From Richard Chowning on LinkedIN group E-agriculture•
Thanks for the article Michael. The article raises some interesting issues, however it main premise seems to be " the crucial issue for increasing farm productivity in Africa is how to enable farmers to obtain enough fertiliser to replace the nutrients being lost every day, and how to give them access to the seeds of crops which can make the best use of those nutrients."
I would think that one of the major contributors to the lack of productivity is return for their labor. Crop prices are low, at least the portion the farmer sweating in the field receives. They have been taken advantage of by buyers and governments.
My experience is that African farmers are quite ingenious and innovative. How they can feed, cloth and send to school a family of 5 or more off of a 2-5 acre plot of land is nothing short of heroic. If they were to receive more for what the produce, they will find and use better products. The people in the cities and the buyers who bring the produce to them, need to pay more.
From Richard Chowning on LinkedIN group E-agriculture•
Thanks for the article Michael. The article raises some interesting issues, however it main premise seems to be " the crucial issue for increasing farm productivity in Africa is how to enable farmers to obtain enough fertiliser to replace the nutrients being lost every day, and how to give them access to the seeds of crops which can make the best use of those nutrients."
I would think that one of the major contributors to the lack of productivity is return for their labor. Crop prices are low, at least the portion the farmer sweating in the field receives. They have been taken advantage of by buyers and governments.
My experience is that African farmers are quite ingenious and innovative. How they can feed, cloth and send to school a family of 5 or more off of a 2-5 acre plot of land is nothing short of heroic. If they were to receive more for what the produce, they will find and use better products. The people in the cities and the buyers who bring the produce to them, need to pay more.