Agricultural technology can turn African Savannah into global food basket – African Development Bank

Press release

The African Development Bank has determined that the African Savannah can support the production of maize, soybean, and livestock, and transform the continent into a net exporter of these commodities

IOWA, United States of America, October 25, 2018/ -- The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) is championing a new regional and global effort to transform the African Savannah from a “Sleeping Giant” to the cradle of the continent’s green revolution.

“This sleeping giant needs to wake up,” the Bank’s Vice-President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Jennifer Blanke, told an audience at a 2018 World Food Prize side event in Des Moines, Iowa last week.  Blanke described Africa’s nearly 400 million hectares of Savannah zones as “the world’s largest agricultural frontier,” and if a small fraction of that cultivatable land – some 16 million hectares - is transformed, it could well set Africa up to decrease dependence on food imports, feed itself and contribute to feeding the world.

Africa is host to 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, but currently spends an estimated US$35 billion per year on importing food. This figure is projected to shoot up to US$110 billion by 2025. Africa is importing what it should actually be producing: 22 million metric tons of maize, two million metric tons of soybean, one million metric tons of broiler meat and 10 million metric tons of milk product each year. This situation is made worse when African countries export raw goods outside the continent to be processed into consumer products imported back into Africa for purchase. In essence, Africa is exporting jobs outside the continent, and contributing to Africa’s poverty challenges.

The African Development Bank has determined that the African Savannah can support the production of maize, soybean, and livestock, and transform the continent into a net exporter of these commodities. Only ten percent of the African Savannah is under cultivation – better utilized, small sections of Africa’s grasslands could provide direct jobs for tens of millions of young people and indirect jobs for many more.

Blanke, who spoke on behalf of African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, noted that all of Africa’s Savannah is more than twice as large as Brazil’s “Cerrados” that launched that country’s farming economy success. She said transforming a small part of Africa’s mixed woodland grasslands, in a smart and sustainable way, can produce enough to supply all the continent’s maize, soybean, and livestock requirements.

Brazil transformed its tropical Cerrados into a US$54 billion food industry within two decades through skillful development of production technologies for new crop and livestock varieties; innovative soil and crop management programs adapted to the tropics; wide-scale dissemination of new agricultural technologies; low interest loans, and ambitious rural development programs.
The Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation for the Savannahs (TAAT-S) initiative seeks to transform 16 million Ha out of Africa’s 400 million Ha of Savannah into an agribusiness hive for the production of maize, soybean, and livestock. That is just about four percent of the continent’s mixed woodland and grassland areas. If African countries can harness the available technologies with the right policies, they will rapidly raise agricultural productivity and incomes for farmers, as well as assure lower food prices for consumers.

Vice President Blanke led a Bank delegation selling the merits of its TAAT-S initiative at the World Food Prize gathering. The Bank’s TAAT-S session discussed training, innovation, entrepreneurship, and policy support for transformation of African Savannahs.

To ensure effective implementation, the Bank has looked to Brazil’s agri-business success story to engage with organizations with proven track record in tropical and conservation agriculture. These include the Brazilian Research Corporation and the Agricultural Corporation of Brazil, the Argentine Association of Zero-tillage, and the Argentine Agricultural Research Institute – all part of a systematic effort at technology introduction and adaptation.

TAAT-S was launched in October 2017 in Ghana and has since been operating in Zambia, Guinea and Gabon. The Bank expects to launch TAAT-S in Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Mozambique next year.

When TAAT-S is fully implemented, Africa can expect to double its maize production from a current 50 million metric tons per annum to 100 million metric tons, to triple soybean production from less than three million metric tons to nine million metric tons, and to double livestock production from 8.5 million metric tons to 16 million metric tons by 2025.

The TAAT-S session was part of Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium, held in conjunction with the World Food Prize Laureate Ceremony. The US$250,000 World Food Prize recognizes accomplishments of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world. African Development Bank President Adesina is the 2017 World Food Prize laureate.

Oxfam reads climate report and looks at Africa

Oxfam press release (edited)

Yesterday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report detailing progress and pathways to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Since Africa remains the continent with the highest Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU), affecting almost 21 percent of the population (more than 256 million people) [i], it is natural to be concerned about how this continent is affected. Oxfam's response follows:

"A hotter Africa is a hungrier Africa. Today at only 1.1 degrees of warming globally, crops and livestock across the region are being hit and hunger is rising, with poor small scale women farmers, living in rural areas suffering the most. It only gets worse from here. To do nothing more and simply follow the commitments made in the Paris Agreement condemns the world to 3 degrees of warming. The damage to our planet and humanity would be exponentially worse and irreparable.

