• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Logo
  • - -
  • Home
  • Logo
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Culture & Life
  • Markets
  • Entrepreneurship
  • World
  • Travel
  • Blogs
    • Columnists
  • Logo
  • Read Later
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Culture & Life
  • Markets
  • Entrepreneurship
  • World
  • Travel
  • Blogs
  • Newsletters
  • African Crosswords
  • About Us
      • Southern African Agriculture Industry Can Beat Climate Change

      • Southern African Agriculture Industry Can Beat Climate Change

        Southern African Agric Industry Can Beat Climate Change

      • Share this article

      • Ronald Moyo
        Ronald Moyo
        Tue, Jul 21, 2015
      • According to recent Skymet reports, the drought enhanced by climate change is affecting most parts of southern Africa from southern Angola to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Namibia.

      • Crop production in the Southern region of Africa has been curtailed by the worst drought to have hit the region in the past decade, meteorologists say. A green revolution in African agriculture may however be the answer to strengthening agricultural output in the face of climate change on the continent.

        According to recent Skymet reports, the drought enhanced by climate change is affecting most parts of southern Africa from southern Angola to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Namibia.

        “The most affected crop is maize. Zimbabwe’s 2015 forecast for maize is about 950,000 tonnes which is far less than the 1.8 million tonnes that the people of Zimbabwe need. The authorities in Zimbabwe plan to import 700,000 tonnes of maize which would cost around $168 million,” reads the Skymet report.

        “Neighbouring Zambia and South Africa from which Zimbabwe has imported maize in the past also face significantly low harvest this year.”

        In addition to this, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) 2015 structural deficits in maize production in southern African countries estimate that South Africa has a maize production deficit of -16%, Zimbabwe a deficit of -35%, Namibia -23%, Malawi -23%, Swaziland -4%, Lesotho -4% while Mozambique remains self sufficient with an estimated production of 2%.

        Furthermore Zimbabwe’s Tobacco industry and Marketing Board recently released figures to the media stating that Zimbabwe’s tobacco sales have dropped 8.5 percent to 188.5 million kilogrammes this year after drought in southern Africa affected production.

        However the World Economic Forum in their Africa Competitiveness report 2015 suggests that Africa adopts a green revolution in order to curb the downward spiral of agricultural output on the continent. The green revolution was a period in which agriculture in Asia, particularly in India, increased its yields due to improved agronomic technology.

        Asian countries benefitted from the green revolution as they doubled cereal production between 1970 and 1995, while the total land area cultivated with cereals increased by only 4%.

        “Drawing lessons from India’s experience, this success has been attributed to several factors. First, the adoption of high-yielding seed varieties resulted in a substantial increase in food grain production, particularly wheat and rice,” states the World Economic Forum.

        “Second, the use of pesticides positively contributed to increased yields, albeit at the expense of the environment. Third, the availability and expansion of agricultural infrastructure facilities such as irrigation facilities, machinery, extension services, and broader infrastructure facilities—including transport and communication as well as storage and warehousing facilities—further supported the green revolution.”

        The World Economic Forum said the fourth factor was the expansion of better crop and soil management techniques, including multiple cropping practices, fostered the advance of the green revolution.

        “Fifth, agricultural credit and land reform were crucial ingredients that enhanced agricultural productivity. Short-term credit facilities were provided by cooperative banks, while long-term credit was provided by development banks. This was done together with land reforms aimed at consolidating land holdings and giving farmers security of tenure, thereby enabling farmers to access credit facilities,” stated the World Economic Forum.

        Africa’s low investment in agriculture has also led to over reliance on rain-fed farming with very little irrigation thereby making African crop yields severely reduced during drought periods.

        The World Economic Forum in its African Competitiveness Report 2015 also notes that the irrigated share of Africa’s cropland is less than a quarter of the world average

        “Only 4% of crop areas are irrigated in sub-Saharan Africa; in comparison, this represents only a small fraction of the Asian investment in irrigation, where 39% of the production area is irrigated in South Asia and 29% in East Asia.”

        Thus a green revolution approach to enhancing African agriculture can be adopted by African nations in order to increase agricultural output in the face of climate change and droughts. This can be further strengthened by increased investment in irrigation technologies in addition to good governance and management of agricultural institutions.

      • Economic Growth Agriculture Climate Change
      • Share this article

        • Are you impressed, have any concerns, or think we can improve this article? Comment below or email us.

      • Comments

      • Follow us for more up to date news and articles

      • More from Business

        • The Top Ten Countries For Investing In Africa
          • The Top Ten Countries For Investing In Africa
          • Significant improvements have been made by countries such as Tanzania,...

          • Sun, Apr 15, 2018

        • Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
          • Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
          • The African debt crisis may be grave than we can imagine. It could ser...

          • Tue, Apr 17, 2018

        • Innovation in Africa: Sustainable Financing of African Start-ups
          • Innovation in Africa: Sustainable Financing of African Start-ups
          • Governments, agencies and the financial sector should work to create a...

          • Thu, Apr 12, 2018

        • The Inspiring Story Behind the Man Transforming the Global Remittance Industry: Meet Ismail Ahmed!
          • The Inspiring Story Behind the Man Transforming the Global Remittance Industry: Meet Ismail Ahmed!
          • If anyone needs to know how to build an empire from little other than ...

          • Wed, Apr 18, 2018

    • Related Stories

      • How Ukulima Tech Has Revolutionized Farming for Urban Residents in Kenya
        • How Ukulima Tech Has Revolutionized Farming for Urban Residents in Kenya
        • Urban farming in Nairobi and its environs has been made easier, and mo...

        • Thu, Apr 21, 2016

      • Five Facts You Didn’t Know About African Economies
        • Five Facts You Didn’t Know About African Economies
        • Today some African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda are amon...

        • Mon, Nov 7, 2016

      • $600 Million Towards Agricultural Advancement in Africa
        • $600 Million Towards Agricultural Advancement in Africa
        • Up to $600 million has been set aside to support agricultural research...

        • Thu, Dec 28, 2017

      • Mauritius Crowned Most Competitive Economy in Africa, Ahead of South Africa
        • Mauritius Crowned Most Competitive Economy in Africa, Ahead of South Africa
        • Though African economic performance remains underwhelming, there is mu...

        • Tue, Oct 11, 2016

      • There Are Numerous Business Opportunities in Africa.
        • There Are Numerous Business Opportunities in Africa.
        • Countries are losing out on the new “Scramble for Africa”. This time t...

        • Tue, Jan 26, 2016

    • Popular right now

      • Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The 'Good Of The Girls'
        • Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The "Good Of The Girls"
        • Breast ironing is a traditional practice that involves the use hard or...

        • Wed, Apr 18, 2018

      • How the Internet is Reducing Trusting Women  to Sluts
        • How the Internet is Reducing Trusting Women to Sluts
        • Women are being violated daily as more and more people view their nake...

        • Sun, Apr 22, 2018

      • The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018
        • The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018
        • GoBankRates made a list of the cheapest countries in the world to live...

        • Thu, Apr 19, 2018

      • Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
        • Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
        • The African debt crisis may be grave than we can imagine. It could ser...

        • Tue, Apr 17, 2018

      • Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe
        • Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe
        • South Africa has a chance to prove that land can be taken back for the...

        • Sun, Apr 22, 2018

    • Most Read

      • 1.

        Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The "Good Of The Girls"

        Breast Ironing: The Violent, Archaic Cultural Practice Done For The 'Good Of The Girls'
      • 2.

        How the Internet is Reducing Trusting Women to Sluts

        How the Internet is Reducing Trusting Women  to Sluts
      • 3.

        The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018

        The Cheapest Countries To Live or Retire in Africa, 2018
      • 4.

        Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe

        Yes To Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Learning from Robert Mugabe
      • 5.

        Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa

        Africa's Growing Debt Levels Cause For Concern: Countries With The Biggest Debts in Africa
    • Read Later
    • Home
    • Politics
    • Technology
    • Business
    • Culture & Life
    • Markets
    • Entrepreneurship
    • World
    • Travel
    • Blogs
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Newsletters
    • African Crosswords
    • My Account
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Copyright © 2018 The African Exponent. All rights reserved.