The future of agriculture in Africa is bright if we maximise opportunities as they come.
By Craig Falck for Africa Report
Photograph: © Davide Mazzoran | Dreamstime.com
Renaissance Capital’s report, entitled African Agriculture: This Other Eden, has highlighted a handful of factors that will shape Africa’s agricultural sector in the future. Here are the top 5:
1. China’s demand for just about everything has increased over the last decade because of its increased importance in the global economy. Likewise, their demand for food has also increased, but it cannot meet this demand itself, given its limited agricultural capability. China’s farming industry has managed a paltry increase in production in the last few years and the nation has to turn elsewhere for supplies. And where better than Africa, the continent where farming is one of the most lucrative sectors and sources of financial income?
2. A certain suspended political “leader” has been very vocal over the past two years about nationalisation. While his calls for this process are seen as greed-orientated and without solid convincing information, it is a theme that could play a big role in shaping the future for Africa– but that’s for the politicians to decide.
3. Bigger farms will become commonplace. Nowadays there are fewer than 100 groups that run 100 000 ha-size farms. In the future, this number will increase, whether it’s single farmers or groups owning these huge farms or smaller farmers joining together to form co-operatives.
4. The world’s population is migrating from rural settlements into urban areas – there’s never been any doubt about that. It’s estimated that by 2050 nearly 60 percent of the world’s people will be living and working in cities. This means that cheap labour will all but disappear. In this sort of situation, farmers will be forced to turn to machines to get their farming done.
5. The world’s population is growing, and someone needs to feed it. While North and South America could easily supply on their own, it’s not practical to rely on them that much. There needs to be a “back-up” plan or at least an additional source that will take the pressure off the main protagonists. Africa would easily be able to supply this support, and the benefits for Africa’s farmers would be immeasurable. The opportunities are there, so it’s up to Africa’s farmers to take them up.
A few things stay the same over the years. There’s always going to be change, and looking at the way the world has changed within the last three years, we can expect a great deal more in the future. As one of Africa’s biggest sectors, agriculture will need to adjust and transform in the future. The question is, will Africa’s farmers be able to change and take advantage of the opportunities, or will they let it slip through their fingers?
