Africa’s salvation lies in small-scale farmers

The money, according to the G8 declaration, will support local ownership of development.

Toward this end, the G8 expressed their support for CAADP and acknowledged the importance of public-private partnerships, particularly Agra. It encouraged countries and private actors “to join in the common effort towards global food security through a coherent approach.”

This is exactly what sub-Saharan Africa needs—a coherent approach that will make the most of our strengths to overcome the inertia of decades.

Agra’s approach is to invest in places that have the best chances of successes — the breadbasket regions of Africa. We need to bring together a critical mass of resources that will catalyse change across the agricultural system; build the capacity of farmers’ organizations to work on behalf of their members; and develop high quality, competitive goods.

At the same time, we must boost farm incomes across wider and more challenging environments, working to minimize disparity in development, and to reward innovation and spread success wherever possible. Across the board, the public and private sectors must work together with full transparency.

One high-potential area with strong partnerships backing growth is northern Ghana, which could become a major producer of high quality rice — in contrast to the region’s current production of so-called “stone rice,” that is full of pebbles.

To move from being a net importer to net exporter of rice, Ghana’s farmers need much better crop varieties; land and water management; processing and marketing; and better access to credit.

Smallholder farmers may be small-scale, but their farm enterprises can still be viable and sustainable. They are Africa’s greatest asset. Now is the time to invest in our farmers, with emphasis on smallholders, implementing coherent strategies that double or quadruple their yields.

Only then will the elements of an African Green Revolution begin to take hold, and will Africa become a full partner in the effort to achieve a food secure world.

Dr Ngongi is the president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).