Africa’s Green Quest
MIMI Africana
Written By: Chief K. Masimba Biriwasha
Photo Credits: None
Caption: None
.
The report emphasizes that the time has come time to place agriculture afresh at the center of the development agenda because
"agriculture and its associated industries are essential to growth and to reducing mass poverty and food insecurity." However, in
sub-Saharan Africa, a combination of technical, economic, social and political challenges have to be overcome to make agriculture
key in reducing extreme poverty and hunger.
.
"Using agriculture as the basis for economic growth in the agriculture-based countries requires a productivity revolution in
smallholder farming," states the report.
.
"To influence Africa's green revolution, a key priority is to increase the assets of poor households, make smallholders—and
agriculture in general—more productive, and create opportunities in the rural nonfarm economy that the rural poor can seize," adds
the report.
.
Political willingness will be critical to making agriculture a source of empowerment for the often-marginalized rural smallholder
farmers.
Also, Africa needs to take advantage of the available new technologies to boost its agricultural productivity. Although Africa can
learn from the agricultural systems of other continents in the world, it is clear that a new paradigm will have to emerge in the
continent—a new paradigm that takes into account the challenges such as climate change, as well as the new opportunities
presented by technology.
MIMI Africana
Written By: Chief K. Masimba Biriwasha
Photo Credits: None
Caption: None
.
The report emphasizes that the time has come time to place agriculture afresh at the center of the development agenda because
"agriculture and its associated industries are essential to growth and to reducing mass poverty and food insecurity." However, in
sub-Saharan Africa, a combination of technical, economic, social and political challenges have to be overcome to make agriculture
key in reducing extreme poverty and hunger.
.
"Using agriculture as the basis for economic growth in the agriculture-based countries requires a productivity revolution in
smallholder farming," states the report.
.
"To influence Africa's green revolution, a key priority is to increase the assets of poor households, make smallholders—and
agriculture in general—more productive, and create opportunities in the rural nonfarm economy that the rural poor can seize," adds
the report.
.
Political willingness will be critical to making agriculture a source of empowerment for the often-marginalized rural smallholder
farmers.
Also, Africa needs to take advantage of the available new technologies to boost its agricultural productivity. Although Africa can
learn from the agricultural systems of other continents in the world, it is clear that a new paradigm will have to emerge in the
continent—a new paradigm that takes into account the challenges such as climate change, as well as the new opportunities
presented by technology.
