"It's like a new life," says Lucy Banda Mwambaso farmer from the rural western part of Malawi. Over the past three years, the economy has tripled yields, and revenues increased by 15-fold (see. "Changed Life").
Banda is one of the 1.75 million small farmers in Africa, with 40% of women involved in 180 million. $ Five-year program, conducted by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. AGRA in 2006 founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.
A recent report said that the scheme is nearing its goals. Major projects in Tanzania and Malawi included 000 farmers in 18, while Ghana took down 117 000 average yields have doubled their holdings. From these three countries, the program has expanded the original 18-up.
"By 2015 we hope to reach the 20 million small-scale farmers," says Bashir Jama from Agra, in accordance with the organization's Soil Health Program.
Groups of farmers and agriculture ministers, scientists and financiers this week to meet the African Green Revolution Forum Ababa'oje Addis, Ethiopia. The main issue of the agenda - AGRA expansion scheme, says Jama. ...
African farmers have many problems, but the biggest one is infertile soil. Costs and poor infrastructure
long time did not allow farmers to fertilize their fields, and many African countries lose nutrients from the soil (see. above map). AGRA project is by far the most concerted effort to correct the problem. Its soil health program developed 9,000 distributors within remote than 5 kilometers from the farmers who sell them the goods they need.
The first is the need for fertilizer. For distributors AGRA farmers now use fertilizer from 10 to 50 kg / ha, and even though it is only a tenth or a quarter of what used by farmers in the rich countries, it is still a big improvement. They are additionally available in nourishing the manure and waste from the previous harvest committed compost. AGRA also appointed in 2800 to monitor the condition of the soil surveyors and advise farmers how much fertilizer they need.
Distributors also supplies seeds of leguminous plants such as soy and recantation of bacteria living in root nodules fix nitrogen in the air and produce fertilizer. This process becomes more effective when bacteria are added to the seed.
Another major problem that AGRA trying to solve is the lack of infrastructure. African small-scale farmers are often isolated, and can not get credit or find a buyer for their products.
Therefore, AGRA connects farmers with all of the micro-credit financiers to offer products for sale elsewhere in purchases of agents. "We turn on the [small farmers]] to the entire business chain," says Jama.
15-25 small groups of farmers are also encouraged to join groups. AGRA in Ghana alone has rendered the advice and knowledge of 155 such groups. Yes farmers get more bargaining power and allows them to jointly fund community necessities such as safe storage.
AGRA target small farmers to make professionals backed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. "Farming is a way of conversion of business development of African agriculture," says Robert Guei of FAO in Rome, Italy.
One of the major customers AGRA farmers UN World Food Programme (WFP), the reduction of hunger organization. In 2008 she started shopping program progress (P4P) for small suppliers, including 15 African countries. "We already buy the 80 percent of its production in developing countries, but the contracts usually seek higher SpaceX and farms," said Gudmund Ahnna project attorney. P4P try to "turn it is to process and view the farmers."
AGRA farms are the main suppliers, said Gudmund. WFP bought 450 000 tons of food, worth 177 million dollars, and the scheme will continue.
Threat of climate change means that small farmers to survive and thrive must adapt continuously, said Guei. AGRA methods is one way to do it.
High risk. AGRA new report says climate change by 2050. can increase the number of undernourished people bad užsahario Africa from the current 223 million to 355 million. The most important factor is less rain. "West Africa are planning to 20-40 per cent reduction in the rain," said David Sarfo'as Ameyawas of AGRA. Rising temperatures are also 80% less land suitable for bean growth areas.
In turn, the government needs to improve water supplies and to develop drought-tolerant crops. In 2006. African states pledged 10% of its expenditure on agriculture, said Ameyaw. "So far it has made only 8 of the 54 countries."
"Our vision is to increasing productivity, not forgetting the ongoing climate change and the need to use the best practices. allow farmers to adapt, "said Guei.
changed life
Three years ago, Lucy Banda and her six children lived in a two-room house in a dome-shaped, compacted from the ground, which was only one bedroom and a shared bathroom. Her new house is made of brick and has a tin roof and two bedrooms. "I look forward to pour the concrete floor," she says.
Banda also managed to buy a buffalo-drawn carriage and pay for a child's education at school. It plans to acquire more land for the construction of a house to rent, and a truck, which can sell more of their goods. From Mwambaso village where she lives, to the nearest city Mchingi - 30 kilometers.
This has led her to perform an increased productivity of the land. Three years ago the yield was three carts of grain and 4-6 bags of soy beans. She then joined the AGRA program (see. Central story), which put it as a model participant.
Last year, the grain yield was eight carriages, and soybean yields have jumped to 37 baskets. This Banda'os annual revenues increased from $ 50 to $ 750 last year.
Banda attributed his success used in fertilizers and nitrogen fixing bacteria, which cause an increase of the yield and enrich the soil.
She also joined the AGRA organized by a local farmers' cooperative, which was demonstrated new technology. It was also invaluable. "Otherwise I would have missed my life changed the information," she says.
