1

Is Is ““Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture””Sustainable for Africa? Sustainable for Africa?

A keynote Presentation by:A keynote Presentation by:Dr. Rita LakerDr. Rita Laker--OjokOjok

Executive Director AT Uganda Ltd.Executive Director AT Uganda Ltd.

Debate:Debate:

Resolve that:Resolve that:The narrow minded teaching of The narrow minded teaching of

““sustainable agriculturesustainable agriculture”” as as interpreted to imply interpreted to imply ““purely organicpurely organic””with with ““zero use of nonzero use of non--renewable renewable resourcesresources”” is dooming Africa to a is dooming Africa to a future of poverty, starvation and future of poverty, starvation and misery.misery.

2

What does What does ““SustainableSustainable”” really really mean?mean?

Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. irreversible damage to ecosystem health.

Two key issues are Two key issues are biophysical (the longbiophysical (the long--term effects of various term effects of various practices on soil properties and processes practices on soil properties and processes essential for crop productivity) and essential for crop productivity) and sociosocio--economic (the longeconomic (the long--term ability of farmers term ability of farmers to obtain inputs and manage resources such as to obtain inputs and manage resources such as labor). (labor). (WikipediaWikipedia))But sustainability must be looked at not only at But sustainability must be looked at not only at the micro level the micro level –– e.g. one farm or household but e.g. one farm or household but also at the Macro Level also at the Macro Level –– e.g. sustainable e.g. sustainable production of adequate food for the entire world production of adequate food for the entire world population. population.

In the modern world, no production In the modern world, no production system can be considered system can be considered

sustainable in the absolute sense.sustainable in the absolute sense.With the exception of purely subsistence With the exception of purely subsistence communities, all production entails some communities, all production entails some use of nonuse of non--renewable resources in the renewable resources in the movement up the food chain from movement up the food chain from producer to final consumer.producer to final consumer.Purely Purely ““organicorganic”” production of high cost production of high cost specialty items for niche markets in specialty items for niche markets in developed countries may be the most developed countries may be the most unsustainable when the resource cost in unsustainable when the resource cost in terms of transportation, packaging and terms of transportation, packaging and marketing is included. marketing is included.

3

Too many students of agricultural Too many students of agricultural development believe that:development believe that:

““Fertilizer spoils the soilFertilizer spoils the soil””““We know farmers canWe know farmers can’’t afford commercial inputs t afford commercial inputs so we donso we don’’t teach them that.t teach them that.””““Hybrid seed is bad because you have to buy it Hybrid seed is bad because you have to buy it every year.every year.””““Input traders are only interested in cheating the Input traders are only interested in cheating the farmers.farmers.””““Purely organic production is always more Purely organic production is always more profitable for farmers because prices are higher.profitable for farmers because prices are higher.””

Instead, the bottom line should always be, Instead, the bottom line should always be, what is better for the farmer in terms of what is better for the farmer in terms of total returns to land and labour, while total returns to land and labour, while preserving the long term productivity of preserving the long term productivity of the natural resource base.the natural resource base.

Soaring prices simply show that Soaring prices simply show that Demand is exceeding Supply Demand is exceeding Supply

Rome, 29 April 2008Rome, 29 April 2008 -- FAO DirectorFAO Director--General Jacques General Jacques DioufDiouf today called on the international community. today called on the international community. Dr Dr DioufDiouf said, said, ““The time for reThe time for re--launching agriculture is launching agriculture is now and the international community should not miss now and the international community should not miss the opportunity.the opportunity.””““We must produce more food where it is urgently needed We must produce more food where it is urgently needed to contain the impact of soaring prices on poor to contain the impact of soaring prices on poor consumers, and simultaneously boost productivity and consumers, and simultaneously boost productivity and expand production to create more income and expand production to create more income and employment opportunities for the rural poor,employment opportunities for the rural poor,”” Dr Dr DioufDioufsaid.said.““We have to ensure that small holder farmers have We have to ensure that small holder farmers have proper access to land and water resources and essential proper access to land and water resources and essential inputs such as seeds and inputs such as seeds and fertilisersfertilisers. This will enable them . This will enable them to increase their supply response to higher prices, to increase their supply response to higher prices, boosting their incomes, improving their livelihoods, and boosting their incomes, improving their livelihoods, and ultimately benefiting consumers as wellultimately benefiting consumers as well””..

4

5

The world will have 9.3 billion people by 2050. The world will have 9.3 billion people by 2050. To feed them you need to either increase productivity To feed them you need to either increase productivity or increase area under cultivation.or increase area under cultivation.Which model is more environmentally friendly?Which model is more environmentally friendly?

6

7

Too little FertilizerToo little Fertilizer

Low yieldsLow yieldsNutrient miningNutrient miningExpansion for Expansion for agriculture into agriculture into marginal areasmarginal areasLoss of vegetal Loss of vegetal cover & biodiversitycover & biodiversityOrganic matter Organic matter decline (soil and decline (soil and vegetation)vegetation)

Too much FertilizerToo much Fertilizer

Inefficient and Inefficient and unbalanced use of unbalanced use of nonnon--renewable renewable resourcesresourcesPollution of Pollution of groundwatergroundwaterNutrient loading of Nutrient loading of wetlands & waterwayswetlands & waterwaysAcidification (also Acidification (also happens on clearing happens on clearing land for cultivation)land for cultivation)

Friends not FoesFriends not FoesStrongly increased and spatially targeted Strongly increased and spatially targeted

fertilizer use in Africa should be a major fertilizer use in Africa should be a major component of integrated crop, water and component of integrated crop, water and nutrient management.nutrient management.Helps reduce deforestationHelps reduce deforestationHelps reduce biodiversity and habitat lossHelps reduce biodiversity and habitat lossIncreases carbon sequestrationIncreases carbon sequestrationAvoids people and animals encroaching Avoids people and animals encroaching forests and desert marginsforests and desert marginsHas both private gains and global Has both private gains and global environmental benefitsenvironmental benefits

8

9

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Africa needs to make the shift to more

productive livestock, not just more manure producers.

10

11