Closing Africa’s agricultural yield gap
It is estimated that farmers in the US grow five times as much corn per acre as smallholder farmers in Africa, for instance. This gap will only widen as the effects of climate change increase. Average temperatures in sub-Saharan Africa are projected to increase by between 1.5 and 3.1°C by 2050.
For the millions of African farmers who rely on free ranging livestock and rain-fed crops to feed their families and generate income, this is bad news. That is, unless the science and technology that have lifted the agricultural sectors of developed nations such as the US to highly productive ones are made available to those who need them most.
The African Union-led Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance, which seeks to bring climate-smart technologies to 25 million farmers in sub-Saharan Africa by 2025, is on the hunt for technologies that will make a self-sufficient Africa a reality.
Research launched this year by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has taken the guesswork out of what these technologies are. An online model examined the effect that 11 technologies could have on various countries’ crop yields. In many cases, yields doubled or even quadrupled.
For example, according to the IFPRI model, no-till maize cultivation could increase yields by 15 percent while reducing required harvested area by 7.2 percent across Africa. No-till practices could reduce the population at risk of hunger by 10.2 percent across the region. Better control of weeds, disease and insects through crop protection could boost this by another 7.9 percent. This would remove nearly 100 million people in Africa from hunger risk.
The road ahead seems straightforward. Yet if the technologies have been identified, what is holding African agriculture back?
One of the greatest obstacles is that the continuous droughts and floods caused by climate change have gradually eroded the resilience of food systems and farming livelihoods. Smallholder farmers’ tools, soils and infrastructure have taken a hit. With such a limited margin for error, would farmers risk the meagre livelihoods they have for a technology they have never seen work?
Our research shows that these high potential agricultural technologies will never be adopted at scale unless farmers’ risk in investing in them is reduced.
This means that Africa does not just need breakthrough technologies. Spurring the agriculture sector will also require breakthrough services that will make these technologies a viable option for smallholder farmers. That means implementing financing and risk management mechanisms such as weather based index insurance, which seeks to limit the impact of weather shocks on farmers’ income streams. If farmers have access to these kinds of services, they will be more willing to explore adopting new practices that could drastically increase their productivity – and the resilience of their income streams.
This is where the private sector can play a crucial role, by partnering with national agencies and local organisations to bring these products to farmers. This will require a conducive policy environment that allows all parties to gain from these ventures.
Meeting the needs of growing populations in an increasingly climate-stressed world demands that we harness the power of science and technology to transform agriculture around the world. Our efforts must begin by strengthening investments in breakthrough technologies, such as climate resilient technologies, as well as in breakthrough services, such as climate-based agricultural insurance.
If the right technologies are prioritised, and the risk in adopting them sufficiently mitigated, there are big gains to be made. However, it is only by investing in both the technology and the services infrastructure that will support their adoption that impact at scale can be achieved. The solutions are known. There can be no more excuses for Africa’s agriculture yield gap.
Related links
Comments
Usefulness
Topics
Cross Cutting
Countries
Share your knowledge
http://www.coachstoreoutlet.us.org
Ferragamo (Ferragamo) is Italy’s women’s Kingdom,ED Hardy Outlet was born in 1927. Creativity,Coach Outlet Store Online passion and toughness Kate Spade Outlet are Ferragamo Cheap Jordans familial constant values,Michael Kors Outlet Store and from generation to Coach Purses generation. Salvatore Ferragamo Coach Outlet unusual attention to Kate Spade Outlet quality and detail,Toms Outlet and he won the Louis Vuitton Outlet?”Star Queen’s Shoemaker” in the title. Now Fendi Handbags Salvatore Ferragamo shoes,Giuseppe Shoes leather Stephen Curry Shoes products,Michael Kors Outlet accessories,Salomon Shoes clothing and fragrance,North Face Outlet one of the world’s top designers.Stuart Weitzman Boots Luxurious elegant style,Tory Burch Shoes practicality and style,Michael Kors Handbags traditional hand-designed and fashionable Coach Outlet Online and famous. Ferragamo is renowned for its Longchamp Outlet prestigious internationally Red Bottom Shoes renowned brand of high Moncler Jackets quality footwear for the North Face Outlet aristocratic ladies of the Moncler Outlet world aspire. Audrey Hepburn,Coach Factory Sophia Loren,Coach Factory Outlet Marilyn Monroe, Madonna,Kate Spade Outlet these shiny names in Ray Ban Outlet the history of world cinema,Christian Louboutin Shoes a and a with Ferragamo “Cinderella”,Prada Outlet left many good memories for fashion. Ferragamo shoes,Oakley Sunglasses clothes, and accessories Prada Handbags such as scarves,Burberry Outletall exude a luxurious North Face Outlet and elegant style,Coach Factory Outlet but no matter how endless his design Kate Spade Outlet ideas, he always believed Michael Kors Outlet that importance Coach Outlet of utility and style,Nike Air Max this is particularly Moncler Jackets