Focus on farming needed to awaken sleeping giant

China's infrastructure work has helped sector, but vibrant commercial farming is necessary

Agriculture, by and large, still defines Africa's path to achieving its sustainable development goals by 2030.

Experts, professionals and economists estimate that 70 percent of the continent's economy, down from 90 percent, is still agrarian-driven five decades after most African states gained independence from European colonial powers.

The continent, home to the world's highest number of developing countries, is ranked the poorest, but also the one with the greatest impetus to achieve its potential in the next decade.

However, for Africa to wake up from its slumber and become great - in actuality, not just in prospect - a lot needs to be done. Not least, a vibrant and competitive commercial agricultural sector needs to be put in place.

Statistics, while painting a grim picture of the agricultural sector in Africa, indicate just how much the continent is dependent on it. Let me put this into context.

At least 80 percent of the continent's population lives in rural areas, with 70 percent entirely dependent on agriculture. The sector accounts for 60 percent of employment, 20 percent of total exports and 17 percent of GDP.

Ninety percent of the continent's agricultural produce is supplied by small-scale farmers, who unfortunately also make up at least 50 percent of Africans affected by food insecurity.

The subsistence farming-based economy that is the norm in most African countries is unsustainable, as food insecurity exists across the continent. Industrial and manufacturing industries, which could offer alternatives to agriculture, are either nonexistent or ailing in most African states.

A strong industrial or manufacturing sector is needed to provide the necessary employment opportunities for young people while adding positive elements to the economy. However, this is long term, so agriculture, which has the potential to produce immediate returns with minimal resources, should be encouraged.

The sustainable development goals aim to eradicate global problems such as poverty and hunger by 2030. For example, objective No 2 seeks to achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

The typical African farmer still faces harsh realities including unstable market prices, a lack of basic farm supplies like seeds and fertilizers, inefficient markets, poor road infrastructure for transporting producing, and a lack of appropriate technology.

The over-reliance on rainy seasons for growing crops is another challenge. At least 95 percent of agriculture in Africa is rain-fed, which is a gloomy situation, as rainy seasons are no longer reliable due to climate change.

The Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in December presented Africa with an opportunity to address some of the biggest issues affecting the continent.

President Xi Jinping addressed the issues with his Ten Cooperation Plans for his nation's engagement with Africa from now until 2018. Top of the agenda is modernizing agriculture to make it sustainable as well as eradicating poverty and hunger.

Xi pledged that China's cumulative direct investment in Africa would increase to $60 billion, up from the current $30 billion, over the next three years.

Since taking office, the Chinese president has emphasized the need for infrastructure development in Africa. In the process, he has initiated several development projects that focus solely on infrastructure.

One example is Xi's vision for the "three networks", a plan to connect all African capitals via high-speed rail, highways and air routes. The 461 frameworks for China-Africa economic cooperation also show that the Chinese agenda is primarily focused on infrastructure development.

That focus has, however, directly benefited the ailing agricultural sector, as transportation of produce to and from markets has been improved, reducing losses. Nonetheless, more urban roads have benefited from improvements than rural areas, which is where farm produce comes from.

Since the launch of FOCAC, there has been a concerted call for stronger Sino-African political and economic relations. This has borne fruit, as relations have never been so strong as they are today.

China supported the setting up of the African Union as well as implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, a technical framework body within the AU that focuses on the eradication of poverty and creation of sustainable development. It is through NEPAD that China has mostly engaged in Africa's ailing agricultural sector.

In 2011, for example, a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding with NEPAD CEO Ibrahim Mayaki. The agreement was to review existing and possible partnerships in agriculture, infrastructure development, and science and technology. Since then, more agreements have been signed, while projects funded by Beijing have been rolled out in African countries including Zambia.

China and NEPAD agreed to the cooperation so as to accelerate the growth of agriculture, reduce hunger and poverty, transform rural areas, and spur infrastructure development.

After the agreement, the inaugural China-NEPAD Agency Agriculture Cooperation seminar was held in September 2011, and it has since been held every year. It acts as a forum to discuss agricultural research and aquaculture and marine fishing, and to exchange experiences on agricultural development.

The cooperation has enjoyed much success in contributing to the overall improvement of farming in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.

More funding for NEPAD from Beijing after recommendations at the Johannesburg summit will ensure that the agricultural sector that Africa relies heavily on is transformed into a strong contributor to the overall GDP of the continent.

The author is a PhD student at Kenyatta University in Nairobi and a contributor to China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/09/2016 page13)