Comments on: Is Agriculture Reducing Poverty in Africa? Why is the African Farmer Poor?

By: K. Afrane Okese

K. Afrane Okese — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 18:20:16 +0000

In reply to Dr Imme Gerke. I believe we can. Perfectly said.

By: Dr Imme Gerke

Dr Imme Gerke — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 10:50:58 +0000

Most of the money that is spent to improve poverty never reaches those who need it. Farmers need the tools to grow a quality crop that they can sell. That quality crop requires water, fertilizer, plant protection products, storage facilities and a distribution chain for their produce. Only then does the farmer have something to sell with which he/she can make money and alleviate poverty. Nothing of this new but new is that farmers can speak up and demand what they need. You just need to show them where to ‘speak’. For example, there is an international program to support farmers in gaining access to the plant protection products that are efficacious, affordable, and accepted by buyers of crops for the domestic and the export market. However, African farmers do not know about it and the organizations that do know and speak for the farmers choose not to do so. I am trying to change that. Maybe through this group we can achieve it.

By: K. Afrane Okese

K. Afrane Okese — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 22:43:24 +0000

In reply to Davidson Kwame Dzilah.

The point about marrying more women is funny and very true.
They require a new mindset to make agriculture profitable to them.
Thank you, Davidson.

By: Davidson Kwame Dzilah

Davidson Kwame Dzilah — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:34:27 +0000

The already poor and illiterate farmers sometimes use monies doled out to them to pay for loans that they acquired earlier, marry more women to be used as farm hands, resell farm inputs given to them at subsidized prices and most times refuse to adopt modern farming practices and strangely just fail to apply the inputs and leave them to cake or washed away by rain. The poverty stricken farmer also uses the products from the farm to pay market queens and so forth, hence perpetuating the poverty that is self imposed. God save us.

By: K. Afrane Okese

K. Afrane Okese — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 09:28:04 +0000

In reply to Gideon Adu Donyina. I appreciate you breaking them down into the various points and I agree with the first point on eating fresh from harvest. Holistically, there are other factors that overshadow that benefit as you have stated.

By: K. Afrane Okese

K. Afrane Okese — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 09:06:19 +0000

In reply to omanbapa Korsah. I think farming as a business will be much easier for the literate. Or if these farmers are provided with the assistance in handling their farms as businesses. Don't you think so, Omanbapa?

By: K. Afrane Okese

K. Afrane Okese — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 09:02:47 +0000

In reply to David Opeku.

Fantastic, David.
You couldn’t have made it any clearer.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

By: David Opeku

David Opeku — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:25:45 +0000

this is an excellent question worth discussing. there is one major reason for the wasted billions in poverty alleviation. All the interventions are designed in a top-down approach which is highly discredited but persists. this is the usual model, billion dollar project , 100million needed to set up costly secretariat with expats and advisors and consultants, target 100000 rural farmers, give them inputs, subsidised fertilisers and improved seeds, increase production, hooray , target achieved, walk away. 2 years time the same farmers are poorer than before.
1. increased production almost always leads to a glut, falling prices , losses and more poverty.
2. the target farmers are always rural, illiterate, landless, conservative in practice and vulnerable. unfortunately, this description is music to the ears of funding agencies. they don’t like to hear about educated, landowning, self-sufficient and entrepreneurial farmers.
suppose i have $100,000,000 to invest. its it not better to give 100,000 each to 1000 educated farmers to expand their businesses. they will not need extensive support, dissemination of technology, storage support , processing or marketing advice. they will seek and find the best technologies for themselves. they will be able to share their success with local farmers who will emulate their strategies. new markets will be created and most are likely to be able to pay back the loans to keep the fund going.
we have tried this failed approach for decades , its time for change.

By: omanbapa Korsah

omanbapa Korsah — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 18:23:57 +0000

The African Farmer would cease to become poor only when he/she start to see farming as business and also do away with the middlemen and engage the consumers directly at their doorstep.

By: Gideon Adu Donyina

Gideon Adu Donyina — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:28:02 +0000

From mine perspective, African farmers are not too poor as some perceive them. Actually, richness, I think, is too broad to use as reference point. So if we could break it down and discuss it section by section.
To start with, in terms of food for consumption, I believe many will agree with me that most African farmers are really rich. Most of them eat fresh from harvest. Most of them eat quality and healthy foods thus, we
see them live longer.
In terms of financial breakthrough, after all these interventions of aid, I think our farmers must be schooled on effective finances. Most of them have too many sinks than sources of income. Whereas some take care of two to three wives with their children, others spend so much on less important things. Therefore, I suggest that aspect of their education(effective financial management) should be emphasized as it can go a long way to help.