Reasons for Low Agricultural Yields in Africa
Why we should be concerned and what needs to be done.
Despite having over 60% of it’s population engaged in small-holder farming and the fact that agriculture contributes about 23% to the GDP of sub-Saharan Africa, food production on the continent remains very low compared to yields in many other parts of the world. Take for example rice which has a global average yield of 3.8-4tons/hectare, African farms only produce about 1.2–1.5tons/ha of rice on average. The case is similar for many other major crops.
Some of the well-known reasons for the low yield include:
Depleted soil fertility
Soil fertility is now decreased due to decades of land use by stripping nutrients from the soil without replenishing them. Methods used globally to replenish soil fertility include crop rotation with legumes, fallow periods, fertilizer use, re-incorporation of plant remains from previous harvests and lots more. However, many subsistence farmers in Africa are not well educated about agronomy and fail to take these into consideration.
Lack of sufficient inputs (mainly fertilizers and improved seeds).
Fertilizers are important in providing nutrients that crops need to grow at their optimum; while improved seeds are plant species selected for maximum adaptability and yield.
In Africa, fertilizer use is between 13–20kg/ha on average; only a fraction of the global average of 150kg/ha. And the reason is the cost — subsistence farmers can’t afford the quantities of fertilizer they need. Several African governments have tried to address the input problems by providing targeted subsidies on these materials. And although fertilizer use has improved significantly in recent years, the gap to close remains huge.
In Nigeria for example, 80% of fertilizer used is being imported; which contributes to the high costs. Governments can incentivise local fertilizer production or the use of organic fertilizer and bio-pesticides.
No mechanization
Most farms all over the world use machines like tractors, ploughs, seed planters and harvesters to make production easier and more effective. In contrast, 70% of African farmers still make use of hand tools. This is because agricultural equipment can be quite pricey. In this aspect, they need support from governments or innovative private actors like tractor and equipment hire services. A startup called Hello Tractor (popularly described as the ‘Uber of Tractors’), following the Uber model has created an app on which farmers can request the use of nearby tractors. Prospects like these are promising.
But another problem with mechanization is the small size of most rural farms. You can imagine deploying heavy duty equipment only to plough a 5hectare field. This is not very efficient. To solve this, small farms in close proximity may organise into one unit for more effective mechanisation. This is described as cluster or cooperative farming. Also, the roads leading to some farms are not suitable for tractors to drive on; especially considering the weight of these machines. This is also a set-back to mechanisation.
Poor farmer education
A lot of farmers are not properly trained in agronomy and still use outdated farming practices passed on over the years. These farmers need to be educated on the basics of plant nutrition, proper fertilizer/pesticide use, pest management practices and so on to optimize their crop yield. They also need to be taught technical skills on usung farm machinery. Farmer education can be addressed effectively through the use of demonstration farms and provision of farm extension services.
Extension workers are people trained to advice farmers helping them identify and analyse their production problems and become aware of the opportunities for improvement. They could either be employed by the government or offered as a private service.
Poor irrigation (water supply)
Growing food requires a lot of water. Globally, 70% of water is used in agriculture. With the changing climate, a lot of Sub Saharan African countries are already experiencing a shortage of water resources and changes in rain fall patterns which is predicted to get even worse.
Rather than relying on rainfall which is inconsistent and not nearly enough to feed their crops, alternative irrigation methods need to be deployed. Even though techniques like drip irrigation might still be too expensive for many rural farmers to adopt, alternatives like rain water storage can be promoted.
Inadequate private involvement
To some extent, the low productivity of the agricultural industry is a direct result of negligence from major business investors, science and research and the millions of unemployed youth in the region who are leaving agriculture mostly up to the uneducated rural population, and the government. This is not a good recipe for innovation.
Post-Harvest loss (Wastage)
Wastage usually starts from the farm; amplified by primitive harvesting methods and continues due to lack of proper storage facilities. There is also some major spoilage during transport; as produce most often have to travel many miles from villages where the farms are located, to big cities with larger markets. These post-harvest losses account for as much as 30% of produced food every year.
Why We Should be concerned about yields
- Agriculture alone has the potential to more than double Africa’s GDP. Ignoring it is simply an economic failure.
2. African populations are growing faster than any other region in the world. Importing food to close our demand-supply gap will only continue to cost the continent more and more.
3. The whole world at large is increasingly concerned about food security especially with land use and climate change; Africa needs to be ready for external trade shocks.
4. Africa has the most unused arable land in the world — that means well suited agricultural land and potential that’s just being misused.
5. More income for farmers will mean less poverty across the continent.
Summary/What needs to be done
- Governments should find sustainable ways to ensure that input prices are lowered; one of which may be encouraging local fertilizer manufacturers and seed research.
2. Governments and enterprises must find innovative ways to encourage mechanisation, by developing affordable, small-scale machines, by introducing subsidies or leveraging on the shared economy.
3. Basic infrastructure should be provided to encourage mechanization, trade and agro-industry.
4. More extension services, agencies and workers are needed. This should be prioritised by private service providers as well as government training and youth employment schemes.
5. Entrepreneurs and Youth involvement and interest in agriculture provides more opportunity for innovation and use of technology.
6. Policies should encourage capital and private investments in agricultural commodities.
