The Future of Farming expressed via Social Media

Photo Credit: @Farming_bants 

As the whole world got round to celebrating  the World Food Day week, groups gathered everywhere from the global movements,to regional, national and even local levels to celebrate the progress they had achieved in reducing the effects of the never ending problem of hunger and poverty and the subsequent challenges encountered on the same journey. The World Food Day celebration designated by FAO for October 16 targets to increase awareness of the problem of hunger  in the world, promote transfer of technologies in the world  while strengthening both international and national struggle against hunger, poverty and malnutrition. Read on the objectives of the World Food Day HERE.

World Food Day isn't about 1 day, 1 week or even 1 month, as events take place thru the year. Here's what's going on: http://t.co/KsAJFhFKWr
— World Food Day (@FAOWFD) October 31, 2013

In line with the 2013 theme on Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition, European Twitter chat groups led by @agrichatUK brought together farmers from all over the world in a closely coordinated twitter chat to discuss and share their experiences as pertains their producing food for the global population. The event attracted participants from USA, UK, Netherland, Australia, Kenya, Canada and EU culminating to a total of 3664 tweets,890,282reach from 632 contributors(Source:AgrichatUK) This was held under the guidance of six questions that follow thus:

• Q1a : Please introduce yourself by saying who you are,where you are from and what food you produce and share any farm pictures! #AgriChatWorld
• Q1b : Tell us about Agriculture in your country.What is your country famous for and what are you most proud of?  #AgriChatWorld
• Q2 : What is the biggest challenge and/or opportunity facing you as a farmer in your country? #AgriChatWorld
• Q3 : As a farmer or consumer, do you feel the effects of globalisation? What are the local or global aspects of farming? #AgriChatWorld
• Q4 : How do you think farming and our food system will change in the future? #AgriChatWorld
• Q5 : Do you think farmers around the world can work together? If so, how and why? #AgriChatWorld
• Q6 : What would be your number 1 wish for the future of food and farming in the world?

Two questions grabbed my attention (question 2 and 6) as they provided insight on whats happening in the field of farming globally and presented an uniform view around the same.Some of the challenges farmers face turned to be similar and at the same, some challenges presented an opportunity in themselves.As reported during the chat,these challenges included:

*Tuberculosis
*Lack of local slaughter facilities. Can't get sheep processed in time
*One of our biggest challenges in many parts of the USA is water issues (too much or too little)
*High land prices and slipper farming (claiming subsidy but not actively farming)
*Biggest challenge for NZ is market access and dispelling the myth of the footprint
* Large problem is having all sectors constantly placed in competition with each other.Need to begin to work together more
*Biggest challenge in my mind is educating the public about where their food comes from, it's scary how many have no idea
*Biggest challenge is competition for land
*Problems? Changing, extreme weather and constantly evolving rules probably top of the list.
*Maintaining a diverse, sustainable agricultural base in face of mono-culture commodity farming has to be common challenge
* Biggest challenge is to feed the world using sustainable production methods
(Find a continuation of the challenge/opportunity tweets  HERE)

The other question looked at the future of farming where participants expressed their wish for agriculture.These included;

*To preserve the earth we have and still feed the mouths that need to be fed.
*That everyone would have enough nutritious food to eat while preserving a sustainable world
*More small farms = more farmers = system for food resilience
*Top quality food at a fair price for consumer, producer and farmer
*I wish we could all be #Agvocates and tell our story to all!
*That people would appreciate the real value of food. If we do that everybody including the environment will benefit.
*My one wish would be reduced food waste - so much work goes into its production - more respect for food and farming
*Healthy farms, healthy environment, healthy farmers
*That I leave my soil for the next generation capable of sustainable production
*That we could manage as farmers to feed the already 842 million people going hungry globally
*I wish the weather could learn to behave itself & do as its told.
*That we pull off the miracle of feeding everyone over the next 40 years. I really hope we make it.
*That farmers got the respect they deserve & bad farmers disappear
* Profitably produce highly nutritious food at a level that is globally abundant and affordable
*That I leave my soil for the next generation capable of sustainable production
*Sorry I've got 3: educated buyers, sustainable farming systems, closer farming community
*My #1 wish is for consumers to learn everything about where how their #steak and other food gets to their plates
* That everyone is educated on the power of ag & the necessity to support our farmers in sustaining our world
( Find the whole set of the wishes from farmers HERE )

Farming is the big thing almost happening. What is your one wish for the same?What challenges do you face as a farmer? And its my hope that as we set on the path of producing food for millions of people, Chief Seattle words will constantly echo in our minds ;  that we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors but rather we borrow it from our children.

Are we having too much Agricultural Talk to ourselves?

Photo Credit: Photocase.com

I am an ardent conference attendant, agricultural related ones to be specific. It’s more of a habit I developed way back in campus as an avenue for bringing to practice the theory I learnt in class. Of late, I have developed a liking for those whose focus is geared towards that overly famous term Food Security.  I call it famous because if you do a major keyword search on it, it ranks highest where agricultural matters persist.  And just like Technology makes Africa appear sexy, Food security takes over where matters of Agriculture thrive.

That was the same feeling I was left with when I attended a recently organized Africa Food Security Conference and Agri Exhibition in Nairobi. At some point, the “Enough is Enough” voice inside of me developed some sort of energy. This is how it all went down.

I was looking for content to help me understand the state of Food Insecurity in Kenya as part of feeding my farming mind and along the way I stumbled upon the conference call. Its location being in Nairobi made it much easier for me to attend. As usual, there were some new learning’s gained in the process, some common ones and the worst case scenario. For the sake of it, I will lump them up in to the good, the sorry and the worst.

The Good Side

If you have ever been in the horticulture industry, then KEPHIS is no newcomer to you. These are like the Kenya Bureau of Standards mandated to certify agricultural inputs and produce for both imports and exports. My “wow” moment with them was when I realized they have an Electronic Certification System that has been in place since last year. The ECS , a business to government and government to government web system allows for ease in preparation of export documentation for export produce in the case of both cut flowers and fresh produce. 

Photo credit:IITA

The other one was courtesy of IITA  whose product AflaSafe , a safe and cost effective biocontrol product helps  reduce the presence of  aflatoxins both in the field and in the stores. Its basically a mixture of four atoxigenic strains of A. flavus of Nigerian origin held together by colonized sorghum grains and are usually broadcast on fields 10-20kg/ha 2-3 weeks before the flowering of the crop in question occurs. With a lot of our produce being burnt due to aflatoxin contamination, and Aflasafe having been documented to decrease contamination of groundnuts and maize in Nigeria by 80%, -90% in the last two years, it seems quite a viable option for eradicating aflatoxins. Read more about it HERE 

The Sorry Side

Dr Betty Achan Ogwaro who was the Minister for Agriculture for South Sudan was scheduled to attend as one of the keynote speakers on transforming agricultural systems and farming for the 21^st century. A week prior to the conference, the president decided to sack all of the cabinet ministers. Reasons behind this remained unknown to us and as a result she couldn't make it to come

Can you imagine?

The Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad.........

I have a very big problem when 98% of the conference attendants are 55+ in terms of age and a majority working in Not-for-Profit institutions. The very few young faces present were journalists whose major interest was to cover the stories. The only young people present there were Charles Muthui, a practicing farmer in Nyeri who graduated the other day from Maseno University and chose livestock keeping as his full time venture. Also present was MuhammedMukanda, a young person advocating for more young people to join the venture and lastly me. None of us had a formal invite. We found ourselves there.

The state of presentations was also quite wanting. If the slides were not swamped with lots of detailed writings, then some presenters reported on what their organizations are mandated to do rather than what they have done or are have been doing to ensure food insecurity is a problem of the past.

The other point is on not having resolutions after the conference. So people have come and gathered together to share their insights on how to make Africa food secure. So what?  Apart from the lovely cups as take away gifts, what’s the resolve towards the theme “Sustainable Food Security to Match Economic Growth-Seeking long-term commitment to ending hunger in Africa”? If we can’t go beyond using keywords like Food Security to make agriculture look sexy, then that might be one of the many reasons that ten or twenty years from now, we shall look back nostalgically at the state of food insecurity in the world.

Last but not least, the organizers didn't give me a lunch voucher for the second day which meant I had to pay for my lunch. And of course you know Laico Regency aint my everyday joint in the hood. So definitely my pockets shed a few tears  L L

My take

Every conference needs a balance between practitioners sharing knowledge, farmers airing their challenges and a youth presence to maintain a sustainability element as agricultural torch bearers. I am lucky to have served and still continue to serve in all the three capacities. Without all these coming together, we might be just like that man who winks at a woman in the dark. Only he knows what he is doing.

I rest my case!

Linking Agriculture,Food Security and Nutrition Competition

SecureNutrition along with GAIN and Save the Children are partnering to create the Harvesting Nutrition contest, which aims to showcase projects from around the globe that have bridged gaps between agriculture, food security, and nutrition. There is currently considerable momentum to bring the agriculture, food security, and nutrition agendas closer together so that investments in one will have positive impacts on the other. More and more stakeholders - big and small - are prioritizing nutrition as a key to success in development. How to address nutrition through other sectors such as agriculture, and through food security interventions, however, remains a significant operational knowledge gap.

Aims of the contest

This contest aims to collect and disseminate practical knowledge that relates to these unanswered questions. Through this contest, we invite you to tell us about your experience in linking agriculture, food security and nutrition. Your experience can range from the design, implementation and/or impact of your work/project/program implementation.

