By Spy Uganda
Lilongwe, Malawi: In a stirring keynote address delivered at the 7th Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week in Lilongwe, Malawi, Dr. Patience Bibohere Rwamigisa, Uganda’s Assistant commissioner in charge of Agricultural Extension coordination in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries called on African leaders and institutions to reclaim their agency in transforming agriculture by strengthening extension and advisory services grounded in local realities.
Addressing delegates from across the continent under the theme “Rebranding Extension for Enhanced Public/Private Sector Driven Commercialization, Industrialization and Inclusive Food Systems,” Dr. Rwamigisa, a pioneer member and recipient of Pan African Pyramid Global Award emphasized that Africa’s persistent economic underperformance is deeply rooted in weak institutional capacity, overreliance on donor-driven models, and failure to contextualize global agricultural strategies.
He noted that despite having more favorable post-independence conditions than many Asian nations, most African countries lag behind due to the “failure to build on the ingenuity of African people” and the neglect of traditional knowledge systems. Citing scholars and historical patterns, he argued that African leadership must overcome entrenched colonial-era stereotypes and invest in human capital as the key to realizing the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“The agricultural extension system is uniquely positioned to reverse negative narratives and drive grassroots transformation,” Dr. Rwamigisa noted, challenging policymakers to ask hard questions about Africa’s continued dependence on food imports, land leasing to foreign investors, and the dismal adoption of scientific innovations in agriculture.
He highlighted the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) as a pivotal but underutilized policy framework. Despite bold commitments made in the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, he revealed that Africa remains off-track to meet key targets, such as halving poverty and eradicating hunger by 2025, largely due to the dismantling of institutional structures during the structural adjustment era and the absence of robust research-to-policy linkages.
Dr. Rwamigisa called for a “realignment of institutions within the context of an agricultural innovation system” that fosters synergy among universities, research institutions, and farmers. He also challenged the academic community to overcome the “publish or perish” mindset and refocus research efforts toward solving real-world agricultural challenges.
“India, Vietnam, and Pakistan transformed their economies despite past devastation. Africa can too—if we invest in extension services that are well-resourced, locally grounded, and technologically adaptive,” he urged.
Drawing from Uganda and Malawi’s experiences, he stressed the importance of professionalizing extension, leveraging digital platforms, addressing gender and youth inclusion, and developing institutional models tailored to African contexts.
He concluded with a powerful call to action: “Let the local context not only inform AFAAS but also filter which innovations we promote. Donors can only support our initiatives—Africa’s transformation must be led by Africans.”
The conference, hosted by the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), runs until May 17, bringing together researchers, policymakers, extension agents, and farmer organizations to shape the future of agricultural development across the continent.
Here’s Dr. Rwamigisa’s Full Speech 👉Keynote speech at the AAEW Malawi