significant in terms of shoe Nike Roshe Run design. Ferragamo shoes Cheap Nike Air Max require comfort and Buty Nike Air Max design are equally important,Nike Air Max Damskie for many women who Nike Air Max wear unsuitable shoes and foot heavily,Red Bottom Shoes Ferragamo was surprised. In order to Christian Louboutin Outlet allow yourself to make Balenciaga Handbags shoes more comfortable,Balenciaga Handbags he doctoral candidate Hermes Belt at the University of California,Kate Spade Outlet the sole structure,Toms Shoes where Ferragamo learned how body weight pressure Louis Vuitton Outlet on the foot of knowledge,North Face Outlet Store so he joined the North Face Jackets iron shoes designed to strengthen The North Face Outlet shoe arch support. In the age of Louis Vuitton Outlet mechanized industry,Louis Vuitton Outlet Ferragamo shoe Timberland Boots can be considered unique. Him to Timberland Outlet the guest first Tory Burch Outlet measured foot sizes, and then carved Tory Burch Outlet on a wooden block shoes. Althoughory Burch Shoes in the case of Hermes Belt the ever-increasing demand,Kate Spade Outlet Ferragamo was forced Tory Burch Outlet to expand the business,Burberry Scarfbut he still refuses North Face Outlet to use the machine the shoe,North Face Outlet so he came up with manual Michael Kors Outlet production line Ralph Lauren Outletsolutions, specialized in Gucci Shoes the shoe-making process Gucci Outlet that each staff member is North Face Jackets responsible for any part of,Prada Outlet so that while his business Hollister Clothing is not dependent on machinery. Salvatore Ferragamo Ferragamo Shoes was born in 1898 in Italy of Bonito,Tiffany Jewelry 14 brothers and sisters in Tiffany Outlet the top 11. Due to family poverty,NFL Jerseys have already started out Cheap Jordans as a shoe-making apprentice Oakley Outlet years help fill North Face Outlet the family. At the time of the Italy South,Burberry Outlet Shoemaker is considered one North Face Outlet of the most menial jobs,Skechers Shoesbut Ferragamo is ideal,Marc Jacobs Outlet it is necessary UGG Outlet to carry forward this process North Face Outlet of being looked down upon,Chan Luu Sale and at age nine,Toms Outlet wanted to create Toms Shoes Sale a combined beauty Coach Outlet and utility of the perfect shoe.Christian Louboutin Shoes 13 years old,Oakley Sunglasses he already has his own shop,Oakley Sunglasses created the first pair of Burberry Outlet tailored ladies Michael Kors Outlet shoes,Coach Factory Outletthus beginning the first step to Coach Outlet Online found the Kingdom of Coach Purses his fashion. 1914,Kate Spade Outlet Ferragamo came to United States,Toms Shoesfirst and brothers sisters are North Face Outlet with open has a fill shoes shop,Coach Outlet then and to has California,North Face Jackets at comes as Toms OutletCalifornia movie industry North Face Outlet rapid development,Nike Outlet Ferragamo from and movie Nike Hoodies knot Xia has bond, was as movie Tory Burch Flatssuperstar of dedicated Shoemaker,Marc Jacobs Handbags for example he design of Rome Jimmy Choo Shoes type sandals will in Jimmy Choos more out movie in True Religion Outlet the appeared had,ED Hardy Outlet including Cecil b. DeMille of Burberry Belt classic of for ten Tory Burch Boots?commandments (Ten Commandments).Louis Vuitton Belt The late 40 ‘s and 50 ‘s,Ferragamo Belt Italy fashion developed Marc Jacobs Handbags rapidly, Ferragamo factory output up to 350 pairs Lululemon Outlet of shoes a day, a number of movie Christian Louboutin Shoes and television celebrities,True Religion Outlet like Greta Garbo,Tommy Hilfiger Outlet sufeiya•luolan,Michael Kors Outlet Audrey Hepburn,Coach Outlet Eva Peron and Marilyn Red Bottoms Monroe have all Kevin Durant Shoes attracted designed Ferragamo shoes,New Balance Outlet there were even rumors Adidas Outlet that Garbo was ordering 70 Coach Outlet Online pairs of his shoes at a time. Since many stars Stephen Curry Jersey began to wear Ferragamo products Vans Outlet under the screen,Ralph Lauren Outlet so the surge Ugg Boots Sale in orders, but Ferragamo did not meet,UGGS For Women he continues to try toSkechers Go Walk find out the secret of Adidas Yeezy Boost manufacturing shoes always fit,Adidas Yeezy even at University Adidas NMD studying human anatomy,Coach Outlet while dropping in on North Face Outlet the chemical engineering Ralph Lauren Outlet and math courses,Puma Sneakers discover skin care Polo Outlet and the use of different materials,Under Armour Outlet new knowledge and new Under Armour Hoodies approaches. Ferragamo manufacture shoes,Herve Leger focusing on natural balance shoes must MCM Belt ultimately be made Nike Air Max by hand. In 1927,Louboutin Heels saw Italy lacks experienced shoemakers,Jordan Retro 11 Ferragamo Converse Outlet decided to return to Nike Roshe Run his hometown and opened his store in Florence,UGGS Outlet with as many as 60 people,North Face Outlet said at the time Adidas Originals it was first person Ray Ban to mass production of Lebron James Shoes hand-made shoes. However,Sac Longchamp after the 1929 Wall Street crash,Air Max Pas Cher Ferragamo in 1933, declared bankruptcy,Chaussures Louboutin forced by desperation,Chaussures Louboutin but focused on the development Chaussures Louboutin of the home market. Because of the war, restrictions on leather,Coach Outlet but it encourages the idea Salomon Shoes of Ferragamo, he wrote and directed use True Religion Outlet of dyed palm leaf New Balance Outlet fibers and cellophane both Skechers Outlet materials manufacture of uppers,Nike Outlet soles were wooden and Cork heel,Adidas Outlet high heel platform shoes Red Bottom Shoes and SAG made New Jordans and brightly colored geometric Air Max 90 patterns on the painting or carving,Coach Factory Outlet or mosaic gold glass ornamentation.