Africa

Female subsistence farmers, who according to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa form more than 70 percent of farmers in Africa. Last week USAID announced $70 million of investment into research for new seeds and methods to reduce the impact of droughts and disease on crops across the developing world. Credit: Busani Bafana/IPS

By James Reinl
DES MOINES, United States , Oct 21 2019 (IPS)

Experts vaunted new strains of seeds, drone aircraft and other technological breakthroughs as solutions-in-the-making for farmers in Africa, where hunger, drought and food price hikes are continent-wide problems.

At the gathering of nutritionists in the 2019 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium, held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States, hopes were pinned on a new generation of so-called ‘agro-entrepreneurs’ in Africa.

At the event, USAID administrator Mark Green announced $70 million of investment into research for new seeds and methods to reduce the impact of droughts and disease on crops across the developing world.

“Humanitarian assistance, including food assistance, is treatment, not cure,” said Green. “We must develop new technologies and partnerships that will not only assist displaced families in crisis settings, but offer them livelihood opportunities wherever they can find them.”

The three-day gathering, which ended on Friday, saw some 1,200 experts, policy chiefs, executives and farmers from more than 65 countries tackle food scarcity and price hikes — blights that disproportionately hurt sub-Saharan Africa.

Jennifer Blanke, vice president for agriculture human and social development at the African Development Bank (AfDB) said Africa “missed out” on the green revolution that bumped up harvests across Asia and Latin America in the 1950s and 1960s.

But with new technologies — from unmanned “drone” aircraft to new strains of more resilient crop seeds — coming online, African farmers and policymakers have an opportunity to get agriculture back on track and boost harvests.

“You can do so many things with technology,” said Blanke.

“With drones, you can survey your fields in a minute, which would have taken hours and hours previously. You can spray pesticides. Satellite technology allows you to see what’s happening to weather systems. Basic mobile technology helps farmers in rural areas know what prices they can get for their food.”

In the coming months, Blanke aims to bring together researchers, policymakers and investors to foster helpful policies and roll out schemes to buy and spread technology as well as training farmers and officials how to use it.

Dozens of young African entrepreneurs traveled to Des Moines to network, woo investors and brainstorm ideas for addressing Africa’s worrying problem of producing enough food for a growing population.

They included Ifeoluwa Olatayo, from Nigeria, who was awarded a fellowship from the World Hunger Fighters Foundation, for building small hydroponic farms on rooftops in Ibadan, in Oyo State, for growing lettuce, cucumbers and other vegetables

“Since we’re planting in close proximity to consumers, we’re able to create fast and easy access to nutritious foods while at the same time lessening the impact of transportation on the whole agricultural value chain,” said Olatayo.

“It’s important that people have access to nutritious foods, as affordable and as fresh as possible.” 

Other agro-entrepreneurs are tackling another problem for African farmers — the fact that, thanks to bad roads, poor transport and other woes, entire harvests rot beside the fields they were grown in and never reach market.

Other start-ups involve distributing new varieties of seeds that are more resilient to insects and disease, yield bigger harvests, provide more nutrients, and in some cases taste better than the crops they are replacing.

Lourena Arone Maxwell, from Mozambique, which has been ravaged by disease and droughts since cyclones Idai and Kenneth killed more than 600 people earlier this year, is focussed on fighting crop diseases.

“Plant diseases can reduce the amount of food that farmers have and the solution is a very affordable and environmentally-friendly method to control them,” Maxwell said on the sidelines of an event to honour the first batch of fellows.

Related Articles

• Ghana’s Grains and Groundnuts Face Increasing Contamination Amid Increasing Temperatures
• How to ‘Fix the Business of Food’ and Save the Planet

The post Agro-tech Offers Answers for African Farmers at Iowa Meet appeared first on Inter Press Service.

'Women's Time' is a radio programme changing the lives of women in Malawi.

A recent call from Sudan that Jewish people could return shines a light on a once thriving community.

Sampdoria and England Under-21s midfielder Ronaldo Vieira was the target of monkey chants from Roma fans in their 0-0 draw in Serie A.

With a police investigation under way, Haringey chairman Aki Achillea describes the abandonment of their FA Cup match against Yeovil amid reports of racial abuse by fans as 'soul-destroying'.

South Africa end Japan's dream World Cup run to reach the semi-finals with a bruising win against the hosts.

Nigeria are shock African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying casualties after an aggregate defeat to Togo as holders Morocco reach Cameroon 2020.

In the largest haul of its kind in more than a century, 30 mummies have been unearthed in Egypt.

The US government has banned the import of rough diamonds, but Zimbabwe says the claims are unfounded.

Brenda suffers from pica, an eating disorder which leads to cravings of non-food items.

Women's marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei says her difficult childhood keeps her on track.

Emoji obsessed? Meet O’Plerou Grebet, who has made over 350 emojis with African cultural references.

An FA Cup tie is abandoned after Haringey Borough's manager takes his team off the field amid accusations of racism.

Debutants Angola are hoping to cause an upset in Brazil as they finalise their 21-man squad for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup.

The poll was marred by violence and fraud, says the main opposition party, Renamo.

Nigeria are aiming for a sixth title as they announce a final 21-man squad for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Brazil later this month.

Japan are not satisfied by reaching their first World Cup quarter-final, says flanker Lappies Labuschagne before their tie against South Africa.

Swing Debôrah Godchaser takes us behind the scenes as the show celebrates 20 years in London's West End.

Recent events involving Nigeria's President Buhari and his wife hint at tensions in the presidential villa.

Women discuss issues from domestic violence to career advice in the million-strong Facebook group.