journal publications and supervision of 17 graduate students, with research evaluating over 2,500 varieties across multiple agro-ecologies and reaching an estimated 4,500 farmers in collaboration with various institutions.
Ewansiha concluded that solutions to hunger exist but require effective translation of knowledge into action. He urged coordinated efforts from researchers, educators, policymakers, and farmers to transform agricultural knowledge into sustainable food security. ‘The cure for hunger lies in integration,’ he emphasized, advocating for a combination of improved varieties, agronomy, livestock feeding, soil rest
oration, biological processes, technology, and informed policies.