Key factors affecting agricultural intensification in Africa.( By Tariro Gwete)

Introduction

During the past four decades, the contribution of agriculture in Africa to production has been declining. Agricultural production grew at slower rate than that of population. This decline in agricultural production has been attributed to severe droughts, low farm prices, labour and capital flow into cities, cheap imports of food and neglected agricultural research. With per capita food production declining, higher commercial food imports and food aid have become necessary.

Hunger has become more wide spread, life expectancy has been declining, food security and access to proper diets have been deteriorating and growing open unemployment has been increasing. Environmental degradation has posed a serious threat to food production and rural livelihoods. There is poor physical condition of institutions, breakdown of judicial systems in a number of countries, poor state of roads and railways, corruption, oppression, tribalism and nepotism are increasingly evident. This is made worse by high transportation costs, inadequate market infrastructure, weak institutions and support services, and inadequate diversification and limited vertical integration,harsh environmental factors, poor infrastructure, insufficient or lack of use of modern inputs and poor crop and animal husbandry,high population pressure, ecological potential and economic factors,low labour intensity,low stocking rates,low land,low application of manure or fertiliser and poor policies to enhance market access,level technological,inputs and skills of the agricultural producers are generally considered as major factors retarding agricultural intensification. (Delgado1998)

Definition of agricultural intensification

Traditionally agricultural intensification has been defined in three ways,increasing yields per hectatre,increasing cropping intensity with two or more crops per unit of land or other inputs such as water and changing land use from low-value crops or commodities tothose that receive higher market prices (Godfrey et.al,2010)

Some have defined it as the cultivation of land where there are very high inputs of labour, fertilisers, pestcides, herbicides, fungicides to obtain the maximum output.

Lack of resource mobilisation

Poor agricultural performance has also been retarded by the lack of potential for resource mobilization and enhancing productivity through use of modern packages. Sustainable options for unraveling this potential lie in a well-concocted African green revolution (AGR). However, farmers will only utilize the modern packages if they know them and if the necessary inputs are available when needed (Elz, 1987).

Lack of markerts

Markets have a role to play in providing input supplies and providing signals about products and crops in which to specialize. Considering the fact that between 50 and 90 percent of the total production comes from small-scale farmers, the performance of smallholder producers is vital. Kenya like other SSA countries, displays the hallmarks of a developing economy. Agriculture still dominates the national economy with most of the output coming from small-scale producers (Odhiambo, 1998). Growth of the sector has deteriorated and this has been attributed partly to an increasing shortage of land suitable for agriculture and cultivation of marginal areas.

Poor agriculture policies

Agricultural policies adopted by a particular country in order to promote agricultural development plays a central role in agricultural change through extension services, development of technologies, subsidies, credit, and access to market (Lele & Stone, 1989).However,in African countries there has been a series of poor policies if not at all that support agricultural intensification.

Lack of research and extension services

Moreover, institutional involvement which equally plays an influential role in facilitating particular paths of agricultural intensification has been lacking  (Carswell, 2000). A s well as extension services that may be provided through formal and informal institutions, and are a key factor in making farmers aware of and enabling them to promote new agricultural technologies has also been lacking hence with holding the development of agriculture in Africa (Thapa & Rattanasuteerakul, 2010; Paudel & Thapa, 2004).  Arex mass employing and training extension workers for two months and deploying them soon after the Fast Track Land Reform

Commercialisation

 Lack of key factors that facilitate agricultural diversity and commercialization has also retarded the agricultural intensification across Africa.There should be a  rapid development of technologies; changes in agricultural production practices, such as improved seeds, chemical fertilizer use, technologies to control weeds and harvesting; improved rural infrastructure; and diversification in food demand patterns that will enhance the productivity of agriculture. (Pingali & Rosegrant, 1995).

Lack of credit and financial systems

Access to credit may enable farmers to adopt more capital intensive methods of production (Hazarika &Alwang, 2003). The development of agriculture may be increased if appropriate institutional systems for marketing farm products, agricultural inputs, credit systems and professional advice are provided (Weitz et al.,1976).Thus, sustainable agricultural intensification can be achieved by improving extension programs (inputs, new technology), credit provision, infrastructural services and the promotion of irrigation facilities. Lack of

effective credit systems has adversely affected agricultural development in this village. Farmers require credit for farm investment, production and for marketing.

References

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