The Agricultural Revolution Has Not Yet Come to Pass in Africa

The agricultural industry in Africa often relies on archaic methods,  and is generally plagued by the absence of agri-business companies. The progress made by the continent in this regard has been disappointing according to experts, especially since agricultural development is proven to play a key role in alleviating poverty and promoting self-sufficiency, two elements that are indispensable for sustainable development.

Agriculture trop souvent archaïque, quasi-absence d'industrie agro-alimentaire: les progrès du continent africain dans le secteur agricole sont décevants, estiment des experts, malgré son rôle capital pour éradiquer la pauvreté et garantir l'auto-suffisance alimentaire, indispensables à un développement durable.

This article has been translated from French. Click here to read the original article on Slate Afrique

"Since 1990, agricultural productivity in China has grown 133% compared to our 38%, which is not even enough to properly sustain those who people were born during said period", explains the Head of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (CEA), Carlos Lopez, using the 23rd African Union Summit as a backdrop.  The Summit, whose official theme is "agriculture and nutritional self-sufficiency", takes   place on Thursday and Friday in Malabo.

Developing the agricultural sector remains a key challenge for the continent.  Two thirds of Africans subsist through agriculture, which has yet to develop into a self-sufficient industry capable of creating exports — despite its potential to do so.

Despite the large variety of agricultural practices and arable land that exist on the continent, Africa still generates the smallest agricultural yields in the world.

These delays can be principally explained by the fact that Africans, generally speaking, have little access to technology, and because many of the continent's land and resources remain largely untapped.

"We have come a long way though, agriculture was neglected for a long time (…) but farmers are now getting organized and marketing channels are improving", insists African Union Commissioner Rhoda Peace Tumusiime.

"Attitudes have to change"

Despite these statements of intent, many countries still refuse invest in agriculture, and fail to allocate even 10% of their national budgets to the agricultural sector, even though the AU has been strongly advocating they do so for over ten years.

In fact, countries that lack mineral resources that are the ones most often playing the agricultural card, even though they don't necessarily possess the most fertile or arable lands.

"It is countries that that do not possess lucrative extraction industries that have had to invest in agriculture" in order to develop their economies, notes International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Ayalneh Bogale in his letter to African heads of state.

Both Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, which possess no mineral or petroleum based industries, have become some of Africa's agricultural success stories.

"Many countries have fertile lands, but do not see agriculture as a viable business option, except as a last resort.  These attitudes have to change", explains Ayalneh Bogale — an agricultural and climate consultant for the African Union.

Yogurt imported for the price of gold

For example, Equatorial Guinea, the host of the 23rd African Union Summit, has barely diversified its economy, and despite its high oil revenues, continues to import the majority of its agricultural products from neighboring Cameroon.

"It's the same thing when it comes to fishing: Malabo — the capital — is situated on an island, but all of the fish is imported from abroad", laments Mr. Bogale.

The destructive conflicts that have dogged certain countries in the region have also played a role in weakening, and even destroying, the agricultural sector and its bases of production.  For example, the six-month long conflict raging in South Sudan has devastated harvests and over 50,000 children risk death from hunger and disease, according to Oxfam.

"Political stability is essential when it comes to developing the agricultural sector", insists Mr. Bogale.

According to experts, the way to make the agricultural sector in Africa take off and start generating jobs, is to create strong agricultural product processing industries all over the continent.

"This is not being done in opposition to agriculture, and does not necessarily have to involve big companies", affirms Carlos Lopez.

"For example, yogurt can be produced at the small business level by using a relatively simple technology.  However, countries like Côte d'Ivoire still import over 70% of their yogurt from abroad".  And Côte d'Ivoire is far from being an isolated case.

Article Translated by Matthew LaLime, Staff Intern with the Africa Program at the Wilson Center

Photo Credit: World Bank via flickr