AGRA

Food and land use systems stakeholders in Kenya re-affirmed the need for an urgent transformation as the country faces multiple and interconnected challenges in food and nutrition insecurity, land degradation, increasing inequalities and low agriculture output. This follows a 2-day strategy meeting of the FOLU Coalition in Kenya that was held in Naivasha Kenya between 1^st-2^nd November 2022. 

The strategy meeting was convened by AGRA, WRI Africa and GAIN. With around 49 stakeholders drawn from government, county government, private sector, development partners, farmer organizations and civil society organizations, the meeting was a follow up to a workshop that was held in June 2022 that led to the formation of the coalition. The Naivasha meeting was primarily to identify key bottlenecks and prioritise action areas in the food and land use systems in Kenya. 

Josephat Muhunyu, the Agriculture Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, (State Department of Crops) speaking during the official opening of the meeting observed that “Food and Nutrition Security is beyond maize production. Kenya food reserves has expanded beyond maize as an indicator of food security”. He also highlighted, that environmental changes have resulted to increase in pests and diseases such as the locust invasion and the fall army worms outbreak. He further mentioned that 83% of Kenya’ s land is arid, there is. Therefore, need to improve on the production and distribution systems taking into account the reduced and shifting rainfall patterns. He noted that Government recognizes the need for an urgent transformation in Kenya’s food and land use systems to achieve food and nutritional security. He acknowledged the role played by various partners and encouraged the coalition partners to do more in the generation of evidence, development of pilots, to supplement government efforts.

The programme Officer for FOLU Kenya emphasized the opportunities to shape and influence Kenya’s transformation due to the fact that the Coalition was still in its formative stages. Further, FOLU Kenya is part of the larger FOLU global network that is operating in Australia, United Kingdom, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and the Nordics which allows for more South-South learning. 

The coalition in Kenya agreed to prioritize 4 transitions areas – Healthy diets, Productive and regenerative agriculture, Protecting and restoring nature and Food loss and waste towards a sustainable food and land use system. The 4 areas will be complimented by three cross cutting transitions (Local loops & linkages, Digitization, and Gender and Demographics). “The 2^nd strategy meeting is being held at an opportune moment when there is a new government in Kenya that is committed to addressing climate change while ensuring major gains in the agriculture sector” – Jeremiah Rogito FOLU Programme Officer. FOLU Kenya will main operate through as evidence-based advocacy approach to contribute to the achievement of food and nutritional security goals in Kenya. Realizing that agriculture is a devolved function in Kenya, FOLU Kenya will establish action groups at the local level to ensure the goals and aspiration of FOLU are achieved.” He added.

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture (Veronica Kirogo and Jane Wambugu respectively) observed that “…there need for diversification of food production beyond maize production as a measure of food security. With climate change, there is need to diversify the food stapples by promoting and embracing innovations such as biofortification. There exists a wide range of biofortified foods such as the high iron bean, orange fleshed sweet potato and zinc rice that can form a significant part of Kenya’s stapple foods.” Ms. Veronica Kirogo highlighted that Kenya already has policies and legislation that recognises citizens right to adequate food in various documents. The Kenyan Constitution, specifically article 43 (1) (C),  explicitly recognizes the right to ‘adequate food of acceptable quality’ as an integral part of the right of citizens.

Dr Abednego Kiwia, representing AGRA Kenya`s Country Manager highlighted that are already several initiatives in productive and regenerative agriculture and emphasized the need for stronger collaborations for greater impact. Speaking during event, Charles Opiyo from GAIN and James Wangu from WRI Africa also highlighted several initiatives that GAIN and WRI Africa are undertaking towards a sustainable food and land use system in Kenya in the areas of nutrition and natural resources management respectively. They encouraged the participants to enhance local loops for a greater and more sustainable impact. 

The two-day workshop reaffirmed the need for an urgent food and land use systems transformation. Further, the stakeholders affirmed the need to concentrate efforts in the four critical transitions (Healthy diets, productive and regenerative agriculture, protection and restoration of nature and food loss and waste) of FOLU as identified in the FOLU global growing better report. Participants identified the impact pathways for sustainable food and land use system. They also affirmed the need to address cross cutting issues such as gender and demographics, digital revolution and strengthening local loops and linkages. 

Assan Ngombe Resilience officer at AGRA speaking at the close of the strategy meeting highlighted that “it is no doubt that our food and land use systems in Kenya need an urgent transformation. Going forward the FOLU Kenya secretariat (AGRA, WRI Africa and GAIN) will consultatively work towards the development of an action agenda or programme of action for the sustainable food and land use transformation in Kenya which will be launched by March 2023. “This strategy meeting has provided valuable input that will be incorporated in the action agenda that will be launched in March 2023,” he added.

 The FOLU efforts in Kenya acknowledge the support of Norway´s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) through the FOLU global secretariat. Key partners on the ground include WRI Africa that is leading efforts to address food loss and waste and protection and restoration of nature, and GAIN that is leading efforts to address healthy diets.

3rd National Seed Forum
Tomriek Hotel, Accra. November 7 – 10, 2022

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PARTICIPANTS

The Third National Seed Forum, under the theme: “Facilitating Seed Industry through Knowledge, Collaboration and Strategic Planning”, was held in Accra on November 7 – 10, 2022. 

The Forum was organized by the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) and the National Seed Council with support from the Ghana Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (GIAT) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) acting through AGRA, The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) and the Feed the Future (FtF) PolicyLink programme. The forum was attended by participants from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), research institutions, farmer organizations, seed companies, civil society organizations, research institutions and development partners. 

The main outcomes of the Forum were a draft Ghana Seed Sector Strategy and Investment Plan; an enhanced awareness of responsibilities and required skills for actors along the seed value chain; enhanced opportunities that led to effective networking among seed industry players; and discussions that led to the validation of the 2022 TASAI Ghana Country Report. A committee was established to undertake a process of country-wide validation of the draft Ghana Seed Sector Strategy and Investment Plan, which process will give the wider range of seed sector stakeholders in all the Regions an opportunity to make their inputs into the Plan which, at the end, will be submitted to the Minister for adoption by MoFA as an update to the 2015 National Seed Plan.

 At the end of the Forum, the Participants, having considered all the main outcomes and recommendations made in the draft Ghana Seed Sector Strategy and Investment Plan, as well as other issues relating to the current status of the seed industry, its opportunities, constraints and aspirations for the future, adopted, for presentation to the Minister and the key partners of the seed industry, a COMMUNIQUE as follows: 

1. Research, Variety Development and Release 

• Participants recognize the critical role of research and reminded Government of its commitment to implement the Malabo Declaration by which 10% of GDP is to be dedicated to Agricultural development, requesting that at least 1% of the quantum be reserved for the support of varietal research and development.

• Innovative ways, including levying of agricultural imports and commercial transactions on agricultural inputs, in the context of an active Plant and Fertilizer Fund, should be adopted to ensure sustainable funding for varietal research and development.
• Participants also urge that the process of variety release and registration and its adjunct, the National Seed Bank operations, should be properly resourced and technically structured, as per international norms and standards and the process streamlined to cut down on cost and duration to encourage breeders to be more productive and make Ghana a preferred site for corporate variety release in the ECOWAS Region

2. Biotechnology in crop improvement 

• Participants encourage the Government to progressively create the necessary platform for safe and effective use of biotechnology applications and Genetically Modified (GM) crops in the national seed industry as a means of rapidly attaining the national food security goals. In that regard, participants recommended that Government should support the training of all categories of staff in biotechnology, provide infrastructural and logistical support, and support the setting up of laboratories in the appropriately mandated agencies, in their work of unearthing technology innovations to find effective and sustainable solutions to the current global food crisis.

3. Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) (Plant Variety Protection)

• Participants urge the Government to continue to facilitate the implementation of the Plant Variety Protection Act (Act 1050) by enhancing the process of passing the legislative instrument that will establish the Regulations for implementing the Act which is aimed at  encouraging breeders in their work and enhancing the business aspects of the seed industry and farmer confidence as well as boosting agricultural productivity through the development and release of improved varieties, improved seed accessibility and protection of plant genetic products.

4. Data on Seed Sector

• Participants recognize the catalytic role of data and statistics in seed sector development and urge MOFA to take leadership in the establishment of data and database platforms that will enhance the operations of the seed industry. Towards that end, MOFA and the seed industry must partner up in the collation of data so that all information requested might be consistent and accurate regardless of the source. Further, issues relating to data on informal seed sector operations, internet-based technology on seed demand-forecasting, and the establishment of a user-friendly online resource database that incorporates all relevant extension and agricultural training materials must be seriously addressed.

5. Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ)

• Participants advise that Government should endeavour, as a matter of urgency, to settle all arrears for seeds supplied over the past two years under the PFJ program. The non-payment has had a negative impact on seed businesses, impairing ability of seed companies to produce adequately to meet national goals as well as earn enough income for improved livelihoods.
• The NSC and NASTAG should work closely together to develop a post-PFJ marketing strategy that will enhance seed growers’ effective marketing skills in a possible non-subsidized period.

6. Capacity Building within the Seed Sector

• Participants recommend that NASTAG, in cooperation with MoFA and development partners, should prioritize capacity building among all seed industry players, particularly to address the need for adequate knowledge and skills to implement the policy, plans and legislation that govern the industry. Priority issues in that regard are the proper processes to introduce hybrid seed production, training and capacitation of public and private extension officers as well as the capacitation of seed distributors. 
• NASTAG is further urged to cooperate with GSID in joint efforts to train and improve the processes of recruiting seed growers, private seed inspectors and other processes that will enhance the effectiveness of the regulatory work of GSID.
• Further, NASTAG should seek the assistance of MOFA and all other partners to facilitate capacity building in business management, product knowledge and agronomy and scaling for seed distributors to improve sustainability and quality of service provision, drive the establishment of more outlets for farmer access to quality seed, and diversify the supply of crop seed varieties with emphasis on improved varieties.

7. Seed Quality and Certification

• Participants noted the critical role of GSID-PPRSD in certification and urged that adequate resources be allocated to the Division to enhance its regulatory function. In that regard, the expectation is that a properly resourced GSID would be more effective in checking the incidences of adulterated and fake seeds sold to farmers; build the capacity of custom officers to minimize delays in cross border seed movements. and develop seed certification protocols for admitting into seed certification, additional priority scheduled/focus crops, including vegetatively propagated crops.

8. Seed Sector Infrastructure

• Participants noted the sad stage of the national seed infrastructure and lauded the Government’s current effort to rehabilitate the aged public sector seed stores and processing plants sited across the Regions and recommended that Seed Companies should also be assisted with concessionary financing to acquire their own seed storage and processing structure that are in tune with their own requirement. 
• Government may also prioritize allocation of irrigation facilities for deployment by seed companies particularly for off-season seed multiplication and to meet the needs of high value and specialized crop types and varieties. 

9. Seed Regulatory Framework

• Participants accepted that all stakeholders are enjoined to promote the implementation of the protocols of the seed regulatory framework and particularly in the engagement of Public extension agents (AEAs) to be trained as third-party seed certification personnel, training and effective deployment of third party seed certification personnel.
• Participants finally urge Government to provide adequate support to National Seed Council to effectively carry out its mandate of oversight of the seed sector, particularly, overall seed sector planning and coordination

The 3rd National Seed Forum was an outstanding opportunity to enhance dialogue among seed industry stakeholders to facilitate the continuous consultation on emerging issues for the rapid and effective growth of the national seed industry and was an outstanding success which requires the further input from Government and developing partners by way of commitment of needed resources for the sustained implementation towards vibrant and buoyant Seed industry.

