Ag pioneer wins World Food Prize for progressing African development
He added that 98% of the world's 800 million undernourished people live in Africa. Dr Adesina told BBC News that he was "very humbled" to win the award.
"For me, the award is not just about recognition for me, it is also about putting the wind behind the sails of what still needs to be done in African agriculture," he said.
He added that the critical issue that needed to be addressed was that the level of productivity of the African agricultural sector was "so, so low".
"One of the things that I have worked on was how to accelerate our efforts," he observed. You know, you can find Coca-Cola or Pepsi anywhere in rural Africa, so why can't you find seeds or why can you not find fertilisers?"
Dr Adesina will receive the US $250,000 prize at the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium, which is held in the US to "help further the discussion on cutting-edge global food security issues and inspire the next generation to end hunger".
source: bbc.com
