African agricultural entrepreneurs Josephine Okot and Akinwumi Adesina were on July 4 named winners of the US$200,000 (€73,450) Yara Prize, which promotes former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for a green revolution in Africa.
The laureates will split the cash award at a prize ceremony in Oslo on Sept. 1.
The prize committee said the laureates were "outstanding examples of a new generation of African entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks, take the lead and break new ground within African agriculture and food security."
Okot, from Uganda, is the founder of the company Victoria Seeds Ltd., which works to produce and distribute appropriate seed varieties to African farmers. It contracts over 200 growers to produce its seed.
Adesina, of Nigeria, is an associate director at the Food Security and Africa Regional Program at the Rockefeller Foundation. He is known for his efforts to make farm inputs available to small scale farmers, the prize citation said.
IHT
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July 04, 2007
African agricultural entrepreneurs win Norwegian prize
Categories green revolution