Overview of China’s Fertilizer Industry

China is one of the most influential countries in the global fertilizer industry, where it accounts for the largest share of the import and export markets of key fertilizers. However, its manufacture and use of chemical fertilizers is set for reduction as the country targets to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

1. Production and application

China accounts for around one-third of the total quantity of fertilizers consumed globally. Currently, nitrogen and phosphate are its most used agricultural fertilizer elements, followed by potassium, albeit at significantly lower quantities.

Production

China is the world’s largest producer of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. The country is self-sufficient in the resources needed to produce nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers for a relatively solid product pricing basis of the two products, a good portion of which is exported. However, it imports a large portion of its potash, although the country has in the last one decade rapidly grown its mobilization of domestic potash resources to lessen its importation-dependence.

From 2010 to 2015, China’s fertilizer output showed a fluctuating upward trend, peaking at 74.32 million tons in 2015. Impacted by the government’s “Action Plan for Zero Growth of Chemical Fertilizer Use by 2020”, After 2015, the output of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium fertilizers began to show a fluctuating downward trend, dipping over 10% in 2016 and some 11.1% and 8.30% in the next two years, respectively. It climbed 6.1% in 2019, but dropped 0.5% in 2020 to 54.46 million tons.

Application

From 2010 to 2015, the total volume of chemical fertilizer application in China’s agriculture sector increased year-on-year, peaking at 60.23 million tons in 2015. It is at this point that the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the “Action Plan for Zero Growth of Chemical Fertilizer Use by 2020”, leading to a year-on-year decrease in the next five years. China applied 52.51 million tons of agricultural chemical fertilizer in 2020, a 2.83% decline from the previous year, and a 12.25% reduction from 2016.

Types of main fertilizers produced in China

Proportion structure of the output of major products in China’s fertilizer industry in 2020

China’s chemical fertilizer production mostly consists of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. From the output perspective, nitrogen dominates the country’s fertilizer production, making up more than 60% of the total production in 2020, followed by phosphate at 18%, and potassium at 13%.

Industrial clusters

Most of China’s fertilizer is produced in the country’s central and northwest regions. In 2020, Qinghai Province led the production of agricultural nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium fertilizers, reaching 5.231 million tons. It was followed by the Hubei and Henan Provinces, which produced 4.943 million tons and 4.892 million tons of agricultural fertilizers, respectively.

2. Exports and Imports

China’s fertilizer imports

Between 2016 and 2020, the import value of China’s fertilizer sector showed a tendency to grow, before falling in the last year. The total value of chemical fertilizers imported into mainland China in 2021 was around 18 billion yuan, or USD 2.57 billion, an 11% decrease from 2020.

In 2021, China imported fertilizer products from 55 different countries and regions, led by Russia, Canada, Belarus, Norway, and Israel. The Russian Federation accounted for the highest share in China’s imports of fertilizer at 28%. The top 10 countries and regions in terms of total dollar value accounted for more than 90% of the imports.

China’s fertilizer exports

The total export value of China’s fertilizer industry from 2017 to 2020 showed fluctuating growth patterns, peaking at 74 billion yuan or USD10.57 billion in 2021, a 63% increase from the previous year. In 2021, China exported its fertilizers to 159 countries and regions, with India and Brazil yielding over 14 billion yuan or USD2 billion each. The two countries accounted for nearly 40% of the total export value.

Source：

The official website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China: http://www.moa.gov.cn/

Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GPCA), China Fertilizer Industry Outlook

International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Market Intelligence Service, Public Summary – Short-Term Fertilizer Outlook 2021-2022

CIRS, Overview of Fertilizer Regulations in China

Zhang Xian, Yang Yi, Zhu Yuhua, Gao Kuo and Jiang Hao, Analysis of “Going Out” Strategy of China’s Fertilizer Industry Based on the Matching of Global Fertilizer Supply and Demand. World Agriculture, 2019(05):84-90.DOI:10.13856/j.cn11-1097/s.2019.05.013.

Forward Research Institute, Report of Produce Market Demand Forecast and Investment Strategy Planning on China Fertilizer Industry (2022-2027)

Agricultural sector stakeholders in Ghana have expressed confidence that a revised Seed Sector Strategy and Investment Plan currently being drafted will boost the country’s agricultural production. 

A four-day meeting opened in Ghana’s capital Accra on Monday with about 60 seed experts from across the country and the sub-region participating, to draft the new strategy. The new strategy will review the National Seed Plan (2015). The National Seed Plan describes the specific actions to be taken to implement the National Seed Policy which was launched in May 2013. The policy recommends actions the country should take to improve the seed system including research and variety development, seed production, seed marketing, seed entrepreneurship, and the regulatory environment, among other areas. 

The meeting dubbed the 3^rd National Seed Forum is under the theme, “Facilitating the Seed Industry through Knowledge, Collaboration and Strategic Planning.” The Seed Sector Strategy and Investment Plan is expected to strengthen Ghana’s seed industry by promoting the adoption and utilization of certified seed by the country’s farmers.

“The Ghana National Seed Council believes that the forum, with various activities over the next four days, will launch a wonderful period of polishing up to accelerate the industry and address the remaining issues, which will complementarily address the needs of our hardworking farmers, agro-industry, and the consuming public,” said Josiah Wobil, Chairman of Ghana’s National Seed Council. 

Regina Richardson, Programs Officer at AGRA told the meeting, “The 3^rd National Seed Forum is being held at an opportune moment when the seed sector needs to consolidate the gains made and develop sustainable models to address constraints inhibiting the growth of the sector.”

Officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG), The African Seed Access Index (TASAI), and other seed sector stakeholders are participating in the meeting. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, President of NASTAG observed: “Food has become very relevant in Ghana today looking at the economic issues. Food is driving inflation and we have no business sitting down and not looking at our seed sector.” 

Ghana’s seed sector has grown tremendously in the past few years, with the development and availability of improved and locally adapted seed varieties. However, the adoption is still marginal, with just about 30% of the farmers using the improved varieties. The slow pace of adoption is linked to inadequate compliance with seed legislation by various key seed value chain operators, and the disregard of the rules and procedures of the Seed Certification and Standard Regulations. 

Kwasi Wih who is head of the Ghana Seed Inspection Division of Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said stakeholders will ensure that they take advantage of the forum to help improve the seed industry. “Quality seeds are the pre-requisite to successful agriculture and constitute a major pathway for the achievement of national security goals… There is a need to ensure the widespread availability of quality seeds throughout the country. It’s important that institutions and structures required to support the implementation of a good seed system are streamlined and properly equipped and managed to ensure the seed sector plays its required role in the country’s agricultural transformation,” he said. 

The four-day workshop follows a successful deployment of the Seed Systems Analysis Tool (SeedSAT), to analyze the functioning of eight (8) key thematic areas of the national seed system and make prioritized recommendations for interventions to support a robust seed sector. A communique will be issued at the end of the workshop on the way forward in developing the new strategy. AGRA is leading this effort with the support of the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), under the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) umbrella.

Lily Amber Kenny who is Director of the Economic Growth Office at USAID said Ghana’s farmers can be a breadbasket for all of West Africa with the proper financing resources and tools which include seeds and fertilizers. “Insufficient quantities of certified seeds, foundation seeds, and breeder seeds that drive the supply chain are key constraints affecting the growth and competitiveness of the seed sector,” she observed. “As we enter a new phase of programming with AGRA, this event (3^rd National Seed Forum) is very timely, given the circumstances and the challenges farmers have getting improved seeds and inputs. This gathering gives us the perfect opportunity to review the existing National Seed Plan and support the development of a seed investment plan for Ghana,” she added.

Global food systems have been battered by overlapping crises in recent years. Key among these are the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russo-Ukraine war and extreme weather events resulting from climate change. These have resulted in forced migration, loss of employment, climate stress, loss of biodiversity, and economic instability.

In Africa, which is home to 1.5 billion people, these shocks and stressors have slowed – or even reversed – decades of progress in improving food security and nutrition. For example, 37 million people in the Greater Horn of Africa are facing acute hunger in one of the region’s worst droughts in decades.

These multiple crises have forced the world to recognise that improving nutrition and food security requires more resilient global and national food systems. Food systems are the sum of actors and interactions along the food value chain – from input supply and production to transport, processing, retailing, wholesaling, preparation, consumption and disposal.

As set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG2), the journey towards food and nutritional security for Africa has a clear destination – zero hunger. The target is to ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all people by 2030.

The recently launched Africa Agriculture Status Report examines the continent’s progress towards food and nutritional security.

We co-edited the report, which has six key themes. It charts a roadmap to get to the goal faster while adapting to a changing environment. Our report coincided with World Food Day 2022, whose theme is safer food, better health.

Without transformative change like the Asian Green Revolution, African food systems will continue to impede human development. They will also continue to be overly dependent on food imports. Without a strong drive for sustainable agricultural practices, the continent’s food systems will worsen environmental destruction. Urgent action is needed to anticipate megatrends, rally political will, mobilise investments and strengthen capacity.

Five ways to transform African food systems

The need for true cost accounting

Development practitioners working in Africa need true cost accounting for our food systems. It should explicitly consider all the environmental, social and human health outcomes associated with the way food systems are organised. For example, 74% of agricultural production growth in sub-Saharan Africa since 2000 has been achieved through area expansion and only 26% from increased yields. This is far from ideal. Reliance on area expansion has converted forests and grasslands into cropland on a massive scale. The result has been substantial damage to the region’s stock of natural resources and ecosystem services.

A true cost accounting framework sets out the costs of this approach. It would lead to the recognition that technical innovation is important to improve yields on existing farmland. It would show that this is a more sustainable approach to production growth, better health and improved nutrition.

Anticipate the megatrends

African governments must be prepared for the big demographic, economic, environmental, and social trends shaping the continent’s food systems. These include:

• rapid population growth, associated land scarcity and rapidly rising land prices
• rapidly growing demand for food, driven by rapidly growing urban areas, rising incomes and purchasing power
• more frequent and intense weather disruptions associated with climate change
• global health crises, economic disruptions, and civil conflicts such as the Russo-Ukraine war
• technical innovation in digital agriculture.

Africa’s food systems continue to evolve in response to these drivers. Food policies and investment strategies need to change too. We are chasing a moving target.

Role of leadership

Leadership is essential to harness collective effort, shared responsibility, stakeholder engagement and political will to transform food systems.

Political leaders can either push the accelerator or step on the brakes. The complex nature of our food systems requires that key actors, including national governments, international agencies, civil society, farmer organisations and the private sector, work together towards the common goal.

Governments and regional bodies are at the centre of food systems interventions.

Investment gap

Financing is the fuel needed to accelerate transformation. Based on recent estimates from New Growth International, a network based management consulting firm, food systems transformation in Africa requires up to US$77 billion a year from the public sector and up to US$180 billion from the private sector.

Mobilising financing at scale requires African governments to:

• define priorities
• commit to financing priority actions
• enhance coordination between government and private sector
• ensure good governance and accountability.

Capacities and capabilities

Africa must invest in domestic human, institutional and system-wide capacities and capabilities. Capacity development efforts should be guided by seven core principles: country ownership and leadership; alignment with national needs and priorities; use of national systems and local expertise; no “one-size-fits-all” tactics; multi-level approaches; and mutual accountability.

We also note that even though agricultural research capacity has increased by 90% between 2000 and 2016 there has been a decline in public investment in agricultural research systems. This threatens Africa’s capacity to adapt the latest technologies to local conditions.

Call to action

There’s an urgency to transforming African and global food systems to make them more resilient and sustainable. Failure is not an option.

Transformation will require a coordinated approach from governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society. It is time to put into action the carefully designed strategies, policy reforms and investment plans highlighted in the latest report.

Originally posted on: https://theconversation.com

A drone flies over a rice field in Asutsuare village, Ghana, August 2, 2019.Image: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Kagondu Njagi

In Africa, agriculture means everything, especially for rural communities. It is the main source of livelihood for many households and accounts for 23 per cent of Africa’s GDP.

Smallholder farmers account for more than 60 per cent of the population, yet the continent’s full agricultural potential remains untapped. 

Farmers who grow food on small plots of land, especially those in rural areas, still struggle to make ends meet and feed their own families, let alone spare surplus produce for both domestic and export markets.

This is why African countries keep importing food that could be produced locally by smallholder farmers. Africa’s food import has been on an upward trajectory over the past decades and is estimated to be about US$50 billion a year and could go up to US$110 billion by 2030 if urgent actions to increase food production are not implemented.

Despite the progress made during the last two decades of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme implementation, it is disconcerting to note that agricultural systems in rural African farming communities remain challenged and are passed on from generation to generation. People still spend days preparing the land using manual methods and have little to show for the tedious work each harvesting season. This situation is exacerbated by climate change and associated shocks and conflicts as well as recent global crises such as Covid-19 and the conflict in eastern Europe.

Because agriculture is not substantially mechanised in many countries, it is seen as heavy work and is especially unattractive to the young people who represent 60 per cent of the continent’s population. Because farming in African rural communities is not innovative enough, it is seen as an unpleasant venture where one has to wake up before daybreak to break their backs on the farms, with little to show for the hard labour.

The answer to Africa’s struggling agricultural sector hugely lies in innovativeness. This underscores the need for smallholder farmers to take up the rural innovative agriculture solutions that have been tested and are working for other farmers who used to struggle to sustain their ventures.

Luckily, agriculture is one of the sectors that have witnessed significant growth in creativity, with innovators coming up with modern ways to handle farm mechanisation and to improve access to farm inputs, finances, markets, and digital agriculture services. These innovations are elevating Africa through shared information among farmers who are transforming their ventures from solitary struggles to businesses that thrive.

Agriculture innovations such as Hello Tractor, DryCard, Wakulima Digital, and hundreds of other innovations are transforming the lives of smallholder farmers. In Kenya and Nigeria, for instance, Hello Tractor allows smallholder farmers to hire tractors via an app the way we hire cabs. This way, farmers do not have to own a tractor when they only need it for a single day to prepare land for planting and to wait again for the next planting season.

The DryCard has come in handy to minimise post-harvest losses in produce such as maize and beans among farming communities in Rwanda and Ethiopia. The card determines if the grain is dry enough to prevent mold growth during storage. One simply puts the seeds in a jar with the card, waits for 30 seconds, and sees the results.

Wakulima Digital is a loan-disbursement solution that is enabling farmers in Tanzania to meet their financial obligations during characteristic post-harvest price downturns. By accessing loans through their mobile phones, smallholder farmers can secure funds without having to sell their produce at low prices during harvest periods.

Other agricultural innovations have been identified and documented through the support of both IFAD and AGRA under the Leveraging South-South and Triangular Cooperation to share rural development solutions for the private sector engagement initiative.

While these, and other innovations have transformed the lives of thousands of farmers, their uptake remains slow, especially in rural farming communities.

It is therefore important that stakeholders work together to boost the uptake of the rural farming solutions to transform the lives of smallholder farmers and to secure the continent’s food security as Africa’s population continues to rise every day.

It has been estimated that one in every four people will live in Africa by 2050 and that the continent holds the key to feeding the nine billion people that will inhabit this planet by 2050. These projections present hope that Africa’s food markets will expand significantly.

The prediction, however, also ignites the fear that the continent may not be able to feed its people when its population surges under the business-as-usual scenario. It has been estimated that Africa will be able to fulfil only 13 per cent of its food needs by 2050. At the moment, up to 25 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s 856 million people are undernourished, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

With maximum uptake of the hundreds of innovative solutions that continue to emerge in the agriculture sector, farmers will reap more without having to prepare their land for days. Technological innovations will give rise to modern farms which will in turn prompt young people to take up various opportunities along the agriculture value chain. When this happens, unemployment will be forgotten and the poverty cycle in African rural farming communities will be a thing of the past.

These solutions and many more can be accessed in the Rural Solutions Portal (https://ruralsolutionsportal.org/en/home).

Originally posted on: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke

AHERO, Kenya: September 30, 2022 – Kowuor Central Village Youth Group, based in Ahero Sub County of Kenya’s Kisumu County, some 319Km West of the country’s capital, Nairobi, has yesterday been named the winner of the competition, taking home a brand-new John Deere 5050D tractor. The competition was a joint collaboration of AGRA, American agricultural machinery manufacturer John Deere, and its dealer Mascor Kenya Limited. 

Kowuor Central Village Youth Group beat 85 other groups in the contest, which required participants to have been registered in Kenya with an involvement in agriculture for at least three years. The applicants had to submit a business plan outlining how they will use the tractor to run a mechanization business. 

The competition, targeting groups with members aged 18 – 35 years, was part of AGRA’s plan to popularize agricultural mechanization services in Kenya.

“Kowuor Central Village Youth Group’s business plan stood out because it outlined a clear strategy for transforming the tractor into a profitable business, all while increasing the uptake of mechanization in their region,” said AGRA’s Kenya Country Manager, John Macharia. 

John Deere’s Divisional Sales Manager for East Africa and the Middle East, Nel Stephan, added: “Kowuor Central Village Youth Group met all the criteria for a win with a clear articulation of their growth plan through the next five years and beyond. Theirs is a social enterprise with clear benefits for members and their community.”  

Mr. Macharia emphasized the need for African countries to promote agricultural mechanization, which is a key food system growth driver, but has been slow to develop. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had the same number of tractors as India in 1960, but the East African countries failed to keep up the pace in uptake with the latter now having 100 times more tractors in use. 

“Africa’s agriculture sector is the least mechanized in the world, partly due to the local unavailability of tractors and other implements, as well as inadequate financing. Working through youth agri-SMEs, some mechanization services can be availed closer to where they are required,” he said. 

Kowuor Central Village Youth Group’s chairperson, Dickens Muga, said the tractor will help transform their business by increasing their capacity to serve more farmers. 

“We already have an existing clientele but have been unable to serve them due to a lack of adequate machinery. It would have taken us quite some time to buy a new tractor out of our profits, and we see this winning as critical in taking our business to the next level,” he said. 

Kisumu’s County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries Hon. Gilchrist Owuor Okuom highlighted the critical role of mechanization in increasing efficiency and productivity in crop production. He reiterated the significance of mechanization in onboarding more Youth into the Agriculture space. He described the initiative as a milestone in his government’s efforts to avail mechanization services to all farmers. He proposed that his Department would have Kowuor Central Village Youth Group as the County’s Mechanization Champions and pledged to help build the capacity of the leadership of the Group in how to profitably use the tractor. He thanked John Deere and AGRA for the initiative and appealed to other partners and entrepreneurs to come up and help fill in the gap by offering mechanization services across Kisumu County.

The John Deere AGRA competition follows a recent partnership between AGRA and John Deere to support successful mechanization service providers based on the John Deere S.M.A.R.T Model. Under the partnership, AGRA supports SMEs in acquiring business skills and financial management for growth, whilst John Deere, through its dealer network (including Mascor), supports in operator training, technician development, after-sales services, and equipment financing.

-ENDS

Note to Editors:

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we are working to sustainably grow Africa’s food systems.

AGRA strengthens seed systems, develops and promotes sustainable farming practices, helps unlock trade and markets, and supports governments who lead their countries’ development. We work with farmers to adapt to climate change, increase soil health, and protect the environment.  AGRA believes deeply in the urgency of reducing the inequality that women face in agriculture, and to unlocking the power and innovation of youth.

More information: https://agra.org/ | Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org |

About John Deere

John Deere is a trusted, world-renowned leader in producing turf, agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery solutions with state-of-the-art precision technology. With its continued focus to strengthen its presence throughout the Africa Middle East region (“AME”), John Deere AME serves its customers through more than 218 dealer touchpoints across the region, as well as sales and marketing offices Kenya and south Africa. Committed to delivering a distinctive customer experience coupled with solutions-driven advice from its authorised dealer network and John Deere Financial Solutions, John Deere AME promotes food security while actively driving a successful and inclusive agricultural community whilst supporting the growth of Africa via its construction and forestry solutions.

More information: https://www.deere.africa/en/ 

About Mascor

Mascor is one of Africa’s leading suppliers of agricultural equipment with an established dealer network in Kenya and Uganda with unrevoked technical capacity and parts stock to provide a distinctive customer experience. We are committed to offering our clients, the most professional service, workmanship, high standards and quality products. We believe in the importance of people and value creativity, innovation and enthusiasm. We are proud to be an independent company committed to growth. It is our goal to be recognised as the best in our field and more than that, to offer challenges and opportunities to all those dedicated to growing with us.

More information https://mascorafrica.com/

China has enjoyed a miraculous economic performance since the 1980s, with fast and uninterrupted growth. What the outside world usually missed, however, is the unprecedented speed of both China’s domestic economic structural shift and its impact on the world economy. For instance, China transformed from a major exporter into the biggest importer of agriculture products within only 15 years since 2004. During the Forum of China Africa Cooperation 2021, China announced it plans to import 100 bn worth of agricultural products from Africa in 3 years (See CAPD June). Can Africa meet the demand? What is the entry point for African countries to tap into this new market? What do African exporters need to know when negotiating with Chinese companies? CAPD serves to equip you with knowledge regards China’s agriculture policies, starting with the 101 of China’s latest agriculture performance in production and trade.

China’s Agricultural Policy Digest No.2

China has been gradually opening up its agricultural sector since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001. The level of marketization and internationalization of agriculture in the country has increased substantially. In 2021, China’s total grain production approached 683 million metric tons despite the difficulties of the COVID19 pandemic. Beyond that, China’s agricultural sector has also solidified the nation’s efforts to reduce poverty by acting as a “stabilizer” for the growth of the rural economy. Meanwhile, China has emerged as the world’s biggest market for agricultural products.

Section 1: China’s Agricultural Production in 2021

In 2021, the global economy showed a recovery trend, while the geopolitical landscape became unstable, energy prices fluctuated, and supply chains were interrupted. Although the global grain output reached a record high, the prices of global grain and other major agricultural products were greatly increased. Similarly, China’s agricultural production is steadily progressing and improving, as grain output has reached another record high.

In 2021, the total national grain output (mostly rice and wheat) was 682.85 million metric tons, with a 2.0% yearly growth. The annual grain output reached a new high and has remained above 650 million metric tons for seven consecutive years.

In 2021, the area planted in rice decreased slightly, while the yield and total output continued to increase. The planted area, yield, and total output of wheat all increased year on year. The planted area and total output of maize increased year-on-year, while the yield decreased slightly. The output of rice, wheat, and maize reached 213 million metric tons, 137 million metric tons, and 273 million metric tons, respectively.

