Agriculture’s Role in the African Economy
From time immemorial, and in various stages and points of human existence, agriculture has contributed in more ways than one to the livelihood of various African communities and countries. According to an article published by Paul Chiudza Banda on Diplomatist.com,
“Agricultural production, of both crop and animal husbandry, has been part and parcel of the livelihoods of African societies since about 8,000 BCE (Before the Common Era). The early focus was on the production of cereals (such as wheat, millet, and sorghum) and root crops (especially yams). There was also a transition towards the domestication of wild animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. Such transitions occurred in different phases in various parts of the continent. To date, agriculture remains the backbone of most sub-Saharan African economies, contributing an average of about 25 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
The article goes further to itemise the “roles” agriculture has played over the years for Africa as a continent, as it states that; “Since its inception, agricultural production has had significant impacts on African economies." In the early years, the impacts include: (a) helping African societies to live in larger and more permanent settlements; (b) leading to a significant increase in population, mainly due to the abundance of food supply; © the development of sophisticated tools, such as the stone axe; and (d) settled societies also beginning to require forms of social organization, cooperation, and planning. Furthermore, those that produced surplus food often had the liberty to do trade with other trading partners. Such activities often led to the establishment of administrative structures and authorities, now known as “chiefs,” in most parts of the continent.”
The above excerpt shows that agriculture has played a pivotal role in developing the economy of the African nation. This is due to the large expanse of arable farmland across sub-saharan Africa, and the willingness of farmers on a large and small scale to tap into the productive and rewarding venture that is the agricultural sector.
Going further, the article states that from colonial times, agriculture played an important factor as most of the colonial African economies, were based on cash crops exported across the world. Quoting from the same article, “Furthermore, each African colony was also integrated into the international economy as a specialised producer of agricultural commodities." For instance, some of the notable cases included: Egypt (producer and exporter of cotton); Senegal (producer and exporter of groundnuts); Nyasaland (producer and exporter of tobacco and tea); the Gold Coast (producer and exporter of cocoa); German East Africa (producer and exporter of sisal); and so on and so forth.” For these countries, agriculture was the transforming factor, “as these areas with significant agricultural production were among the first to enjoy substantial infrastructural development, in the form of road and railway networks, aimed at transporting the agricultural produce to both local and international markets.” This laid the groundwork for present-day African countries to use this as a ground for further development, as many of these exports have remained in place to serve them.”Furthermore, agricultural production for export since the colonial era has provided millions of Africans with new avenues for employment. They have used these to sustain their livelihoods, either as direct agricultural producers or indirectly as employees in agriculture-related industries.”
The impact of agriculture on African economies is not more evident than between 1965 and 1980, when the economies of sub-Saharan African countries grew at an average of 1.5 percent per year of GDP, thanks to agricultural earnings.
Today, according to an article published on McKinsey Insights, “Agriculture in Africa has a massive social and economic footprint. “More than 60 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa are smallholder farmers, and about 23 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP comes from agriculture.”
But agriculture in Africa has faced a lot of setbacks, as a result of the oil boom, lack of crop insurance, low ROI for small farmers, lack of access to improved planting techniques and technology, and poor access to markets, among others.
Identifying these areas of concern and providing solutions to mitigate the effects of these factors on the agricultural sector is what Virfars, a subsidiary of Maslinar Group, has been created to do. As an agro-service provider, we create and provide scalable digital solutions (in the form of our products and services) through the use of state of the art technology.
Through our strategic partnerships, and products, which are;
- Virtual Farming.
- Land Leasing.
- and an Agro-mart
Individuals across Africa will be able to invest in farming, as we will lower the capital threshold needed to be a “farmer.” Our business solution, will also see increased productivity for small farmers, an increase in yield of food and cash crops, solve the headache of lack of access to markets for fresh farm produce, and also ensure food security across the continent in our own “little way,” while providing jobs for youths across Africa.
Virfars’ solution does not claim to possess the magic solutions to all the problems besetting the agricultural sector in Africa, but through our solutions, agriculture will once again play a more prominent role in the economies of nations across the continent, even as we seek to bolster investment and use of untapped agricultural lands.
