'Like-with-like' in 2012: Interrogating Agriculture in Africa

By Raymond Erick Zvavanyange

The focus on agriculture and its related issues is a good sign for effective policy and action by institutions in Africa. We have witnessed from local and international state collaborating with non-state actors to create a sustainable future. The efforts such as the U.S. Feed the Future Initiative and Brazil’s Zero Hunger Programme testify of nation’s progress when combined with leadership. Their offer of support to engaging countries and input to the knowledge economy is positive. Africa finds itself as center of attraction because of its strategic points of interest not limited to agriculture for investors. On biotechnology, we are informed many African countries still have social, legal, and political points to debate and clarify basing upon the “precautionary principle” of the Cartagena Protocol. It is highly probable this scenario will prevail as well as dominate the global agenda for agriculture.  

Africa’s smallholder stories showing resilience in the face of climate change and adoption of information and communication technologies warrants further investigation as this may provide keys to unlock the future. Here, I remind and perhaps, interrogate articulated issues by experts and players in agriculture.  The word “interrogation” is borrowed from a key note address by Abebe Haile Gabriel in a keynote speech at Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Africa Conference during 1-3 November 2011. 


Thinking indigenous or scientific?  

For Africa, it is clear from the media, scholars, and grass root voices that for any deliberation concerning the planet, it is a one-for-all future as opposed to all-for-one future. How then, can we leverage scientific and indigenous knowledge, on contested issues such as land and water?  To emphasize this point in areas of climate change for example, as outlined in the communiqué from the African Young Scientists and Youth Initiatives on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AYSICCIKS), "organize a continental workshop to interrogate the role of indigenous knowledge systems in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+)” is a worthwhile attempt. The objective however should be for clarification and not to down play specific practices or actions from the field. 

Online members will continue to dominate discussions of issues in and related to agriculture unless there are radical changes as to merging contributions through ICTs with those from off-line members. With a bit of effort to feed the input from online discussions into policy making, pursuing these avenues becomes a noble idea. My contribution on Young Professionals Platform for Agricultural Research for Development and the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition are not an exhaustive collection of the scale, progress, and reality from African farmers. There is a possibility of significant farmers with unheard voices because of the language barrier considering that Africa is known to have many indigenous languages. 

There are somewhat misplaced voices at various levels because there is no follow up on issues of interest whether deliberate or unplanned. For deliberate actions, the Technical Centre for Rural Cooperation (CTA) through ARDYIS is arguably making an impact in agriculture. This is creating a reinforcing impression on recipients of such technologies, amongst them youths. In contrast, we read in other circles of former Nigerian Head of State, Olesugun Obasanjo comment on ICTs in Africa, with the choice of words, “download” and “upload”. We may ask, “What is Africa's take home technology for agriculture?"     

Durban participants on  “No Agriculture! No Deal!” correctly noted the importance of a single voice in agriculture. Given the varied opinions on agriculture, the seemingly “abstract” climate smart should be made explicit to avoid repackaging unsustainable agricultural practices. So much has been said concerning feeding and appropriately, “nourishing”, the 10 billion people by 2050. This interrogation need not add opinions as experts continue to present the scenarios and facts. However, this should not be left solely to them but to engage the common person as well. For example, women who constitute the majority of the work force in agriculture, are better understood though the listening to their voice, identifying their roles and contributions. To be climate-smart whilst maintaining “politically neutrality” in issues such as land deals is difficult. Economists are a part of the equation but more should be brought into it. We may ask, “How best can we strengthen African models of agriculture?”

Concerning rural advisory services, “institutional thinking”, amongst other recommendations from the Nairobi Declaration on Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services of the Innovations in Extension and Advisory Conference in Kenya offer new ground for institutions' self reflection. Lastly, ways should be sought to analyze the economic contribution of value chains and markets for smallholders in agriculture. “How to assist in selection of priorities for African agriculture: those with an economic value, a livelihood value, a strategic value, and or other?”