The total output of oilseed crops dropped. In 2021, soybean production dropped significantly, with the planted area, yield, and total output all declining, the output reached 16.4 million metric tons, which declined by 16.33% year-on-year. Rapeseed production remained stable, and peanut planting area, yield, and total output increased simultaneously.

The total output of the three major oil crops (i.e., soybean, rapeseed, and peanut) reached 47.9 million metric tons, which declined by 7.62% year on year.

Moreover, the production of meat, milk, and aquatic products kept growing, egg production declined slightly. The production of other important agricultural products remained stable, while the output of cotton and sugar crops declined.

Section 2: Agricultural imports and exports of China

Rising income and living standards, increasing urbanization, and food safety concerns have fueled China’s agricultural imports. As incomes rose, the average Chinese diet changed to include more meat, dairy, and processed foods, while grain consumption declined. From 2000 to 2019, per capita consumption of poultry meat increased 32 percent, soybean oil consumption more than quadrupled, and fluid milk intake more than tripled. China is now the world’s largest agricultural importer, surpassing both the European Union (EU) and the United States in 2019 with imports totaling $133.1 billion.

From 2000 to 2020, China’s agricultural trade volume increased from US$26.85 billion to US$246.83 billion, with an average annual growth of 11.7%. The export value increased from 15.62 billion US dollars to 76.03 billion US dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 8.2%; the import value increased from 11.23 billion US dollars to 170.80 billion US dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 14.6%.

The global ranking of China’s agricultural product import and export volume and import volume has risen from 12th to 2nd, and the ranking of exports has risen from 10th to 5th.

China’s agricultural product import and export volume from 2000 to 2020

Unit: US$100 million

Since 2004, China’s trade in agricultural products has shifted from net exports to net imports, and the trade deficit has continued to expand since 2009. China’s imports are mainly land-intensive agricultural products and high-protein agricultural products. Exports are mainly labor-intensive agricultural products. In the past 20 years, the export volume of aquatic products has increased from 1.19 million tons to 3.75 million tons, and the export volume of fruits and vegetables has increased from 3.1 million tons and 6.0 million tons in 2004 to 4.9 tons respectively. The export volume of tea increased from 228,000 tons to 349,000 tons.

For China, total coarse grain imports for 2022/23 are forecast at 37.9 million tons, down 5.0 million from a year ago and below the record 50.5 million reached during 2020/21. China’s internal market prices for animal feed remain higher than the world market, following a surge in prices among major exporting countries. Maize imports are expected to drop by 5.0 million tons to 18.0 million with a decline in imports from Ukraine. Barley imports are projected at 10.0 million tons and sorghum at 9.5 million.

Obviously, China’s huge demand for agriculture products provides a long-waited opportunity for African agriculture to tap into international trade, to alleviate farmers’ income and attract international investment in a significant way. Meanwhile, there is also a risk, that the huge demand might also distort incentives in Africa’s agricultural sector, especially regards corps choices and protection of small-hold farmers, if African countries failed to coordinate with China and among themselves. The next CAPD will focus on, specifically, China’s import performance and policies of agricultural goods from Africa. In depth analysis will keep on following in the future on this subject.

Source:

China Agricultural Sector Development Report 2022;

United States Department of Agriculture, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates;

United States Department of Agriculture, China: Evolving Demand in the World’s Largest Agricultural Import Market;

中国国际经济交流中心课题组,杜鹰,张秀青,谢兰兰,梁腾坚,张学彪,杨光,于敏.新时期我国农业对外开放与高质量发展问题研究[J].全球化,2022(01):5-26+134.DOI:10.16845/j.cnki.ccieeqqh.2022.01.001.

In recent years, Africa has been dealing with a multitude of overlapping food systems shocks — climate-induced drought and floods, locust attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflict. The World Bank warns that for each one percentage point increase in food prices, 10 million people are thrown into extreme poverty. If food prices stay this high for a year, global poverty could go up by more than 100 million people.

As the world scrambles to address the current crises, the continent is reminded that only Africans can take responsibility for building climate resilient, nutritious, and inclusive systems that leave no one behind — as envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals. This is why the African Union declared 2022 as the year of nutrition and why we must implement the national food systems pathways agreed upon at the U.N. Food Systems Summit in 2021. Progress made to date will be undone if we fail to lead and fail to act now.

Advances in productivity have been made

After decades of stagnation, much of Africa has witnessed sustained agricultural growth — 4.73% per year on average between 2000 and 2018. A promising transformation has already started in Africa’s farmlands. Farmers are increasingly using innovative approaches and scientific research combined with traditional knowledge to increase the productivity of their fields, diversify their crops, boost their nutrition, and build climate resilience. Yet Africa is struggling to achieve the SDGs.

Resilience through food systems transformation

Africa, like other regions, must adapt and fundamentally transform food systems to meet its development goals. This reality is being confronted head-on. Some 37 African countries committed to national pathways for food systems transformation as part of the Food Systems Summit, and many also contributed to the development of an African Common Position curated by the African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency.

The African Common Position and national food systems pathways will not happen without stakeholders at every stage of the food system taking ownership — governments, the private sector, finance institutions, producers, and civil society. Those with a responsibility to act, ensure strong accountability, avoid unnecessary externalities, and ensure investments are attracted to food systems. So, the AU Commission, with other partners, is developing a blueprint to move from national pathways to food systems strategies and investment plans that will help unlock priority actions and needed investments.

Africa needs to demonstrate a unity of purpose

The multiple crises that have created rippling effects on our food systems have been brought into sharp focus at this year’s Africa Green Revolution Forum, or AGRF, in Kigali. The AGRF is Africa’s premier platform for discussing and advancing the continent’s food systems and agricultural transformation to give all voices within the food systems the opportunity to promote bold initiatives, collaboration, large-scale innovation, and action.

