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Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
The next driver for agricultural transformation
Josef Kienzle, Agricultural Engineer Plant Production and Protection Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Content
• Context and trends• SMART approaches to intensify agricultural
production• The role of mechanization• Conclusions
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Current trendsBy 2050, world population will reach 9 billion
Declining annual crop yield growth rates: • 1960: 3.2% • Current: 1.5%• 2050: 0.8%
Urbanization• Today: 50%• 2050: 70%
Changing food habits
Undernourished people:• over 795 million• 75% in rural areas in
developing countries
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Context: Climate Change
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Region Cereal Yield[kg/ha]
Fertilizer Use[kg/ha]
Irrigation percentage of
arable landTractors per
1000 ha
Africa(not including Egypt
and Mauritania)1014 13 5 28
Average of 9 selected countries
(Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, South-
Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand,
Vietnam)
3348 208 38 241
Source: The World Bank (2007) as cited by FAO and UNIDO (2008)
How Africa compares with other developing Regions
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Source: adapted from Clarke, FAO, 1997, FAO and UNIDO, 2008
Central Western Eastern Southern0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
HandDraught AnimalsTractor
Power source usage in Africa [%]
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Smallholders in Africa in 2016
Most of the smallholders are women
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Smart System for smallholders
• Sustainable• Mechanization and
• Adaptation through
• Resilient
• Techniques
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
The Green Revolution Paradigm• Impact: Globally the
undernourished population declined from 26% to 14% between 1969 and 2002
• Downside: Pollution, reduced efficiency, loss of soil health, and soil erosion as unavoidable side effects
an integrated approach to sustainable production intensification
“more with less”
FAO’s response to the challenge
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
• Strengthen eco-systems and natural processes• to boost production and environmental services• to avoid waste and use inputs only as required by the system
• Focus on soil and ecosystem functions
Healthy soils are the basis for sustainable crop production
Sustainable Intensification Paradigm
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Rain
Run-off
LeachingSoil Structure
Organic Matter
Soluble elementsof organic or synthetic origin
Tilled (disturbed soil)
Undisturbed soil
Destination of Rainwater
Water is retained on site
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Destination of Inputs
productive
productive productive
leaching leachingleaching
run off
run off
run off
Actual reduced Undisturbed soil(Sustainable Intensification)
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Smart System for smallholders
• Sustainable
• Mechanization and • Adaptation through• Resilient• Techniques
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an approach to manage agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment.
CA is characterized by three linked principles: 1. Continuous minimum mechanical soil
disturbance2. Permanent organic soil cover3. Diversification of crop species grown in
sequences or associations(www.fao.org/ag/ca)
Climate resilient (smart) systems
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Conservation Agriculture
Mechanical Tillage
Biological Tillage
Action of Soil BiotaStructure/Porosity
Conv
entio
nal A
gric
ultu
reZero T illage
High SoilOrganicMatterLow Soil
Organic Matter
Soil Organic Matter = Drought Resistance
CO2
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
The suppression of tillage / ploughing reduces power
requirements by 50% allowing the use of smaller machines
F. Baudron; CIMMYT
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Development precision equipment in southern Africa
Sprayer, Dragon Engng (SA)
Piket DAP planter (SA)
Baufi 2-row ripper (Namibia)
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Mechanization myths:past and present
• Creates rural unemployment • Leads to monoculture and industrial farming• It is only for large scale-farmers • It is only about large manufacturing
companies• It is only about the public sector • It does not conserve natural resources
and is not climate smart
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Small-scale farmers and mechanization• Increases productivity, timeliness and incomes• Reduces drudgery• Enables improved resource use efficiency• Provides employment opportunities and new skills
development• Has the potential to reverse migration • Conserves natural resources• Enables gender transition • Provides opportunities for rural entrepreneurial activities
and business models • Encourages local manufacturing and south-south
cooperation
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Mechanization potential Productivity
Time efficiency
Drudgery
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Challenges to mechanization• Affordability • Availability and traceability (accountability)• Lack of farmer skills• Poor extension support• Few appropriate financial services • Environmental protection and pro-poor sustainability• Public-private partnerships • Lack of clear strategies and policies for mechanization
at regional and country level • Poor rural infrastructure• Rural youth has no interest in farming with ‘0’
innovations
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
• Using GPS and mobile phone technology to mark farmers’ fields
• Using up to 8 geo markers for characterizing a farmer’s field
The 8 points
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
• Online tracking of provision of mechanization service
• Payment to service provider by E-voucher
• Establishment of farmer profiles allow for stepwise approach to subsidized services
The area quadrants 5x5 m covered 36 out of 300
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Sustainable mechanization: Entry points
• Vision• Partnerships• Strategies• Systems
Tractor and machinery suppliers
Technical support and parts
Finance provisionTechnical trainingExtension services
Maintenance and repair services
Stakeholders in the farm machinery support network for smallholder farmers
Service Providers and
Farmers
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
512050 512100 512150 512200 512250 512300
214300
214350
214400
214450
214500
0.02 to 0 .25 0.25 to 0 .31 0.31 to 0 .37 0.37 to 0 .43 0.43 to 0 .50 0.50 to 0 .71
Vegetative Indices. Showing weed patches
Field mapping and precision Nand herbicide application
• Crop reflectance meters with GPS can be used to map field requirements
• Precision applications result in more efficient fertilizer use
• Weed seeker technology for selective spot spraying
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
• Intensive soil tillage is not SMART• There are climate smart mechanization
technologies available to all farm sizes• Reduced tillage and direct seeding systems
are SMART precision farming tools• There is a need for SMART mechanization
services • Monitoring of mechanization services is key
and GPS and mobile phone technologies provide technology for it (that is smart!)
• There is a need to get increased commitment from private and public sector stakeholders for sustainable (SMART) intensification
Conclusions
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
2. Reinforce human capacity-building
4. Provide financial support to enhance investment in AM
3. Improve business and enabling policy environment and make us of ICT and GPS technology
1. Promote environmental sustainability with SMART innovations and precision farming for smallholders
Conclusions
Smart and affordable farming solutions for Africa
Brussels, July 12, 2016
Thank youJosef Kienzle ([email protected])
Agricultural EngineerPlant Production and Protection Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations