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WASHINGTON, Jun 7, 2012 (IPS) - To deal with looming food crises in the coming decades, Africa needs a Green Revolution on par with what took place in Asia during the 1960s and 1970s, according to experts in Washington.
Agriculture stands at the nexus of three of humankind's greatest challenges in the 21st century: achieving food and nutritional security, adapting to a changing climate that will severely hit agricultural production, and making a significant contribution to reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. As the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change has argued, actions by all people are needed, from changing production methods in farmers' fields to changing consumption patterns in all our homes. These actions will involve, amongst other things, major public and private investment, and multiple government agencies and sectors working together. But above all, in this globally connected world, global governance has to be vastly more effective. To date, the progress at the international level in achieving consensus and committing to implementation for solving hunger and environmental problems is best described as abysmal.
ERIC Muthomi is only 26 years old but in a span of a few months, he has enriched several farmers in Meru whose abundant produce would otherwise have gone to waste or sold at a throw-away price. Muthomi through his new business Stawi Foods and Fruits, is using bananas to make flour which is used for baking, making Kenya's staple dish ugali and baby food among other products.
Stawi means prosperity in Swahili which Muthomi explains could be looked at in three ways based on his business: prosperity for healthy eating, prosperity of the farmers who supply bananas to his manufacturing plant in Meru and prosperity for the business. “My business idea was simple to come up with because in my home community back in Meru bananas were grown in plenty and also it is not like banana flour is something common in the country. It is a unique product for the market,” explains Muthomi.
Nowadays moving from a village to the big city is a natural process for many young people. Many perceive country life as boring and move to the city in pursuit of a ‘better' life. But does life in urban areas offer a better and brighter future? Does rural life have nothing interesting to offer young adults? Sarah Madonsela's story proves this theory wrong.
Today Sarah Madonsela (31) who sees her future as a farmer is a first year student of crop science at Tompi Selea College of Agriculture in Limpopo. Her passion comes from her parents, successful small farmers and members of Heifer's Hereford Project.
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