What if profitability and protection of agricultural lands in Africa was possible by establishing a more restricting tax regime? This is the solution preconized by the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina (picture), to the issue which many consider to be a paradox.

During the “Betting on Africa to feed the world” panel at the University of Iowa, U.S, Adesina said it was not acceptable for Africa, despite its agricultural potential, to spend $35 billion every year on food imports. “Africa sits on 65% of the uncultivated arable land left in the world, so what Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world,” AfDB’s president said. 

To tackle this challenge, the head of the pan-African institution declared: “It is time to put in place land tax for unused agricultural land or underutilized agricultural land to provide incentives for faster commercialization of agriculture and unlocking its potential in Africa” 

He then insisted that failing to act rapidly and efficiently could cause the food imports bill to reach close to $110 billion, by 2030, in Africa.