"None of this is inevitable. What gives us hope is that some of the poorest and lowest emitting countries are now leading the climate fight. We've moved from an era of 'you first' to 'follow me' - it's time for the rich world to do just that. Oxfam calls for increased, responsible and accountable climate finance from rich countries that supports small scale farmers, especially women to realize their right to food security and climate justice". 

Fluctuations in agricultural production due to climate variations along with inefficient agricultural systems cause food insecurity, one of the most obvious indicators of poverty.  The 2016 El Niño phenomenon, which was super charged by the effects of climate change, crippled rain-fed agricultural production and left over 40 million people foods insecure in Africa. Without urgent action to reduce global emissions, the occurrence of climate shocks and stresses in the Africa region are expected to get much worse.

• On 5 July this year, Africa is likely to have registered its hottest reliable record temperature in Ouargla, northern Algeria, of 51.3C (124.3F).[ii]
• There is mounting evidence that higher temperatures linked to climate change have worsened drought and humanitarian disaster in East Africa, including last year’s drought which left over 13 million people dangerously hungry.[iii]
• Even at 1.5 degrees of warming, climate impacts in West Africa would be devastating. Wheat yields could fall by up to 25 percent,[iv] and at 1.5 degrees Lagos in Nigeria could become a newly heat stressed city like Delhi in India.[v]
• In sub-Saharan Africa 1.5 degrees warming by the 2030s could lead to about 40 percent of present maize cropping areas being no longer suitable for current cultivars, and significant negative impacts on sorghum suitability are projected. Under warming of less than 2 degrees by the 2050s, total crop production could be reduced by 10 percent.[vi]
• At 2 degrees of warming heat extremes never experienced before could affect 15 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s land area in the hot season,[vii] causing deaths and threatening farmers’ ability to grow crops.
• If global temperature rises by more than 2 degrees by the end of the century, by 2050 this could see daytime temperatures in North Africa (and the Middle East) rise to 46 degrees on the hottest days, which can be deadly.[viii]

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[i] Africa remains the continent with the highest Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU), affecting almost 21 percent of the population (more than 256 million people). FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2018) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018. Building climate resilience for food security and nutrition. Rome, FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/I9553EN/i9553en.pdf  
[ii] BBC Online 14 July 2018, Five places that have just broken heat records https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-44779367 

[iii] Carty T. (2017) A Climate in Crisis: How climate change is making drought and humanitarian disaster worse in East Africa. Oxfam media brief https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/climate-crisis  

[iv] Schleussner, C.-F. et al. (2016) Differential climate impacts for policy-relevant limits to global warming: the case of 1.5 °C and 2 °C, Earth System Dynamics 7, 327-351, page 337 https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-7-327-2016

[v] Tom K. R. et al. (2017) Communicating the deadly consequences of global warming for human heat stress, PNAS April 11, 2017 114 (15) p3861-3866, Page 3863 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1617526114   

[vi] World Bank (2013) Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience, page XVIII https://bit.ly/1aplL4R  

[vii] World Bank (2013) Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience, page XXVI https://bit.ly/1aplL4R

[viii] Lelieveld, J. et al (2016) Climatic Change, Volume 137, p245-260  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-016-1665-6  

Find the Agri Handbook's climate change chapter here.

US delegation to meet interested SA companies

South African companies will have the opportunity to engage with a delegation from the USA at the end of October. During prescheduled one-on-one business meetings, people will have "the opportunity to identify new suppliers and partnerships according to their requirements, and establish suitable alternatives to integration processes in the international market. Participating South African companies should be actively engaged in distribution, retail, trading, importing or be acting as a purchasing representative". The following sectors are represented, and a link given to the corresponding chapters in the Agri Handbook:

• Alcoholic beverages [Wine]
• Fruit & vegetables [find chapters like vegetables, citrus fruit etc in the horticulture volume]
• Nuts & nut products [tree nuts, macadamia nuts]
• Organics / natural products [chapters like Organic farming and Biocontrol]
• Animal genetics & livestock development
• Meat & poultry [Beef, mutton, ostriches, pork, poultry, abattoirs]
• Agri-services [ see the chapters in the services & technology volume]
• Grains, pulses & lentils [see the agronomy volume]
• Consumer-ready goods [see the adding value volume
• Agricultural implements & equipment [find chapters in the mechanisation volume]

Queries can be directed to Kgaogelo Mabina at kgaogelo [at] africainfo.co.za.