The forum offers a platform to have a conversation across African constituencies and bring in the experience of global partners to help define ways to both manage crisis and advance the critical food systems transformation agenda. We have already heard from the governments of Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda at the AGRF, on how they are implementing their food systems pathways to inspire other countries. 

The time is now for the continent to demonstrate a unity of purpose to effectively tackle hunger and nutrition insecurity, address climate change, and advance inclusive development.

About the authors

Josefa Sacko

Ambassador Josefa Sacko is a leading African agronomist and commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable development at the African Union Commission. Prior to her reelection in 2021, she was special adviser to the Angolan minister of environment and climate change — and adviser to the minister of agriculture in charge of food security and poverty reduction. Sacko was also the former secretary-general of the Inter-African Coffee Organization for 13 years.

Agnes Kalibata

Agnes Kalibata is the president of AGRA, leading its efforts to ensure a food secure and prosperous Africa through inclusive, sustainable agricultural transformation, improving the productivity and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. Prior to joining AGRA, Kalibata was Rwanda’s minister of agriculture and animal resources, where she drove programs that moved her country to food security helping to lift more than a million Rwandans out of poverty. Over the last two years, she has also served on the global scene as the special envoy of the U.N. secretary-general for the Food Systems Summit.

Kigali: Friday September 9, 2022 – AGRA yesterday launched its new five-year strategy that helps governments tackle hunger and enhance nutrition by building resilient food systems.  The need for this support is powerfully highlighted by a decade of multiple natural and manmade crises. To help articulate the evolved emphasis of the strategy, AGRA today also unveiled a refreshed branding.

AGRA’s new strategy is a response to recent global and African catastrophes including famine, COVID-19, drought, fall army worm, climate change, soaring food, fertilizer and energy prices, and the conflict in Ukraine. These events have created a truly urgent need for rapid strengthening of food systems and accelerated transformation of agriculture.  

The new strategy will build on AGRA’s achievements to date, and crucially the lessons it has learned with its partners. 

In the strategic period 2017-21, AGRA’s direct contributions have included:

• 11 million farmers reached directly 
• 26 million farmers reached through policy, state capability and partnerships work 
• Facilitated 42 policy reforms
• Supported 11 national flagships
• Catalyzed $1.4 billion in investment 
• 33,000 village-based advisors trained
• 75% of AGRA farmers adopted fertilizer use 
• 48% of AGRA farmers adopted improved seed
• 60% adopted post harvest practices 

Despite progress, Africa’s food systems urgently need further radical transformation.  Many countries still struggle to achieve food security and provide diverse, nutritious choices for their populations. Supply chains that bring food to markets are often long and fragmented, leading to significant waste and higher costs for consumers. This is exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation that threatens livelihoods, biodiversity and sustainability across much of the continent’s agricultural sector. 

“We have demonstrated that when farmers have access to choices of inputs and when those inputs give a clear yield differential farmers adopt and their lives change. We have also seen that this only happens sustainably when markets are available to farmers” said AGRA’s President, Dr. Kalibata.  “Our new strategy therefore will see us do more of what works for farmers and will see us trying to understand markets better. In all this we must bring more youth, more nutrition and be smarter in use of environmental resources” she added. 

AGRA’s new strategy, which will run from 2023-27 and is costed at $550 million, concentrates on key areas of work from our last strategy, including seed system development, and government engagement, expands AGRA’s work in sustainable farming and markets and trade, and focuses on three critical areas of change: climate change, gender, youth and inclusion work, and transforming African diets.

Overview of focus areas and targets: 

1. Working with smallholder farmers – AGRA will aim to reach 28 million farmers in 15 countries to enable their full participation in sustainably growing Africa’s food systems
2. Developing seed systems – We will build on the ten countries where AGRA has strengthened seed systems to ensure farmers gain access to affordable, productive, climate/pest resistant seeds 
3. Sustainable farming – AGRA has set a goal of 30 percent of targeted farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices that build livelihoods today, and protect the environment for tomorrow
4. Inclusive markets and trade – AGRA will invest $300M through AGRA platforms to enhance market competitiveness for farmers, while bringing nutritious food to consumers
5. Policy and state capability – We will support 12 countries to develop strategies and investment plans for food system transformation pathways, that create an environment where farming businesses thrive 
6. Inclusivity – Our new strategy will see a 25 percent increase in funding for women-led SMEs, which will create new opportunities for women and youth to thrive in farming
7. Nutrition – AGRA’s new strategy aims to support targeted farmers to adopt improved varieties including climate smart and nutrient dense varieties, to provide affordable, diverse, and nutritious diets for consumers
8. Climate adaptation – We aim to help 40% of targeted farmers to adopt varieties including climate smart/nutrient dense varieties

The new Strategy also speaks to the need for  businesses to recognize growth opportunities and have the confidence, financing, and capabilities to serve farmers, trade produce, and process food profitably. 

Government representatives, NGOs, companies, small holder farmers, traders and all those involved in the growing, processing and distribution of food in Africa gathered in Kigali this week at the annual summit of the AGRF.  AGRA continues to explore new partnerships as it prepares to implement its new strategy. 

“AGRA is a proudly African institution,” stated AGRA’s Board Chair, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn. “To work sustainably and inclusively, food systems need to be built on solid foundations,” explained H.E. Dessalegn. “Together in partnership, we can transform our agriculture; protect our environment; create equitable prosperity; and feed our communities and families.”

Ends

More information here:  AGRA’s Five Year Strategy: Sustainably Growing Africa’s Food Systems  or  https://bit.ly/3D8AGC2

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security in 11 countries. 

https://agra.org/      Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org| 

To contact the AGRF virtual press room: ewangui@hudsonsandler.com: ewangui@hudsonsandler.com