Two agricultural entrepreneurs from Senegal and Uganda have emerged joint winners of the U.S.$100,000 prize at the ongoing African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Accra.
They are Dr. Emma Naluyima — a smallholder farmer and private veterinarian from Uganda and Baba Dioum — a policy champion and agricultural entrepreneur from Senegal.
The two have been recognized for their innovative and remarkable achievements in promoting sustainable growth in Africa’s agriculture through improved methods and market links.
The 2019 winners, chosen out of close to 200 nominees, exemplify the central aim of the Africa Food Prize, which is to put a spotlight on innovations that create a new era of food security and economic opportunities for all Africans.
The two winners´achievements strongly complement one another as it shows how small-scale production and high-level policy reforms can contribute to agricultural transformation.
Dr. Naluyima’s success is recycling farm resources to produce natural fertilizers, pesticides and biogas. She generates $100,000 a year from her farm and also hosts up to ten thousand visiting farmers to share knowledge.
Baba Dioum on the other hand has successfully promoted cross-border agricultural trade in West Africa and contributed significantly to craft the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, who chairs the Africa Food Prize Committee, congratulated Dr. Naluyima and Mr. Dioum for their courage in defying the status quo to open new frontiers in creating wealth through agriculture.
Story By: Yvonne Atilego.