A Permaculture Garden for The Farm Community

At the SanLucar citrus farm in Rooihoogte (Western Cape), the company promotes long-term agriculture - an inspiring project that not only provides fresh and healthy food, but also offers new perspectives.

Alphonso´s working day begins at dawn: Under loud clucking he gets his hens going. Their mobile coop is located in a garden that is unusual - and new. It is a "permaculture garden" set up on the Rooihoogte citrus farm run by SanLucar, an international premium brand for fruit and vegetables, near Porterville.

In harmony with people and nature, Permaculture stands for permanent agriculture. Through natural gardeners working on the project processes, a self-sustaining ecosystem is created that provides fresh and healthy food for the community living on the citrus farm. The residents take care of the cultivation of the garden. Produce gets sold at the Rooihoogte farm shop, which is collectively owned by the farming community.

Eugenie Grobler, who steers the community development journey at Rooihoogte explains: Our approach is to identify projects that will address multiple needs at the same time to maximize impact. Our development approach resonates with the permaculture approach of seeking ways to promote self-sustaining ecosystems to take root. The combination of a community owned shop and garden makes sense. Not only can we provide top quality nutritious fruit and vegetables year round, we can also do this at a low cost. The profit from sales goes back to the community and we are learning how to grow food in harmony with nature. But that's not all: "With this garden we build community as we work and dream together. Especially for the younger ones we create an exciting task to develop the skills necessary for the management of such a project. It may even help young people to earn a living in the future."

Our chickens are important members of the community! The chickens help to get the garden free of weeds and provide wholesome, fresh eggs. The permaculture garden fosters the quality of life of the employees and their families, within the SanLucar sustainability program d.r.e.a.m.s. (developing responsible engagement and multicultural societies).

Long-term agriculture – without the use of chemicals

“In harmony with people and nature“: according to this concept, SanLucar has been growing mandarins, clementines, lemons and baby figs in Rooihoogte since 2011. The permaculture garden however, is still a very young project. Chemical auxiliaries are not used. The organic fertilizer, for example, consists of plant compost and chicken manure. In addition, certain herbs and vegetables between other crops keep pests away. "The diversity of plant species with different smells and textures confuse pests and lessen their impact," says Kobus Kritzinger, a permaculture expert who leads the permaculture-training project at Rooihoogte. Certain plants complement each other particularly well: tomatoes thrive when combined with basil, parsley or coriander. Onions (Allium) for example, grow well with cabbages (Brassicaceae). Perennial herbs should be cultivated under fruit trees, especially near annuals, advises Kobus. I creates a permanent habitat for insects and birds that help against pests. Even particular weeds perform useful functions such as fixing nitrogen, protecting the soil and controlling pests”.

Healthy and fresh food for the farm community

Ten residents of Rooihoogte build up the core of the garden team formed by volunteers. In the meantime, the garden that was founded in 2017, is bearing its first fruits: pumpkin, spinach, lettuce and beetroot, broccoli, passion fruit and Cape gooseberries. The harvest will help to meet the needs of the crèche and the farm's community shop. Alphonso will soon have competition, as we are busy constructing a second chicken coop. Eventually we aim to provide the shop with three dozen eggs a day.

Beetroot turns into furniture 

The d.r.e.a.m.s. program helps SanLucar employees to realize their personal dreams. Voluntary community work on projects, for instance the permaculture garden, is paid for by SanLucar - not in cash, but with credits to a personal d.r.e.a.m.s. savings account. One of the garden volunteers, Jaco, is saving towards new furniture for his home. Eugenie explains: “During the last six years, SanLucar has been renovating and upgrading the homes on the farm. This year, Jaco’s home is one of five houses being renovated. The original house consisted of three rooms; a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Now it is being transformed into a two bedroomed home with a bathroom, living room, kitchen and stoep. Jaco is super excited about his new home and is saving through d.r.e.a.m.s. to upgrade the interior as well." This is how Beetroot turns into furniture," says Eugenie with a smile.

