The performance of African agriculture is now a concern to the global community more than it was a decade ago (AGRA, 2013; Bates & Block, 2013; de Janvry & Sadoulet, 2010). It is increasingly blamed for causing global poverty as it fails to sustain the lives of Africans who depend on it for livelihood.
Africa is the second highly populated continent after Asia. It is now a home for over a billion people, half of whom are poor. The continent is endowed with climatic conditions that allow a variety of crops to grow well. Africa is also blessed with amazing natural resources like wildlife, forests, minerals, and large fresh water bodies. In fact Africa has over 600 natural lakes and over 300 permanent rivers. Honestly, the list is longer.
Many livestock, for a billion people of many bare feet……
Growing up in Africa, you learn to serve visitors the best. There will always be a chicken to slaughter for visitors, and the best portions for them to eat. They will also sleep on the best bed, with best beddings that nobody else in the family sleeps on them. These are usually called ‘visitors’ beddings’, or visitors’ glass’, ‘cups’ ‘plates’, or ‘spoons’, etc…. And these would usually be the most expensive, and of the best quality afforded by the host family. Nobody touches them, unless there is a visitor.
We are still serving our visitors the best…..
Half of Africans are poor and 70% live in rural areas. This makes poverty in Africa largely a rural phenomena. As a matter of fact, a duality exists, where you have an impoverished rural community on one hand, and a richer or better off urban society on the other. Consequently, development in most African countries is inherently urban biased.
Basically, we have the developed vs underdeveloped scenario replicated in each African state (Minus a local aid portfolio to specifically help the underdeveloped rural).
My plea is therefore for the elites to invest in rural areas and close the existing gap. Let them do substantial business with rural people by opening shops, supermarkets, building trade schools /colleges etc., sending good vehicles to do rural transport business, opening entertainment halls, building libraries, pushing the government to electrify all villages, joining forces to have reliable water systems, providing agricultural equipment for hire like tractors, harvesters, millers, etc., establishing real estate business to provide affordable rental houses for teachers, doctors, nurses, etc. so these can feel comfortable to provide services in rural areas, etc.
Afrika Digest 