The Harvesting Nutrition contest aims to answer the following questions:

·     What field-based examples of the linkages between agriculture, food security and nutrition are currently being tested?

·     What has been done operationally to bring agriculture, food security, and nutrition programs and policies closer for improved outcomes?

·     What are the principal challenges of integrating a nutrition sensitive approach in adjustments to agriculture and food security programs and activities in each of these sectors, and how were they overcome?

The awards

To encourage a wide cross section of program experiences, SecureNutrition will offer three awards of $5000 each and a multimedia documentation of the winners in each of three categories: Most Scalable Approach, Greatest Impact on Nutrition, and Most Innovative Approach. The multimedia documentation will involve sending a photographer and interviewing the winners to create three separate “video portraits” of the winning projects. 

How to enter

Please send the completed submission form ​to SecureNutrition@SecureNutritionplatform.org by September 15, 2013. All submissions will be posted on the SecureNutrition website, and winners will be announced in November 2013. For more information and background about this contest, please view our fact sheet and the contest's official rules.

For non-English speakers / Para grupos que no hablan inglés / Pour les groupes qui ne parlent pas l'anglais

Damos la bienvenida a propuestas de proyectos de todas las regiones del mundo. Si usted no se siente cómodocon el idioma Inglés, puede utilizar el sistema de Google Translate para traducir las informaciones de su idiomaoriginal al Inglés.

Nous vous invitons à soumettre des projets venant de toutes les régions du monde. Si vous n'êtes pas à l'aise avecla langue anglaise, nous vous encourageons à utiliser Google Translate à partir de votre langue originale à l'anglais.

Reblogged from https://www.securenutritionplatform.org/SuccessStories/Pages/SNHN.aspx

Craving for some meat? How about a Test Tube burger?

The lab grown burger.Photo Courtesy AFP

A month ago, i had a chance of being part of an agricultural conference whose major themes were etched on how Africa can realize the elusive goal of food security. Of particular interest, was the keynote address by one of the speakers during the Youth, Education and Farming session. She teased that with the static trend of many youths not having an interest in agriculture coupled with the dire need to feed a growing population, in the near future, food production might shift  from the farms to the laboratories with our consumption consisting of mainly  insects and  food pills. This evoked some laughter and some giggles could be heard here and there. That was not possible. Yeah, Not in our time .Definitely not now.

Fast forward to August and actually the occurrences are talking place already. Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN recently released a publication titled "Edible insects.Future prospects for food and feed security" that outlines major edible insects of the world and the role they can play in the looming global food insecurity. And that is not all.

Just a week ago, Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder startled the world by investing close to 250,000 euros to create the world's first lab made burger. This was made possible by a team of researchers led by Dr Mark Post of Maastricht University. For a period of five years, they had researched on how to grow the said beef in the lab using  stem cells from a cow's muscle. With some beetroot juice, butter, sunflower oil and muscle stem cells , the burger was up and ready for testing.Their research objective of producing meat in the lab which is identical to the normal meat seemed close to being realized.

The Reasons behind this........
As Brin revealed during the beef tasting event in London last week, his  idea came about after seeing how animals were treated in the process of ensuring the final beef comes to your table.A process he repeatedly stated he wasn't comfortable with.

Sergey explaining why he funded the first test tube hamburger

Dr Post displaying the lab made burger.Photo David Parry EPA

Dr Post on the other hand accepted to take lead in the said research after considering how global meat production is affecting the environment in terms of increases in GHGs emissions and pollution. He views cows as inefficient animals which utilizes close to 100g of vegetable protein to manufacture only 15g of edible protein.If lab made beef became evident, it would imply that less feed would be utilized hence the saving on production resources and also a reduction in  methane production,a major constituent of the green houses gases and usually produced by cows.

More questions than answers?
The test tube burger is one that hasn't failed to bring forth some heated topics on its contribution to the global food security given the increasing  population numbers.A majority of countries in the world really on livestock for their livelihoods. Back home, close to 70% of the population rely on livestock for their daily livelihoods. Does this burger in any way promise a better standing for them?

What of the nutritional value and taste derived from the burger.Is it another junk food type in the making? Also the description of the taste by the attendants was "the burger tastes like a protein cake". Some went ahead to state that only when you closed your eyes and imagined the burger, would you tend to feel its taste similar to the beef ones.

Also it raises the question on why do meat consumers prefer meat over other food types? Is it because of its appearance in the reddish, muscle state or is it because of its taste? My Maasai friends once told me that the blood and fat are the major components making meat tasty and juicy. What now?

During last year's World Water Day whose  theme was "Water and Food Security" , meat is rated as one of most water intensive products. It takes 20 times more water to get 500 calories from beef than from rice. But, the discrepancy comes in to place as to whether the world ready for Test tube burgers while most of the smallholder farmers in developing countries are grappling with issues like lack of access to finances, lack of available extension services,

All said and tasted, the big question still remains. Is the world ready for some test tube burgers? And  can lab grown meat satisfy the  increasing demand for meat globally? What are your thoughts on the same?

Food Insecurity in Africa. A man made Famine?

“An empty stomach is not a good political adviser” read the Albert Einstein quote brought to twitter by Calestous Juma who participated remotely often giving his thoughts on the ever elusive discussion on food security in Africa . 

Africa has been a recipient of many interventions aimed at improving the status of food security and while some of them have worked,  hunger remains a reality for many people in the continent.

In trying to understand the lurking issues in food security and how they can be solved,  Society for International Development (SID) with support from Rockefeller  brought together in Nairobi's Fairmount The Norfolk, experts from all over Africa to take part in a two day  dialogue, June 12th -13th 2013  dubbed Rethinking Food security in Africa: New paradigms, New approaches with an aim of promoting  reflecting and bringing  forth conversations on the seemingly elusive challenge of attaining food security in the continent. 

Key note address

Stephano prato giving his keynote address

In his opening remarks, The SID managing director, Stephano Prato welcomed the participants and highlighted the role of SID in creating an open space to facilitate dialogue around the issue of food security while acknowledging the role Rockefeller plays in devising innovative solutions to ensure food security in Africa. 

He noted that for Africa to achieve the goal of food security, three initiatives needed to interplay. The need to unpack the narrative of growth in the area of food security to highlight whats working and for who, bringing forth the equity and inclusiveness of growth,and increasing our focus on Climate change and its effect on the growth and development in Africa.

Mwihaki Kimura from Rockerfeller foundation also highlighted on the role the foundation plays in  food security quoting their recent initiative of innovation for the next 100 years where they  provide the resources, networks and technologies needed to move innovation from idea to impact. Find more about it (here)

 "As the AU celebrates 50 years of panafricanism, Africa continues not be able to feed itself as food security issues are never given a priority.Political Issues the likes of ICC seem to dominate the table more and more and not those of how Africa can feed itself" Noted Mr Ali Hersi as he paved way for the discussions by introducing the round Table conversation

Session 1:Africa's Food security Dilemma: Moving beyond good intentions

The conversation brought together the thoughts of four speakers on why the conversation around the issue of food security are still at the table with endless dialogues around the same. These speakers were: Dr Abdirizak Nunow (University of Eldoret) Mr MagodeIkuya (Molo Integrated Agro-Farming Initiative Uganda), Mr Gershon Nzuva (Past Chairman Central Agricultural Board) and Adetola Okunlola (Institute of Poverty, Land & Agrarian Studies PLAAS).

Some of the key points raised include:

• Undeveloped Infrastructure:  Availability of food might be there in one area but accessibility to the same might be lacking in another area.
• Misplaced priorities:Land is leased to multinational organizations who grow non food crops and if they do grow food crops, they are exported back to their countries. Countries focus on export crops(flowers, fruits, cash-crops) and forget to feed themselves . Take another example where "A golf course pays more than using the same land to grow millet" 
• Land grabbing:There is also evidence of massive land grabbing incidences in Africa and the state does little about the same.
• Sectoral approach to agriculture instead of a national approach which at times gives precedence on the crop production part and not the livestock production part.
• Mental migration of youth who would rather be idle than engage in farming activities due to the western mentality of farming being a poor man's profession.
• Adverse effects of climate change which are rather "tribalistc" and "angry". It rains in one area and not in another and at times the rain washes away all surface soil leaving it bare and infertile.
• Politics on agricultural policies taking precedence over food security.Politicians  in Africa make food security policies to suit their terms of office or help them get re-elected for another term of office. As a result,the policies put into place if any are short term which at times leaders use to their advantage to stay on power.
• Lack of linkages between  rural economies with the national economies. All we ever talk about is the global economy. 

From the discussions, it was evident that we need to go beyond the good intentions that many private sectors bring to the fore.But,how do we go about it?

Recommendations from the panel

• Formalisation of contract farming and introduction of urban and Peri-urban farming
• Conservation of water bodies by restricting cultivation along the water bodies.Early warning and information systems on weather patterns systems
• 'Feed ourselves before exporting" notion needs to come in play.
• Capitalization of the agricultural sector before commercialization of the same.Capitalavailability is a vital factor in the farming arena.
• Involvement of farmers and all party players in the policy formulation process for better impact
• Develop farmer friendly and women friendly technologies for farming. Women produce 70% of the food in Africa
• Need to "glocalise" our thinking, Think globally, but Act locally 

Session 2:Ideology and Food Security
The session constituting of Mr Situma Mwichabe(SID), Dr Alex Awiti(Director East African Institute of the Aghakhan University) and Oby Obyerodhianbo(Strategic communications Advisor at Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, PATH) sought to seek whether Africa had an ideological commitment towards food security.

Situma Mwichabe presenting his paper

Presenting his thought provoking paper on "Ideology and food security in Africa" Situma Mwichabe defined ideology as a system of peoples' beliefs, mindsets, practices & philosophies that acts as guiding stars and inspires them towards reaching certain targets. 

From the discussions, it was evident that:

• Africa has no ideological commitment to food security but rather has mandated the UN,NGOs, World Bank,FAO of the UN, AGRA, Academia to carry forward the agenda of food security. These players happen to be drivers of green revolution agrarian ideology in Africa but not  farming communities per se.
• The African leadership has no political will  in defining the necessary ideology to tackle food security. For instance, African Development Bank  has allocated to Africa close to  US $4-6 billion a year  for the last 40 years to develop the agricultural sector and still the continent is going angry. Where is the money? What is evident for us to see in the area of food security? Is money the ultimate goal among these leaders.
• The African people have a mindset too that prevents them from making progress in the area of food security. For instance, the notion among some African communities that red millet doesn't fill the stomach hence no need to cultivate it. 
• Farmers in the  in Sub Saharan Africa are so content with the status quo. They seem content with selling their produce in raw form at either farm gates or along the road side.
• Africa might be lacking the philosophical mindset necessary to effect change. Political arena  had Karl Max, Christianity had Jesus. A new breed of thought leaders is needed to shape Africa's food security ideology
• Africans have mastered the art of outsourcing the responsibility of their problems to development partners and neo colonialism. Farmers have a tendency of  expecting the govt and NGO's to sort out the menace of food security. Or another scenario where women groups in Sub Saharan Africa being content with projects of 200 birds per group of 20 women over 10 years.
• Valuing life and dignity go hand in hand with  food security. Africans  are less concerned about the number of people that die of disease and hunger because if they were, food security would be an initiative of all

 “Does Africa care about it's image? Do we care about our dignity as Africans? Or are we comfortable with what is out there? Are we okay with the pictures that come out of Africa with hungry children whose ribs are like guitar strings? Because if we did care about that the world perceives of us, then we would do something about it.”

 Oby Obyrierodhiambo via Ruth Aine.

Recommendations from the panel

• Countries need to play with their competitive advantage. The Gulf States are food secure by wholly depending on their oil. Israel on the other hand has placed all its resources on agricultural research to ensure the food security goal is realized.
• There is need to empower farmers to help shift their dependency syndrome and teach them how to  seek solutions to their own problem. This can be through the creation of role models whom they can look up to vis a vis creating enabling environment for their farming.
• Conversations around the issue of food security in Africa must be initiated and framed by Africans and not foreign institutions
• The government has a role in moderating the private sector involvement in agricultural development
• We need to consolidate a shared vision of what we want as Africa. That is the vision that will then shape our ideologies.
• We need to mobilize our internal  finances and not leave this task to the World Bank and Food Agricultural Organization.
• We need to set , know and internalize a continental agrarian ideology and not only build but support a Pan African consensus around this ideology
• We need to educate societies about our ideology and ensure the masses are angry at the status quo.

The question remains, whose responsibility is it to develop the ideology?

Session 3: Technology and food security

Dr Paul holding one of his  improved cassava variety

The session which was led by Dr Nicholas Ozor(African Centre for Technology and Policy studies) and respondents Dr Paul Seward( Director Farm Inputs Promotion Africa) and Dr Hannington Odame(Director Center for African Bio-Entrepreneurship) sought to bring to fore a discussion on technologies that have succeeded in Africa and those that have failed.

Various technologies, mechanical, biotechnology, biological and indigenous have to interplay for food security to be a realizable goal in Africa.Mechanical technology involves the use of simple traditional hand tools and animal and engine powered equipment during the farming process.Biological technology on the other hand refers to the use of high yielding varieties of inputs like seeds and fertilizers while Biotechnology and nanotechnology refers to the use of commercially acceptable techniques to make/modify products using living organisms.

Nevertheless, various challenges have prevented the adoption of these technologies hence resulting to lower productivity per hectare. These challenges include but are not limited to:

•  Most countries are lacking policies on biotechnology and bio-safety laws hence its not easy to identify what technology is harmful and what is useful to the people. More so, there is  poor implementation of existing ones and coercion of multinationals to local governments to soften the existing  local countries bio safety laws. A case of Monsanto to the Tanzanian government was quoted.
• The continued  fragmentation of land in Africa renders mechanization impossible.We have numerous farmers, in diverse ecological zones cultivating tiny pieces of land.
• Preference for  taste of food has prevented farmers from adopting new/high yielding varieties.For instance when eating Pap, farmers prefer the organic varieties because of quantity, and yet the improved variety has better quality.
• Volatility of food prices, poor infrastructure and weak agricultural systems that doesn't deliver research to farmers effectively.
• Peoples attitude and culture where land ownership belongs to the man only. Also some arable fertile lands for instance in Nigeria are wholly dedicated to gods
• Presence of conflicts derails tech adoption.Food security is both a cause and effect of conflict. Each triggers and reinforces the other. 
• Lack of biodiversity patent rights policies  in many African countries
• Unbalanced demand and supply of technology

Recommendations from the Panel

• Indigenous knowledge and technology backed up with necessary policy frameworks have the potential to ensure food security.They all need to interplay.
• There is need to integrate crops and animal farming. 
• Developing a targeted approach to inputs assistance instead of blankets interventions goes a long way in ensuring food security.
• Integrating in agricultural extension and policies the benefits costs and risks of these technology interventions.
• There is need to stress on post harvest technology which has the potential to give farmers a competitive advantage in the market.

Session 4:The African Farmer

Dr Abdullahi Khallif presenting on The African Farmer

The session consisted of Dr Abdullahi Khalif(Country representative FEWSNET Somalia), Dr Julius Gatune(African center for Economic Transformation), Adetola Okonlola(PLAAS) and Dr Dawit Alemu(Director Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural research)

Presenting his paper on the African farmer, Dr Abdullahi sought to examine the role of the African farmers in reducing food insecurity, the challenges they face and their potential in feeding the continent.

Results of the discussions

• Africa possesses cultivators/herders and not farmers and they don't have the mindset to realize that farming is a business. The average farm size for a subsistence farmer is estimated at 204 hectares and 69% of these farmers cultivate less than 2 hectares.
• The African farmers cannot really feed the continent.They are to a significant portion susceptible to climate variability and have to their disposal  unfavorable ill advised policies which ensures they remain cultivators/herders and not real farmers.

Recommendations from the panel

• There is a greater need to develop Integrated large scale farming , farm inputs, market linkages and infrastructure if the African farmer is to feed the continent.
• Crops and animal husbandry has to be prioritized if food security has to be achieved. This move will see the 79% of the uncultivated land in Africa utilized. 
• The African farmer needs to a change of mindset to enable him see farming as a business and not a subsistence activity. To enable this, he needs to be empowered financially via access to credit, technology adoption through proper and targeted extension services provision.
• As we look in to the commercialization of the african farmer, there is need to also strengthen their informal markets by linking them to the regional trade markets.
•   Govt expenditure in agriculture in the national budget is 6% of the total budget since 1980 in Sub Saharan Africa. There is need for more government commitment especially in the policy and funding area.
•  In search of the African farmer, we are so homogeneous .This is a narrative in need of change

 Tweet of the day
 When we talk of #Foodsecurity, we talk of food, and when we talk of food, we talk of politics~Dr Khalif #FAS2013
-Emmie Kio @emmiewakio June 12,2013

 Check out the storify tweets from DAY 1 Here

DAY 2

The day began with a recap of the previous sessions under the facilitation of Arthur Muliro of SID who set the discussion  ball rolling and was quick to chip in his thoughts concerning the already discussed sessions.

"We always talk about these things and when we leave, there is no action done. We need to go beyond the rhetoric " he asserted before paving way for the round table conversation on gender.

Session 5: Integrating gender issues in food security. Going beyond the rhetoric.

The round table conversation constituted of Okumba miruka(Independent consultant), Ester Mwaura-Muiru( Founder GROOTS Kenya) and Elias Mutinda (Agriculture and Food security Advisor, Action Aid Tanzania)

Kicking off the session, Okumba Miruka brought to the audience attention a "Man made famine "film that was made in 1995 on the event of the decade of women. From the film, the challenges women faced then are so fresh and relates to them today. They have no access and control to land. Most of it is in the hands of their husbands who make decisions on how its to be used. At some point in the film, the women are forced to clear their maize crops and instead plant sugarcane. The weeding of the cane is left to them as traditions do not allow men to help women and when the proceeds of the sugarcane sell comes in,the man gets paid.

"When the men have the money, all they think of is beer and prostitutes" Asserts a woman from the film.

As Sichabe pointed out in the ideology discussion  this is one film that angers many in the room and brings forth a heated discussion

The results of the discussion

• Women in Africa are not recognized as the real farmers , and owners of the land and yet they do most of the agricultural work.
• Culture is a major impediment on women contributing to food security. There is the existence of a culture in Africa that food has to be produced by women.
• Women have no say in the decision making process at the household level.
• Lack of time for agricultural activities is one of the hindrances to food production. Women spend more time doing household chores.
• Religion is also another obstacle facing women in farming. Women aren't supposed to work during religious festivals

Recommendations from the panelists

• Gender planning is paramount. Analysis has shown that female headed households are more food insecure compared to male headed households.
• Food security should come first before market security. The notion of feed thy household first before feeding others need to be reinforced.
• Women empowerment programs need to be reinforced first so that women know their rights and have an avenue to make decisions for themselves. Elias mutinda stated of how representation of women in farmers organization in Tanzania is limited.  Action Aid Tanzania helps empower women to know their rights and hold the state accountable for the same especially on the issues surrounding land.
• Target approach. There is need to identify which type of women we are talking about if we are to necessitate change. Ester Mwaura suggested the registering of land titles to family names instead of individual names to ensure agricultural productivity continuity even if a main member of the family pass away
• New insights to things.Ester Mwaura explored innovations like Multi storey gardening that ensure women maximize productivity in limited lands. 
• The micro-financing model to women is no gooder to them. They need to be in the FINANCING model

Land ownership, access to land were different before westernization, colonization & evangelization happened.- Dr Oby #FAS2013
— Aine (@Ruthaine) June 13, 2013

Do you agree with Dr Oby?

Session 6:Youth Education and Farming

The session constituted Katindi Sivi(Program Director SID East Africa) and respondents Moses Mutungi (Farm Concern International),Olawale Ojo (Agroprenuer Naija) and  Emmie Kio (Young Professionals in Agricultural Research for Development)

Katindi Sivi on behalf of Dr Cream Wright presented a paper "Youth and the challenge of food security in Africa" which argues that food food security to be a realizable goal, there is a need to cultivate a new breed of practitioners  for sustainable progress and proposes innovative career patterns for young people.

Later on Olawale shared his experiences as a young agroprenuer in Nigeria.He emphasized on the practicality of the agriculture lessons in schools as learning by action holds more water. He wowed the crowd with the video below made by Massey Ferguson as an initiative to lure youth in agriculture.Its titled " Youth in Agriculture for a new generation of farmers"

Emmie shared her urban farming experience and explained the role of YPARD in bringing forth a voice in the agricultural research development arena.Moses on the other hand shared the works of Farm international in building the capacity of the youths by provision of incubators through the "kuku houses" project.

The session turned out to be the most heated one and brought to fore many issues affecting youth participation in agriculture.


The results of the discussion

• There is an existent mindset that agriculture is a poor man's profession.Not many people are willing to guide their children to take agriculture related careers and if they try, the children objects to the idea.
• Agriculture happens to be viewed as the bitter option by older generation when all other options have failed. This has found its way to the young generation too.
• Our institutions are also wanting. Majority of the students are given the Agriculture courses at university as last resort after failing to secure any other position.
• Africa doesn't invest in its youth as most of the leaders are etched on the notion of youth being leaders of tomorrow.

@emmiewakio we need to stop spreading the ideology that farming is a poor man's profession. #FAS2013
— Adetola Okunlola (@AdetolaOkunlola) June 13, 2013

AND HOW DO WE DO THIS?

Recommendations from the panelists

• Creation of a talent academy  sort of  like the ihub to nurture Agriculture start-ups/ innovations.
• Involve youths at every stage of discussions/meeting and making them stakeholders and not merely afterthoughts of these meetings/conferences.
• Youth's interest begins at home. Parents need to offer the given support to their children interested to pursue agree- related careers.
• There is need for more opportunities/mentorship which helps in building the skills and capacity of these young people.
• There is a need to reshape our institutions as pertains agricultural curriculum. Surprisingly in Kenya agriculture has been scrapped off the high school curriculum.Changing the mindset is a gradual process.
• Youths wants recognition at every sector in the agricultural chain. They tend to be relegated at the marketing side of agriculture as there is a misconceived perception that they are only interested in the marketing side of agriculture.This came out when in the gender session Ms Mwaura said youth aren't interested in owning land at all. They prefer marketing the produce.

Yes! Give youth a chance; support them in taking their own responsibility to tackle food insecurity - You'll be surprised! #FAS2013
— Marina Cherbonnier (@MarinaDev) June 13, 2013

When all is said and done, the responsibility for a food secure Africa lies with each one of us.Remember, it all starts with feeding yourself first, before feeding others! 

Tweet of The Day

#FAS2013 Africans need to define their own theory of change-they understand their problems better.
-Hudson Wereh (@hwereh) June13,2013






PS:
Check out storify tweets for Day 2 Here

Find a mini recap of all the sessions on our Tumblr:Africa Dialogue Speaker Series Volume 1 ( HERE)
 
Photos from the sessions

And here comes the YPARD new-joiners courtesy of  the event

A big thank you to the Organizers,the onsite social reporters and all those who participated remotely and made the event a success!

Overcoming the twin challenges of youth unemployment and food insecurity: what role for agricultural employment?

Blog post by  Dr. Jennifer Leavy  a researcher at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, UK.

Conducting greenhouses checks in Mombasa :Photo Courtesy Emmie

 In the contemporary context of profound and significant global change, youth unemployment levels have hit historic highs (ILO, 2012a,b,c; OECD, 2012)[1], and despite improved undernourishment estimates in the two decades to 2007, one in eight people suffered chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012 - one in four in sub-Saharan Africa - according to the recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) State of food insecurity and hunger in the world  report (2012).

Add to the twin challenges of youth unemployment and hunger and food insecurity, an apparent ageing of the farm population – the average age of farmers is now in the range of late-50s to early 60s across the globe from The United States to Europe, to Africa, to Australia.On the surface the answer seems simple enough: encourage young people to farm and we solve three ‘problems’ in one fell swoop.

Agriculture will provide under- and un-employed young people with employment and income, this in turn will provide the food we need via increased production, and ensures farming is passed from one generation to the next. This message adds yet another  framing of young people as the saviours of undernutrition to the many other framings and narratives that place young people in the role of saviours (of the agriculture sector) or ‘sinners’ (young people are too lazy for agriculture, idle, unemployed)[2].

It seems obvious – if more than a little instrumentalist in approach. Of course the answer is not as simple as that.

Strong messages emerging from primary research with young people in rural areas under the Life in a Time of Food Price Volatility project – a four-year study across ten developing countries - and from the Future Agricultures Consortium  youth theme, focusing on young people and agricultural policy processes in sub-Saharan Africa, shed light on young people’s attitudes towards agriculture and the likelihood of being able to address food security concerns via engagement of young people with the sector.  Some of these attitudes include:

• Most young people have no interest in agriculture, not within their own visions for their future. This is often echoed by their parents. By agriculture, people invariably think of farming: back-breaking work, low input, 365 days a year for little or low return. Those who do see a future for themselves in farming believe it needs to be ‘smarter’, more productive and more reliable. More modern?

• Agriculture is not considered to be delivering the types of lifestyles and status that young people desire and expect. These are important dimensions of the attractiveness, or otherwise, of agriculture (invariably farming) as an occupation. Agriculture is not considered able to deliver via incomes and working conditions the kinds of lifestyles young people need, expect and desire in the 21^st century, lifestyles that are ever more visible thanks to revolutionary advances in communications technology that is accessible to (almost) all, even people living in the most remote rural areas. In this respect, agriculture is regarded as a poor person’s activity, going beyond living standards to people’s sense of pride and self-respect. These are important dimensions of wellbeing[3] and take us beyond narrow, one-dimensional conceptions of what it means to be poor, marginalised and disadvantaged. If agriculture is not able to deliver either the desired living standards or the prospects for upward mobility, then the likelihood of attracting young people into or retaining them in the sector is low.

• Education is a double-edged sword. Higher education levels overall mean that young people are being educated kinds of agriculture on offer. With higher levels of education they seek jobs with higher skill levels than those of the smallholder farming activities that most face. But higher unemployment levels, especially among the youth, suggest that work and education are failing as key routes by which people move out of poverty, and as crucial mechanisms linking economic growth to poverty reduction. More children than ever go to school, but what they learn appears to be far removed from the skills needed in the 21^st century (UNESCO, 2012; World Bank, 2012). This is as much true for agriculture sector skills as any other.

• Agriculture is often seen as a last resort, something you do if you fail: in school,  as migrants in town or abroad, in non-farm businesses. Or may not even be an option at all – pressure on resources, especially land scarcity, pose serious barriers to entry for young people. This is highlighted sharply by Getnet Tadele and Asrat Ayalew Gella’s work in Ethiopia, and is not peculiar to this setting. This is a recurring theme across the ten countries in the Life in a Time of Food Price Volatility project. An apparent sense of insecurity around farming, related to unpredictable climate variability, volatile food prices, rising costs, further acts as a deterrent.

These emergent findings suggest policymakers need to think beyond the conception of (young) people as units of labour to be placed in jobs. To engage and empower young people in agriculture, the sector needs to be able to address young people’s aspirations and their expectations, and offer potential for social mobility. Using the language of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and FAO, rural employment needs to be ‘decent work’[4] – but as the importance to people of self-respect and status highlights, it needs also to address broader conceptions of human wellbeing. Farming needs a change of image to get over entrenched, though not unfounded, beliefs that it involves dirty, laborious work at low skill levels for low returns. And we need to reassess what we mean by ‘farmer’ in the 21^st century. The broader agri-food framing called for by the Future Agricultures Consortium can go some way towards this, potentially recasting agriculture as an aspirational career choice by highlighting opportunities throughout the industry.

Re-blogged from the Global Food for Thought website. Find the link to the original article HERE