FAO says poor farming techniques threatens Africa’s food security
By Chinyere Ogbonna- The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nation (FAO) warns that lack of modern farming techniques threatens Africa’s food security.FAO representative Mr. Josef Kienzle handed down the warning at the second conservation agriculture conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
The FAO Leader of the Mechanisation task team, expressed concern that until the government adopted modern technologies of farming, the continent would continue to depend on food aid.He said, there was need for a paradigm shift on intensive crop production since the current methods applied could not meet the challenges of the new millennium.
The FAO official noted that the use of crude implements and limited access to mechanisation and inputs such as quality seeds and fertiliser was affecting agricultural productivity in the continent with high population growth.
Mr. Kienzle stressed that the governments needed to allocate funds towards the depraved fertile land, drain ground water, pest upsurges, eroded biodiversity, air, water and soil pollution and sustainable intensification to help boost production.
He stated that the continual decline in annual crop would result to an increase in undernourished people in the continent.He suggested the application of tools that give minimum mechanical soil disturbance, ensure permanent organic soil cover and diversification of soil crop species grown chronologically.
The FAO official who advised that smallholder associations be formed, formalised and later institutionalised and connected to other institutions to help ensure information sharing said there was need to integrate sustainable mechanisation in collaboration with the private sector to enhance productivity and profitability.
“There is need to integrate sustainable mechanisation in collaboration with the private sector to enhance productivity and profitability,” he said.
He disclosed that majority of smallholder farmers in Africa were women as a result of rural-urban migration which had forced youths out of the farms to look for other means of livelihood.Mr. Kienzle noted that coaching and mentorship programs had been organized by producers in business groups to assist people in the business.
Kienzle disclosed that majority of smallholders in Africa are women as a result of rural-urban migration which forced youths out of the farms to look for other means of livelihood.He noted that coaching and mentorship programs have been organized by producers in business groups to assist people in the business.
