Running ahead: Food security and agricultural development

Understanding the nature of agriculture is critical in evaluating the overall development process of developing countries. Agriculture and food security are two inseparable aspects of human life. Food security is a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active healthy life (Fao.org, 2015). Malnutrition has negative effects on both physical and mental state of the people. Food is therefore essential for any human survival and Africa is no different: we need a healthy working population to develop.

Africa has not fully tapped its potential. We are capable of feeding the world, yet we die of hunger. The issue of food insecurity is a collective responsibility; it requires all of us to join hands with the government, private sectors, educational institutions and farmers. Africa needs to embrace new technology to increase productivity, if we are to eradicate food insecurity; before then, this will be just but a dream.

Agriculture is the main source of national income in most developing countries and creates employment opportunities for up to 75 percent of the population. The Millennium Development Goals list eradication of poverty and hunger as a core objective, therefore, the intervention towards the success of this goal should be anchored in the agricultural sector since majority of Africa’s population are concentrated in the rural areas. Efforts towards the realization of this goal have seen the establishment of forums and programs such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FAO).

CAADP is a programme of African Union, which was endorsed in Maputo in 2003 with the aim of improving and promoting agriculture across Africa (Caadp.net, 2015). Rwanda was first in signing the compact in 2007 and by May 2011, 26 countries had signed. This shows that countries are putting a great deal of effort to end this calamity known as food insecurity. Member countries are to allocate 10% of their national income to Agricultural development. Why then is the continent still short of food?

CAADP PILLARS

The program operates under four pillars which are:

1. Extending the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systems.
2. Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for market access.
3. Increasing food supply, reducing hunger and increasing responses to food emergency crises.
4. Improving agriculture research, technology and adoption.

The MDGs aimed at eradicating hunger by the year 2015; however, this has not happened yet and Africa is still faced with the problem. CAADP has made progress in making incentive-oriented agricultural policies which has seen increase in donor contribution and countries allocating more resources towards the sector. Despite these remarkable steps, Africa has not reached its peak in food production and cannot compete effectively in the global market. Dealing with food insecurity requires us to look at agriculture in a different dimension other than just increasing productivity.

African is endowed with resources, with 60 percent of the world’s arable land found in this continent; yet only 4.5 perecent is cultivated. Perhaps this explains why we are not able to eradicate hunger or even account for the annual post-harvest loss due to poorly developed infrastructure and infestation.

Great measures have been put in place, but as a continent, have we overlooked the most essential factors? For instance, why the youth are not engaging in farm activities or why farmers are reluctant to adopt new techniques of farming. Young people are not the “leaders of tomorrow”; this notion has to change. Africa needs young, sharp and innovative minds in the sector, which has been left for the old in the rural areas. The literacy levels in rural areas are low, they have no access to information and if they did they wouldn’t comprehend. Food insecurity should therefore be addressed by the youth not the aged. Agriculture sector should be made such that it attracts young people and shows prospect for the future. The youth are up to date with technology; incorporating this in farming will ae z big step in ensuring a food secure continent. ICT should be used to make farming more appealing to the youth, increased use of the internet helps change the mind of those against traditional farming hence making the agricultural sector an innovative industry.

This sector should be made attractive to investors; it should prove to be a lucrative business venture. By doing this, there will be ready market for the produce and income for farmers which serves as an incentive for more production. Involving the youth in agricultural activities minimises rural to urban migration, which leaves farming to the old people. Due to migration, the urban centres develop while the rural areas are lagging behind; hence unequal growth in a country. Young people are innovators, risk takers and easily adapt to change. This is what Africa needs.

Agriculture in Africa is characterised by low productivity both in food production and export sector. Africa is unable to compete in the global market due to international trade policies and systems that favour the industrialized countries. Most of these countries have subsidized the cost of production, making our products uncompetitive and some even to their own domestic markets. Due to stagnation in production, this has seen investors and other productive capacities leave the agricultural sector. Africa can change the situation by application of modern science and technology and high levels of mechanization. Mechanization reduces fatigue, human labour and hastens the production process alongside creating quality goods. Use of tractors, combine harvesters, crop threshers and rotary power tillers should be used in large and small-scale farming as they are more efficient and fast compared to human labour. This should be followed by use of appropriate labour towards land. People who have the technical know-how and have been trained on the operations of these machines should supervise in the farms. These machines and equipment are vital for Africa to reach a state of sustainable food production. However, they should be properly utilized and made affordable even to the poor in rural areas. Countries can establish programs that lease the machines to people at a relatively cheaper cost than that of purchasing one.

Low productivity is also a result of limited access to agriculture credit by farmers. Farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizers are expensive and farmers tend to use low quality breeds hence low production and the cycle continues. This calls for subsidized cost of production where the government and farmers join hands towards improved productivity. Most African countries have made subsidized fertilizer available to farmers. In Kenya, the program is ran by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPD) while in Malawi, the government issues farmers with coupons that are used to purchase fertilizer at a cheaper cost. Fertilizer is an essential input in the production process and with this in mind, Africa should double its efforts on making it available.

Agricultural cooperatives are just as important; they mobilize resources and bring farmers together in seminars and workshops where they are educated. Farmers are able to get loans without collateral and have a guaranteed market for their produce. These cooperatives do not only give farmers loans and education, but add value to their products which in turn fetch a higher price. In addition, these cooperatives improve African socialism and the spirit of working together.

Africa should not rely on rain fed agriculture but engage in irrigation, hydroponics and green house farming. Hydroponics refers to growing of plants in a solution that contains nutrients and without soil; it’s used for vegetable production as well as commercial food production (Ag.arizona.edu, 2015). This makes it easy for individuals, small and large scale famers to explore alternative means of agriculture. People should be encouraged to grow vegetables in their homes since this doesn’t require much labour or capital and the results are great. Food security should be approached in every dimension, starting small and growing big should be Africa’s driving force.

Over reliance on rain means that a particular crop can only be produced at a certain time of the year; however, this can be changed with irrigation. Nevertheless, this can also be altered by climatic changes and weather conditions hence the need to adopt new methods of farming.

Incorporating other means of farming will help reduce the deficit in balance of payments in countries as they tend to export less and import more at a higher price.

Africa’s population is growing at a very significant rate; room has to be created as shelter is essential for human survival. In order to curb the situation, irrigation is needed in arid and semi-arid regions for us to increase arable land for agriculture. Governments should educate their citizens on better land tenure systems and advocate for this strongly. It will ensure that resources are distributed accordingly and under the laid down conditions. Even as we explore other means of farming, it is important to remember that agriculture has various sub-sectors such as livestock production, fisheries, forestry and mining. Not all regions are viable for crop production; hence research should be done to help people engage in other activities as well.

CAADP has made progress in increasing production capacity in countries that have signed the compact. This, however, is a challenge in itself. Most countries have poor storage facilities and transportation systems which have led to post-harvest losses in both grains and vegetables. Maize has been affected by aflatoxin causing deaths instead of sustaining life. Increased production should be followed by improved infrastructure and ready market for products. There has been persistent price fluctuation of agricultural products which makes it almost impossible to plan for the earnings. The foreign income is minimal since most countries engaged in primary exports, where the market is saturated. It is time Africa embraced the concept of value addition, exporting finished products will give an upper hand in the global market. Enhancing tariff barriers will make imports expensive hence boosting the demand for local products. Africa should also aim for controlled exchange mechanism where the state has control over foreign currency transactions or transfers.

Kofi Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat and former UN Secretary General, once said that “knowledge is power, information is liberation”. Africa has failed to make a breakthrough in agricultural research and development that has seen tremendous changes in other parts of the world. Much focus should be given to practical and result-oriented work meant to improve agriculture in terms of producing more profitable crop and animal varieties that are disease and draught resistance. Equally, emphasis should be put on market information systems while studying market prices and consumer behavioural patterns. It is time that policymakers involved the farmers while drafting new laws. Their input is vital since they are at the heart of agricultural activities and their opinions should count.

Governments should use easily accessible means of communication such as television and radio to reach the rural people. This will help farmers and investors make informed decisions. For the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program to meet its objectives, we have to combine our efforts from the young to the old.

Agriculture remains at the heart of human survival; development in this sector will ensure a food secure Africa.

* Kamau Margaret Njeri is studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology at the University of Nairobi.

REFERENCES

Caadp.net,. (2015). CAADP | CAADP is a programme of the African Union in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Retrieved 14 May 2015, from http://www.caadp.net/

Fao.org,. (2015). Chapter 2. Food security: concepts and measurement[21]. Retrieved 14 May 2015, from http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4671e/y4671e06.htm

Ag.arizona.edu,. (2015). What Is Hydroponics? | Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. Retrieved 14 May 2015, from http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/what-hydroponics

* THE VIEWS OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR/S AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PAMBAZUKA NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM

* BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Please do not take Pambazuka for granted! Become a Friend of Pambazuka and make a donation NOW to help keep Pambazuka FREE and INDEPENDENT!

* Please send comments to editor[at]pambazuka[dot]org or comment online at Pambazuka News.