AGRICULTURE IS AFRICA’S JAB FOR FOOD INSECURITY

In Africa, the agriculture sector is essential for growth, poverty reduction, and food security. More than half of rural employment in Sub- Saharan Africa consists of self-employed farmers, many of whom are women. Agriculture contributes 12 percent to Kenya’s GDP, and GDP growth originating in agriculture is about four times more effective in reducing poverty than GDP growth originating outside the sector. It is also the largest source of foreign exchange, accounting for about 40 percent of the continent’s hard currency earnings; and the main generator of savings and tax revenues. The sector also remains the dominant provider of industrial raw materials with about two-thirds of manufacturing value-added in most African countries being based on agricultural raw materials.

Agriculture in Kenya continues to dominate Kenya's economy, although only 15–17 percent of Kenya's total land area has sufficient fertility and rainfall to be farmed, and only 7–8 percent can be classified as first-class land.

Almost 75 percent of working Kenyans made their living by farming, compared with 80 percent in the earlier days. About one-half of Kenya's total agricultural output is non-marketed subsistence production.

A report by the African Development Bank Group indicates that agriculture supports some 70-80 percent of the total population in Africa, including 70 percent of the continent’s extreme poor and undernourished. This means labor-intensive growth in the sector holds much promise for poverty reduction. Long-term investments aimed at boosting agricultural productivity will contribute to inclusive growth by creating employment opportunities for women and youth. Likewise, the agricultural sector is crucial for finding paths to development that will ease pressure on natural assets while managing environmental and socioeconomic risks better.

Unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential and tackling food insecurity will require sustained coordinated investment using an integrated value-chain approach. While these interventions may be initiated by the public sector, there is need for increased linkages with the private sector, by promoting PPPs in agricultural projects and programs.

  

Food insecurity

There are several products that are exhibited during agricultural shows but they are not implemented outside despite the technologies that are involved in them. Therefore, there is need to strengthen extension services and food security.

Globally, the socio-economic growth of any country is based on the transformation of knowledge, science and technology into goods and services. Integration of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) into national production processes is central to the success of Government’s policy priorities and programmes that lead to development, growth and competitiveness based on new innovative ideas as outlined under Kenya Vision 2030.  This is of significance in this era of demands of global economic competitiveness, sustainable development and equity concerns.

Development of the necessary scientific and technological infrastructure as well as the technical and entrepreneurial skills is an essential prerequisite to the transformation of Kenya into a knowledge-based society. This is because Knowledge-based economies are at advantage in today’s liberalized global market. 

Kenya, and Africa in general is faced with enormous challenges; scientific interventions are needed to ensure food security in the context of climate change. Africa continent should therefore embrace the emerging technologies like modern biotechnology normally undergo risk assessments making them even safer than their conventional counterparts that we normally consume without knowing the risks involved.

As a response to market failure, or as an effort to accelerate market-driven social change, technology transfer may combine public and private sector or rely solely on public institutional mechanisms to identify, develop, and deliver innovations and information. The challenges to technology transfer efforts center on developing indigenous capacity to generate and adapt agricultural technology to local conditions. This is the primary objective of technology transfer in agriculture and the basis for advancing rural development.

The main aim of technology transfer is to modernize economies and transform the way products are produced so countries become more efficient and productive within the global market system. The technology to be transferred is said to not only benefit large scale production, but also to assist small producers and manufacturers of goods, be they in the agricultural sector or otherwise.

A new technology must be socially acceptable and beneficial on many levels, adding to the overall capacity of communities to maintain healthy and sustainable livelihoods.

In a globalized economy, technology licensing and transfer of technology are important factors in strategic alliances and international joint ventures in order to maintain a competitive edge in a market economy.

For this nation to grow to a sustainable economy, the Government should put more focus on agriculture as it creates employment opportunities for youth and helps in promoting more women in farming.