1 min
Over the last 7 years, every week I have taken time to put my letters together where I raised several issues in the agricultural sector in West Africa (which many are applicable in Africa) and as well as proffer solutions to some of the issues raised. This is done out of love and with the aim that some key stakeholders in the agricultural sector in different countries will stumble on these letters and could take a stand to make some important changes to make agriculture work for the farmers.
Presently, we are still in the mood of celebration -- another year to push towards achieving food security on our continent. Another opportunity and time to intentionally plan for our food sovereignty; not in many words but actionable activities that give concrete results. This is because agriculture is our greatest asset as a continent, with over 874 million hectares (FAO) considered suitable for agricultural production.
Subsequently, there is potential to be food sufficient and also produce food for other continents. Sadly, there is a big problem with this asset (land) we possess. According to FAO, about 83 percent (over 725 million hectares) of the arable land has been depleted (soil degradation) over the years and cannot fully support agricultural production. This has limited the growth of the agricultural sector in Africa, coupled with other factors such as insecurity in some countries, poor seed system, lack of mechanisation, low productivity amongst others. Our reality has limited our potential to grow and develop our agricultural sector. Thus, there is a need to consciously plan for the growth and future of the sector; a blueprint to achieve food security.
This is another time to come together to think about the future of the agricultural sector in Africa and plan through the journey to achieve zero hunger. We cannot use wishful thinking to get out of food insecurity nor through positive words alone without action. We need a blueprint and now is the best time for us to start the work that will take us through our different seasons of progress, growth and development. We cannot afford to miss this time and blame others for our woes. Nobody is coming to save our agricultural sector except us. We have the power to; unify, plan our journey to food security, walk the plan, achieve the plan and sustain the results. Let us make it worth it this time and let us make it work together. Agriculture is our greatest asset, let us make it count.
As we start the year 2025, I wish us a fruitful and prosperous new year.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
Subsequently, there is potential to be food sufficient and also produce food for other continents. Sadly, there is a big problem with this asset (land) we possess. According to FAO, about 83 percent (over 725 million hectares) of the arable land has been depleted (soil degradation) over the years and cannot fully support agricultural production. This has limited the growth of the agricultural sector in Africa, coupled with other factors such as insecurity in some countries, poor seed system, lack of mechanisation, low productivity amongst others. Our reality has limited our potential to grow and develop our agricultural sector. Thus, there is a need to consciously plan for the growth and future of the sector; a blueprint to achieve food security.
This is another time to come together to think about the future of the agricultural sector in Africa and plan through the journey to achieve zero hunger. We cannot use wishful thinking to get out of food insecurity nor through positive words alone without action. We need a blueprint and now is the best time for us to start the work that will take us through our different seasons of progress, growth and development. We cannot afford to miss this time and blame others for our woes. Nobody is coming to save our agricultural sector except us. We have the power to; unify, plan our journey to food security, walk the plan, achieve the plan and sustain the results. Let us make it worth it this time and let us make it work together. Agriculture is our greatest asset, let us make it count.
As we start the year 2025, I wish us a fruitful and prosperous new year.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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Deas Babatunde, I wish your good work to be effective in 2025! May it bear lots of fruit and good harvests!!
Thanks Babatunde, first the identification of willing young people. I am meeting people who are looking for reasons NOT to go to the large African cities. And with good tech and IoT it starts to be doable to have a dignified life in smaller (net connected) rural communities. Secondly, just make sure that the communities profit decidedly more from the projects and products than we do... and teach, learn, instruct... in Kenya there are a lot of good reasons to grow stuff, and do so profitably...
Thank you @peter jens for your comment. A commendable initial you have there. One key thing about initiatives like yours is the ownership; how do you let the host communities own this initiative; seeing it as there own. As regards youths, they are fascinated by technology and they are willing to take up such a challenge to improve agricultural practises. However, not all youths are interested. So, the real one is to identify those who are genuinely interested.
Good start of the year, this article, Babatunde. The African "Youthquake" (By 2050 1 in four people in the world will be African, and 1 in three of all the youths between 15 and 24 years old will
live in Africa.
I am investing the years that rest me in Eastern Africa, trying to "emancipate" and "democratize" food and health practices; empowering farmers and health-practitioners to look back at Traditional Knowledge, understand this knowledge through modern science and come up with local solutions by locals for local issues. (preferably with African owned IP)
The hard question will be probably: What to do with so many young (males). Choose meatgrinders (like wars and conflict?) analogous to what we do with any young male livestock/young plants (CMS), accept cynically a stunningly low (Nigerian) male average lifespan of less than 54 years? Or, in line with your article, Make Agriculture Great and Sexy Again. MAGSA!
My bet is on "Africa", not the US or EU...