 “The permaculture garden in Rooihoogte is still in its infancy. However, the progress is encouraging - and inspiring for everyone involved. We still have a lot to learn and are very interested in exchanging experiences”, explains Eugenie Grobler. “We also have many stories to share. Whoever wants to contact us, go for it!”

Find the "Permaculture", "Citrus", "Vegetables" and "Poultry" chapters in the Agri Handbook.

Questions to ask when you're about to grow crops

@gsafarmerdev tweets on training by Johan Kriel from Grain SA. Workshops revolve around asking and answering some questions. The questions are practical and very worthy, and we reproduce them here:

What?

What is the crop you want to plant? Can it be grown successfully in your district? Do farmers still plant it now or have they planted it in the past 3 seasons? Are they making a profit?

When?

 Do you know the planting date, the cut – off date for planting? Soil preparation time? Dry times, very hot times, frost time?

Why?

Why this crop? What is the possible price? Is there a good market? Where will you sell? Do you have an alternative plan in place for your product?

How?

How do you prepare your soil? Have the lands been resting, follow land unused for long? Are there compaction layers? Can you do the work in time to conserve enough moisture? Do you have production capital, equipment?

Where?

Where on your farm will you plant this crop? Have you checked the potential of your soil? Soil depth, texture, and colour? Do you have a recent soil sample result? Can you interpret it?

Who?

Whom do you buy inputs from, which company? Do you know how to get a quotation, compare price & product? Where will you store your inputs? Who will do the contracting work for you? Is he to be trusted?

Agricultural teams at banks, associations and other role players can advise farmers on how much land is needed to produce a particular commodity to be profitable, and to give other advice. These role players are listed in the "Emerging farmer support" chapter. Overviews are also given of all horticultural, industrial and agronomic crops as well as the livestock options

Google searches and farm murders

We are working our way through the chapters of the Agri Handbook, doing a general check on links and updating information. This morning we picked up where we left off yesterday, the “Berries & exotic fruits” chapter.

Subsequent to the 2011 edition we make only the occasional use of the telephone, looking instead for an internet presence to confirm contact details, a role player’s own website being the healthiest verification. Other useful results include social media profiles, Yellow Pages (and other) listings, news articles and court cases. 

We got to Mooiberge Farms. The top two results were “Mooiberge, the Farmstall best know for the strawberries and the Legion of Scarecrows deployed in the surrounding strawberry fields” and “For those eager to linger a little longer and return home with more than just lush berries, the much-loved on-site Mooiberge Farm Stall stocks everything from ...” And then, there at third place was “Mooiberge Strawberry farmer killed in robbery”.

No further work was done for several minutes. The loss was almost personal, like someone we had known personally.

There are those who see farm murders as part of an orchestrated campaign, and the gruesome, disproportionate violence meted out in some cases does appear to point to something beyond casual burglaries gone wrong. Others maintain that farm attacks are part of a wider picture of crime; that it is not helpful to make some victims more special than others.

With the average South African farmer being 62-years old, the need to encourage younger blood is obvious. This is a difficult ask when life as a farmer in South Africa is one of the most dangerous professions there is. As sobering as this is the fact that 40% of the working-age population is without any (legal) profession whatsoever, being unemployed or discouraged job seekers.

The country as a whole faces some major challenges, but until we realise that we are all in this together we will not make any progress that is real.

Showing learners the way

The Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre newsletter contains news of an agricultural excursion for grade 12 learners from four schools: Iingcinga Zethu Secondary School, Skurweberg Sekondêr, Ceres Sekondêr and Wolseley Sekondêr. They were given a day's practical demonstration of what studying agriculture involves.

Photo used courtesy of Hortgro and the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre

Visits to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) agricultural campus, Elsenburg, the South African Plant Improvement Organisation (SAPO) Trust and Fruitfly Africa were undertaken.

The tour was arranged by the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre and industry association Hortgro. Congratulations! The average age of farmers worldwide is inceasing: in South Africa it is 62-years old; in the USA 58-years old. Every attempt should be made to increase the number of those entering this sector as a career.

Agricultural education & training and careers and employment are two chapters in the Agri Handbook. Both chapters can be downloaded free under the "Shop" option on the website.