Smallholder farmers in SSA are still among the poorest in the world. It is difficult for them to maximize their potential in the absence of modern agricultural technologies and adequate financing to cover investments for on- and off-farm processes; furthermore, a given farmer is often faced with a distribution structure that remains ill-suited for accessing markets.
The respective agriculture sub-sectors of SSA continue to be one of the least productive in the world (at a relative productivity rate is 36%). To quote Calestous Juma, professor of the Practice of International Development at Harvard Kennedy School: “Medical students train to become doctors; law-school students become lawyers. However, most of those trained in agriculture end up “growing bureaucracies” rather than growing food crops. It is evident that there is a need for innovation, science and technology to maximize training and the application of skills to the agriculture sector in Africa.”
AGRIFERT’s take: Most, if not all major African countries have soil fertility maps that are outdated — four decades old or more… A good start for an overhaul in Agricultural Transformation lies in updating such maps in line with targeted country agro-ecological zones.
There is a need for African Governments and relevant stakeholders to create capacity enhancement initiatives that would empower farmers to become self-sufficient in food production and supply. Cultivation of arable land is essential; but access to quality inputs is critical, and there should be an overwhelming support for the “science agenda” to establish mechanisms for increasing crop yields. However, while governments can support these initiatives, it is necessary for relevant stakeholders and institutions to create a sustainable platform where a new generation of small-scale farmers can flourish; what’s really required are affordable financing structures…