Agriculture has been
Africa’s economic mainstay since the end of colonial rule. It is also the engine that drives economic growth in most African countries. All African
governments stand to benefit from increased and improved agricultural production.Improving the agricultural sector will have immediate impact on increasing disposable incomes by offering more employment opportunities, reducing hunger and bringing down the cost of food. Improved Agricultural production will also ensure the continent is food secure.
Agriculture
in Africa is based on small scale farming. Farmers mainly grow
food for domestic consumption. Cash crop farming is heavily complemented by subsistence farming so
as to maximize
land utilization.
Only a paltry 25% of the land in Africa is
under constant annual cultivation. On average, agriculture accounts for
40% of Africa's total foreign currency earnings according to a report by the Climate Emergency Institute, which cites the U.N's Food and Agriculture Organization (F.A.O) for the data.
The U.N. puts the percentage of the African work force that is employed in Agriculture at 67% and this is the group responsible for contributing roughly 20% of the continent's gross domestic product (G.D.P).
The U.N. puts the percentage of the African work force that is employed in Agriculture at 67% and this is the group responsible for contributing roughly 20% of the continent's gross domestic product (G.D.P).
In
the vast arid and semi-arid areas of Africa where the land can not
support any meaningful form of crop production, livestock raring is practiced. But cattle raring is more than just an economic activity in these areas. Aside from producing milk, meat and hide, cattle raring is a status symbol.
In recent years, communities in arid areas have started to seriously look into the potential of irrigation farming. This perhaps is a sign that cattle farming is diminishing in value. It could also mean communities in these areas are exploring ways of bolstering their source of income. But the bright side of this is that a shift from livestock farming to crop farming will increase the area of land under cultivation.
In recent years, communities in arid areas have started to seriously look into the potential of irrigation farming. This perhaps is a sign that cattle farming is diminishing in value. It could also mean communities in these areas are exploring ways of bolstering their source of income. But the bright side of this is that a shift from livestock farming to crop farming will increase the area of land under cultivation.
In
order to stimulate economic growth on the continent, African governments
must focus their policies on increasing food production and minimizing losses from crop failure. This should include introducing and encouraging the use of risk
management tools such as crop insurance to minimize crippling losses suffered by
farmers due to
crop failure.
Other ways of boosting food production include; increasing the area of land under cultivation, improving the poor infrastructure in terms of the road network and reliable storage facilities, advocating better farming methods that aim at boosting productivity, promoting research and development especially in technology so as to equip farmers with better farming techniques, investing in training programs that enable farmers to acquire necessary skills, expanding domestic markets and lastly, encouraging governments to adopt a hands–on approach even as they play the role of facilitator.
Other ways of boosting food production include; increasing the area of land under cultivation, improving the poor infrastructure in terms of the road network and reliable storage facilities, advocating better farming methods that aim at boosting productivity, promoting research and development especially in technology so as to equip farmers with better farming techniques, investing in training programs that enable farmers to acquire necessary skills, expanding domestic markets and lastly, encouraging governments to adopt a hands–on approach even as they play the role of facilitator.
Drought is a big threat to agricultural
productivity in Africa. This is characterized by poor and unpredictable
rainfall patterns which lead to crop failure that impedes agricultural
development. Similarly there is too much pressure on the available
arable land, from livestock farming and increased creation of
settlements.
Another threat to the development of agriculture in
Africa comes from the surge in rural urban migration. With improved
literacy levels, young and educated people are moving to cities and large towns in
search of employment leaving old people in the farms.
Global food prices are volatile. The fact that there are very few, relatively small and dispersed domestic markets does not make it any easier for farmers to fetch good incomes from their produce.
African governments have for a very long time ignored the plight of women farmers who are very industrious and shoulder the bulk of farming activities in Africa. Although a lot has changed in terms of legislation, women still cannot inherit land in most African countries. Some backward traditions also prohibit women from working in the farms or generating incomes from farming activities.
The spread of HIV/AIDS is another factor that has impacted negatively on agricultural production by crippling a huge chunk of the available work force.
Global food prices are volatile. The fact that there are very few, relatively small and dispersed domestic markets does not make it any easier for farmers to fetch good incomes from their produce.
African governments have for a very long time ignored the plight of women farmers who are very industrious and shoulder the bulk of farming activities in Africa. Although a lot has changed in terms of legislation, women still cannot inherit land in most African countries. Some backward traditions also prohibit women from working in the farms or generating incomes from farming activities.
The spread of HIV/AIDS is another factor that has impacted negatively on agricultural production by crippling a huge chunk of the available work force.
African
governments have an obligation to help their population increase
agricultural productivity if they are to push the development agenda
forward. Fifty percent of the continent’s population lives below the-1
dollar a day– poverty line according to the United Nations. Twenty five of the poorest countries in the world are in Africa
(mostly sub-Saharan Africa). Yet these figures are
aggravated by factors that Africans themselves can take control of
such as hunger and lack of employment.
It is only through fully realizing the potential of the Agricultural sector that Africa
will liberate its populace. The developed world can also help Africa fight poverty through Agriculture by lowering the high subsidies that they pay to their
farmers at the expense of the African farmer. Africa’s economic growth is dependent on agricultural growth