A Green Revolution for Africa is possible

What you need to know:

  • The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) is working across the entire value chain, connecting the dots and actors, from farm to fork.
  • The main aim of Agra’s existence is triggering a Green Revolution in Africa.

As Kenya’s population swells rapidly towards the 50 million mark, its ability to feed its people becomes more important than ever.

The key ingredients to doing this are all available.

World-class technical manpower in agricultural and related fields, sizeable tracts of arable land, a readily available work force and an ever-growing consumer base are among some of the ingredients towards feeding its people.

Although increasing agricultural productivity is important, it must go hand-in-hand with effective management of the resulting harvest, be it through proper grading and storage or processing.

Furthermore, agriculture for food security and income generation must be promoted as a viable enterprise and not just a pastime or a way of life.

Enterprising farmers are proving that this can be done as shown by college graduates who are converting their farms into their “offices” and creating winning enterprises; from cassava farming and processing to chicken and livestock feed production.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) is working across the entire value chain, connecting the dots and actors, from farm to fork.

The main aim of Agra’s existence is triggering a Green Revolution in Africa.

Of great concern is to increase both the productivity and profitability of farming for millions of smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.

Agra’s focus on seeds, soils, markets, and enabling policies is proving to be a winning combination for smallholder farmers.

Over the past eight years, Agra’s Program for Africa’s Seed Systems has invested money in breeding, training, seed production and marketing in Kenya.

All these we do to ensure farmers have the absolute best seed they can possibly have for growing their crops.

One may ask why Agra is so interested in seed yet agriculture is not just about seed. The answer is simple, Africa needs a Green Revolution and this will begin with new seed.

A look around the world at the major Green Revolutions that have taken place can attest to this.

SUSTAINED GROWTH

Food security in any country is hinged on the introduction of new, high-yielding varieties of the wide range of crops that farmers cultivate.

With the right mix of investments and incentives, we can achieve sustained growth in agricultural productivity.

These results have been achieved at country level, and in the case of Kenya, at county level.

To make this quantum leap in agricultural productivity and profitability, smallholder farmers do not need complex science; they need productivity-enhancing solutions contained in seed.

We need solutions that will enable increased yields, tolerate drought and resist diseases and pests — attributes that will be increasingly important as climate change progresses.

Agra is working with Kenyan seed producers to set up viable enterprises that meet local smallholder farmers’ needs.

These start-up companies are fulfilling a crucial role in increasing the accessibility by smallholders to quality certified seed of various staple crops.

A number of crucial questions still remain unanswered: How do we ensure that our farmers get enough quantities of the right quality seed in time for planting?

How can they get the seed at the right price? How do we do away with unscrupulous businessmen who sell fake seeds?

How do we accelerate the release of new crop varieties to farmers?

A simple answer to these questions will lead to a food-secure nation.

It is time we worked together in a coordinated manner with all sector players, including smallholder farmers, seed enterprises, agro-dealers, government regulatory agencies, and policy makers.

Dr DeVries is the director, Program for Africa’s Seed Systems at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra)