Welcome to the monthly newsflash of Idasa's Agriculture Expenditure Project, highlighting useful articles about Agriculture in Africa, including a focus on policy and small farmer participation.

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Report Finds Radical Change Needed for Global Agriculture

A new report released in pivotal global meeting suggested a change as radical as those occurred during industrial and agriculture revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries to transform the agriculture agenda to meet the challenges of climate change and population increase. The report strongly recommended the need for massive reform, investments to agricultural research, production increases and addressing food security issues in urban areas. Read more here.

Assessing the role of microfinance in fostering adaptation to climate change

The current policy debate on adaptation to climate change has focused on estimation of adaptation costs, and ways to raise and to scale-up funding for adaptation. There is however little emphasis so far on actual delivery mechanisms to channel these resources to target the poor. In new research paper, the lending portfolios of the 22 leading microfinance institutions in Bangladesh and Nepal are analyzed to assess the linkages between microfinance support activities and adaptation to climate change. And, areas of opportunity were identified, where microfinance could be harnessed to play a greater role in fostering adaptation. Read more here.

Ghana Widens Fertilizer Use to Boost Cocoa Yields, Board Says

The Ghana Cocoa Board plans to double the amount of land under fertilizer use as it targets production of 1 million metric tons of the beans by 2012/13. The board subsidizes 40 percent of the cost of a bag of fertilizer and uses licensed buying companies to distribute the chemicals to farmers. The smallholder farmers that produce the crop in the Western Africa average yields of 300-500 kg. per hectare, below the potential of 1 metric tone (1000kg.). Read more here.

U.S. sees food security as next big Africa push

e Obama administration will put food security at the heart of its Africa policy, as it seeks to enhance ongoing U.S. efforts on trade, investment and HIV/AIDS on the continent. According to a top U.S. diplomat, the administration want to see the food security initiative take on greater momentum as more African countries are drawn into this program. U.S. was a major backer of a plan unveiled by the Group of Eight (G8) developed countries last year to spend $20 billion over three years to help small-scale farmers in Africa and parts of Asia. Read more here.

“Please Cut Emissions and Help Us Adapt”

Africa is profoundly vulnerable to climate change though the entire continent produces only 4% of the global total carbon dioxide emissions. The reason for that is that it is less resilient. The contribution of agriculture in Africa to climate change is insignificant compared to what happens in the developed countries just because, if you take the case of inputs like fertilizers. The use of inputs is low in almost all African countries. Only 8 kg of nutrients is used per hectare in Africa as compared to about 150 kg of nutrients in Europe or around 120 kg in Asia. Read more here.

Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa

Organic agriculture is a sustainable and environmentally friendly production system that offers Africa and other developing countries a wide rage of economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits. Evidence from research shows that agricultural yields in organic systems do not fall, and at least remain stable when converting from systems that use relatively low synthetic inputs, which frequently found in Africa. Given the paper’s origins, special attention has been given to East Africa. Read more here.

More articles

Africa is Capable of Feeding itself

Farmers Insured Through Mobile Phones

Smallholder Agriculture and Land Reform in South Africa

Kenya eyes software to boost coffee marketing

East Africa: Cattle Fever Dealt a Blow on the Nose

Agriculture-Zimbabwe: New Methods to Maximise Yields

Cotton production declines in Zambia

250,000 tonnes of maize smuggled to Kenya

Agricultural reforms in Tanzania to kill cash crops, gov’t warned

Embed water security in national development planning: GWP

UGANDA: Pressure Mounts to Make Public Oil Agreements

Tanzania: Eight Million Locals Skip Meals

Agribusiness and the right to food: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food

How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab