The future of agriculture in Africa

The Future of Agriculture in AFRICA It's arguably the lifeblood of the African economy.... It employs It makes up 70% 30% of the workforce of GDP Yet there is a sustainability crisis at the heart of the country's economy, as it cannot afford to feed itseſf. Agriculture remains very underdeveloped in South Africa , with huge plots of land being under- utilised. Why is Africa falling behind? Low Productivity Unutilised Land Poor Infrastructure Arguably the key cause of Africa's poor performance Africa has large tracts of unused land. A lack of roads mean that farmers cannot connect to markets. This is partially due to low levels of technological investment. There are 400 million acres of land in Africa suitable for cultivation - 10% is used. As much as 50% of harvests across the African continent can be lost Culture/values Geography Diseases Certain African practices have been harmful, e.g. pastoralist communities who view large herds as a source of prestige. Africa's climate makes it difficult to make a success of agriculture, due to it being at the mercy of erratic/inadequate rain and problematic soil. Dehabilitating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tapeworm and tapeworm have affected the productivity of the human labour force. Factors which will affect the future of South African farming Demographic change. The population of Africa is expected to rise to 1.2 billion by 2050. This will put further pressure on food security and nutrition. Business Background Water Africa is a continent with an abundant water supply, yet there are problems with regional balance. Irrigation and deforestation are expected to further exacerbate this problem. Growing demand for land Climate change There is a sudden rush to secure agricultural land as the world's population grows closer to 9 billion. This is especially true of the developing economies such as China & India. Future water challenges will be further complicated by climate change, since much of sub- Saharan Africa depends on rain- fed agriculture. This makes it highly vulnerable to climate change. Growing liberalisation of global trade Changing perceptions of agriculture Globalisation offers agricultural producers access to wider markets. Poorer countries may not reap the rewards of these benefits, yet could significantly boost agricultural production Consumers are becoming more concerned about sustainability issues, e.g. a growing market for organic food. Potential solutions More investment in green technology Search for new farming models. Agricultural diversification Sound agricultural policy on the part of government, including land reform & public investment Agriculture as a vehicle for transformation across Africa. Encouraging more private sector investment. Sources: http://www.bu.edu/pardee/files/2011/11/15-PP.pdf?PDF=pardee-papers-15-africa Created by http://www.arwald.co.za/