SHAMBAPLUS Enhancing Technology in Agriculture and Industry for Food Security and National Growth. HLM2 GPEDC – Nairobi, Kenya 30th November 2016 Concept Note Kelvin Wahome | Felix Ongati | Daniel Mbugua | Dennis Banga

THE SITUATION ROOM: WE HAVE A PROBLEM FOLKS

Food for thought {{pun intended}}

“Feeding a global population of just over 9 billion in 2050

will require a 70 per cent increase in global food

production. This will require that agriculture – particularly

smallholder agriculture –plays a much more effective

role” IFAD

Smallholdings in developing countries, have long been

associated with poor farm practices, low productivity, low

income, intensive labour, lack of training, gender

inequalities and financial risks, have made the sector particularly unattractive to a new

generation of farmers.

Agriculture is increasingly becoming less lucrative forcing farmers in traditional food basket areas

to seek other ventures like real estate albeit the increasing population.

Climate change and increased biofuel production represent major risks for long-term food

security.

Let’s put this into perspective with a bit more detail

By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34

percent higher than today. Nearly all of this population

increase will occur in developing countries. Urbanization

will continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70

percent of the world’s population will be urban

(compared to 49 percent today). Income levels will be

many multiples of what they are now. In order to feed

this larger, more urban and richer population, food production must increase by 70 percent.

Annual cereal production will need to rise to about 3 billion tonnes from 2.1 billion today and

annual meat production will need to rise by over 200 million tonnes to reach 470 million tonnes.

One of the major problems facing agriculture is the loss of agricultural land, because as more

land is lost, it will become more difficult to produce the amount of food needed to feed the

growing human population. Worldwide, around three million hectares of agricultural land are

lost each year because the soil degrades and becomes unusable due to erosion, which is when

soil components move from one location to another by wind or water. An additional four million

hectares are lost each year when agricultural land is converted and used for highways, housing,

factories, and other urban needs. In the United States, around 140 million hectares of agricultural

land has been lost in the last 30 years as a result of soil degradation and conversion for urban

use.

“Total average annual net investment in

developing country agriculture required to deliver

the necessary production increases would amount

to USD 83 billion. The global gap in what is required

vis-à-vis current investment levels can be

illustrated by comparing the required annual gross

investment of US $209 billion (which includes the

cost of renewing depreciating investments) with the result of a separate study that estimated

that developing countries on average invested USD 142 billion (USD of 2009) annually in

agriculture over the past decade. The required increase is thus about 50 percent. These figures

are totals for public and private investment, i.e. investments by farmers. Achieving them will

require a major reallocation in developing country budgets as well as in donor programmes. It

will also require policies that support farmers in developing countries and encourage them and

other private participants in agriculture to increase their investment.” - FAO

But why is agriculture important for sustainable development?

“Rapid economic growth and increased agricultural

productivity over the past two decades have seen the

number of undernourished people drop by almost half.

Many developing countries that used to suffer from famine

and hunger can now meet the nutritional needs of the most

vulnerable. Central and East Asia, Latin America and the

Caribbean have all made huge progress in eradicating

extreme hunger.

These are all huge achievements in line with the targets set out by the first Millennium

Development Goals. Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to

development in many countries. 795 million people are estimated to be chronically

undernourished as of 2014, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation,

drought and loss of biodiversity. Over 90 million children under the age of five are dangerously

underweight. And one person in every four still goes hungry in Africa.” - UNDP

Tackling hunger is not only about boosting food production; it’s also about increasing incomes

and strengthening markets so that people can access food even if a crisis prevents them from

growing enough themselves. More than just its direct impact on hunger and malnutrition, our

food system is also linked to other development challenges being addressed in the SDGs. For

instance, rural people represent the largest segment of the world’s extreme poor by far – more

than 70% of the total. Growth in agriculture is at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as it

would in any other sector.

IS THERE A SOLUTION?

Small farmers are the key to feeding the world

Battle to feed the world pits small farmers against big agriculture but it may be smallholder

farmers holding the key to fulfilling global goals on hunger and poverty and nourishing the world.

All around the world, small farms are playing a big role in

feeding the world. According to the UN Food &

Agricultural Organisation (FAO), 70% of food we

consume globally comes from small farmers.

Given the adverse challenges of loss of agricultural land and climate that food production is

currently facing, it goes without saying that we cannot afford any wastefulness especially as we

require increased output per unit land area to cater for the over 2 billion more mouths in need

of food by 2050. The realization of this production growth potential will hinge on shifting rapidly

from resource based to science and knowledge-based agriculture.

ICT and Agriculture Value Chains

The strategic application of ICT to

the agricultural industry, the

largest economic sector in most

developing countries, offers the

best opportunity for economic

growth and poverty alleviation

on the continent. There is

realization that ICTs should be

integrated to be effectively used

in agriculture development as facilitating tools to boost its impact to the lives of farmers.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have shown evidence for easier access to

markets and information resources. The role of ICTs to stimulate agriculture, enhance food

security and support rural livelihoods is increasingly recognized and was officially endorsed at the

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003-2005.

The Agrarian Revolution – Second Edition

Better production techniques and market-oriented strategies will help generate a sustainable

source of income while contributing to the supply of agricultural produce to satisfy the world’s

increasing food demands. To ensure the future viability of the agricultural sector, tackle rural

poverty and generate employment opportunities, it is crucial to equip the farmers of today and

tomorrow with the right tools. Efforts to increase youth participation and boost economic

development in the agricultural sector are amplified when an integrated approach to ICTs and

capacity development is put in place.

So where does the revolution begin? Or rather has it begun?

The transformation and strengthening of

agricultural activities and processes through

technological interventions, such as those

induced by the various value chain

development initiatives funded by

development agencies, have resulted in a

recognition of smallholder farmers and

grassroots organizations as being essential

links in any agricultural value chain. This

recognition of their role and added value,

and the support provided through targeted programmes, offers farmers opportunities to develop

their farms and professionalize their farming activities. Such initiatives have already led to a

gradual increase of younger persons’ interest and involvement in farming, and has provided a

structural basis for farming-as-business. This context of positive market conditions and potential

profitability, in combination with being recognised and approached as important actors in the

chain, has made access to reliable market-related data and information on improved production

technologies more relevant and desirable than in contexts characterised by poor market access

for agricultural goods.

Our contribution – SHAMBAPLUS

Using technology to harness knowledge from data in order to advise farmers on the best crop to

grow based on forecasts of weather, market prices and farm agro-climatic conditions so as to

realize food security and enhance national growth. Our objective is to support farmers through

the agriculture value chain as they develop their farms and professionalize their farming

activities.