Africa's agricultural potential starts with smallholder farmers

In an opinion piece published online in Africa.com, Makhosazana Sika, PhD candidate in Soil Science at Stellenbosch University and a student of the South Africa-Washington International Program (SAWIP) says that the agricultural sector in a number of African countries - such as Morocco and Ethiopia - have taken increasingly important steps towards economic growth.

Morocco shifted focus from primarily cereal crops to high-value crops such as citrus fruit and tomatoes, and Ethiopia is a fast-growing exporter of oilseeds and cut flowers.

These two examples, Sika say, demonstrate the potential ability of agriculture to significantly contribute to a nation's economic growth through smallholder farmers. In contrast, she points out, the famine and drought in Somalia "is a deplorable example of agricultural failure." In July 2003, the Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security in Africa was promulgated by African Union (AU) heads of state. "The call to AU countries to allocate a minimum of 10 percent of their national budget resources to agriculture and rural development was most prominent." To date, she adds, only seven countries have met this undertaking.

Sika says that, as African countries explore the potential expansion of their agricultural sectors, "support structures should be put in place for farmers, [especially] smallholder farmers," in order to ensure land sustainability as well as food and nutrition security. Of special consideration are issues regarding on-going training and skills development during the transition towards modern agricultural production, government and private sector investments in irrigation infrastructure, and access to micro-finance and sustainable commercial markets, wholesalers and retailers.

Read the full article on www.africa.com.