Boosting Farm Productivity in Africa Through the Sustainable Use of Machines

New African Union-FAO framework also aims to create new jobs while reducing reliance on manual labor

FAO and the African Union launched a new framework document that aims to increase agricultural efficiency and reduce drudgery by helping countries in Africa to develop strategies for sustainable farm mechanization.

The Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa (SAMA) is the result of discussions with policy makers from AU member states, the AU Commission, FAO and key partners. It offers a detailed look at the history of machinery in Africa, and points the way towards addressing challenges and creating new opportunities to assure the successful adoption of mechanization.

“Doubling agricultural productivity and eliminating hunger and malnutrition in Africa by 2025 will be no more than a mirage unless mechanization is accorded utmost importance,” AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Josefa Sacko, said at the launch of the framework at FAO.

Remarkably more than three-fourths of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa prepare their lands using only hand tools, a practice that entails poor productivity, repels youth and is incompatible with the continent’s Zero Hunger goal.

Read more ...

Is Agriculture Kenya’s Golden-egg Layer WHY ARE FARMERS POOR?

Kenyan farmers produce enormous wealth for the country yet are largely poor. They must reject the farming model that keeps them perpetually poor, indebted, frustrated into alcoholism, domestic violence and seek trade justice. Crops grown on African farms are sold in retail outlets in Europe and the Middle East, while the aroma of coffee, tea and cocoa grown in her fields fills the air in most coffee and confectionery shops, outside of which the scent of flowers grown with her water fills the sidewalks.

Yet, the African small scale farmers that produce these valuable products of perpetual global demand are poor - food insecure, living in dilapidated dwellings without adequate water or sanitation, unable to pay for health care or education and unable to retire from farming as they lack a pension and other social protections. While Kenya exports coffee, tea, flowers and other horticultural produce, many Kenyan households, including those of small scale farmers are food insecure – cannot afford three meals a day. 30 percent of Kenya’s children are malnourished and Kenya is a net importer of good crops, mainly grains such as maize, rice and wheat.

Read more ...

Existing Soil Constraints vs Wheat/Barley in Narok

Healthy soils help grow our food, clean our water, store carbon, and reduce risks of droughts and floods.

Narok is one among the big grain baskets in Kenya. Wheat, maize and barley are among the major cash crops grown in the area. Production of the above mentioned crops is in medium to large scale and rainfed. However, over the years, yield realized in tonnes per hectare (t/ha or bags/ ha) varies with famers despite replication of similar practices. As per the farmers growing wheat and barley in the area, yield vary from one farmer to another which means existence of an imperative scenario. Some people have suggested that this may be attributed to different crop husbandry and soil fertility management practices. Most commonly mentioned factors include: land tenure system, type of seed, soil correction where applicable and proper use of fertilizer in terms of composition, rates of application and timing. In trying to understand factors causing dwindling/varying yields, farmers and other interested parties have employed tools to precisely identify the major contributing factors. Soil testing is the is key to accurate and precise use of fertilizer. The tool seeks to reveal soil chemical, biological and physical characteristics from which useful information is deduced and the best management practices (BMPs) are recommended.

Read more ...