despite being from a country that has 4 million people and about 60 million
million people and about 60 million
million people and about 60 million sheep up until a year ago and you pretty
sheep up until a year ago and you pretty
sheep up until a year ago and you pretty much nothing about agriculture my work
much nothing about agriculture my work
much nothing about agriculture my work is pretty much is just in Africa and
is pretty much is just in Africa and
is pretty much is just in Africa and there’s what I’m going to talk to you
there’s what I’m going to talk to you
there’s what I’m going to talk to you about could Africa be the world’s next
about could Africa be the world’s next
about could Africa be the world’s next breadbasket so this is the question that
breadbasket so this is the question that
breadbasket so this is the question that was going through my head when I as I
was going through my head when I as I
was going through my head when I as I travel through the content for this
travel through the content for this
travel through the content for this assignment format National Geographic
assignment format National Geographic
assignment format National Geographic magazine the continent has about 62% of
magazine the continent has about 62% of
magazine the continent has about 62% of the world’s remaining arable land yet
the world’s remaining arable land yet
the world’s remaining arable land yet imports something like 20 billion worth
imports something like 20 billion worth
imports something like 20 billion worth of 20 billion dollars worth of food
of 20 billion dollars worth of food
of 20 billion dollars worth of food annually and the yields on the continent
annually and the yields on the continent
annually and the yields on the continent are about a quarter of that of the US
are about a quarter of that of the US
are about a quarter of that of the US yet there are there’s plenty of fertile
yet there are there’s plenty of fertile
yet there are there’s plenty of fertile soil and a lot of available water so
soil and a lot of available water so
soil and a lot of available water so it’s quite a concern that despite this
it’s quite a concern that despite this
it’s quite a concern that despite this potential Africa still remains there are
potential Africa still remains there are
potential Africa still remains there are the world’s most hungry continent a lot
the world’s most hungry continent a lot
the world’s most hungry continent a lot of people believe that large-scale
of people believe that large-scale
of people believe that large-scale farming in with foreign investment is
farming in with foreign investment is
farming in with foreign investment is the solution to Africa’s food challenges
the solution to Africa’s food challenges
the solution to Africa’s food challenges foreign investment in this and banana
foreign investment in this and banana
foreign investment in this and banana plantations like this in Mozambique a
plantations like this in Mozambique a
plantations like this in Mozambique a lot people believe that these kind of
lot people believe that these kind of
lot people believe that these kind of farms hold the potential for feeding
farms hold the potential for feeding
farms hold the potential for feeding Africa and potentially the world this
Africa and potentially the world this
Africa and potentially the world this foreign-owned plan a banana plantation
foreign-owned plan a banana plantation
foreign-owned plan a banana plantation has turned Mozambique from importer of
has turned Mozambique from importer of
has turned Mozambique from importer of fruit to an exporter it also provides
fruit to an exporter it also provides
fruit to an exporter it also provides thousands of jobs it was in fact the
thousands of jobs it was in fact the
thousands of jobs it was in fact the third biggest employer in the country
not only that but these as foreign
not only that but these as foreign investment has bought electricity and
investment has bought electricity and
investment has bought electricity and roads to the area surrounding the farms
roads to the area surrounding the farms
roads to the area surrounding the farms so this could potentially be a future
so this could potentially be a future
so this could potentially be a future for the continent but not everyone
for the continent but not everyone
for the continent but not everyone believes that large-scale foreign
believes that large-scale foreign
believes that large-scale foreign investment is the way forward this is a
investment is the way forward this is a
investment is the way forward this is a sim derby palm oil plantations in Libya
sim derby palm oil plantations in Libya
sim derby palm oil plantations in Libya sym Derby is a Malaysian owned
sym Derby is a Malaysian owned
sym Derby is a Malaysian owned multinational with interests all over
multinational with interests all over
multinational with interests all over all over the world
all over the world
all over the world palm oil is particularly interesting
palm oil is particularly interesting
palm oil is particularly interesting because it’s about half of all the
because it’s about half of all the
because it’s about half of all the supermarket foods that we consume but it
supermarket foods that we consume but it
supermarket foods that we consume but it also causes large-scale environmental
also causes large-scale environmental
also causes large-scale environmental damage landlocked Ethiopia has a greater
damage landlocked Ethiopia has a greater
damage landlocked Ethiopia has a greater potential then then most other countries
potential then then most other countries
potential then then most other countries in Africa there’s plenty of available
in Africa there’s plenty of available
in Africa there’s plenty of available land and plenty of water and this
land and plenty of water and this
land and plenty of water and this potential although having said that it
potential although having said that it
potential although having said that it had a very sad history when it comes to
had a very sad history when it comes to
had a very sad history when it comes to today issue of food security but as
today issue of food security but as
today issue of food security but as potential has attracted farmers like
potential has attracted farmers like
potential has attracted farmers like this Iranian farmer the locals like iris
this Iranian farmer the locals like iris
this Iranian farmer the locals like iris particularly appreciate the farms coming
particularly appreciate the farms coming
particularly appreciate the farms coming to her country she her mother became ill
to her country she her mother became ill
to her country she her mother became ill she had to take on a on a job to support
she had to take on a on a job to support
she had to take on a on a job to support her family despite only earning about a
her family despite only earning about a
her family despite only earning about a dollar 30 a day it’s a well needed money
dollar 30 a day it’s a well needed money
dollar 30 a day it’s a well needed money for her and for her community so this
for her and for her community so this
for her and for her community so this farm is a is a success story but I’ve
farm is a is a success story but I’ve
farm is a is a success story but I’ve said that in other parts of Ethiopia
said that in other parts of Ethiopia
said that in other parts of Ethiopia where I went
where I went
where I went it was the exception rather than the
it was the exception rather than the
it was the exception rather than the rule I traveled to gambelli
rule I traveled to gambelli
rule I traveled to gambelli in Western Ethiopia near the border with
in Western Ethiopia near the border with
in Western Ethiopia near the border with Sudan and found that nine out of the ten
Sudan and found that nine out of the ten
Sudan and found that nine out of the ten foreign farms that I visited were
foreign farms that I visited were
foreign farms that I visited were failing poor infrastructure bad
failing poor infrastructure bad
failing poor infrastructure bad management conflict with local people an
management conflict with local people an
management conflict with local people an expensive rain costs all contributed
expensive rain costs all contributed
expensive rain costs all contributed what’s worse though is that many local
what’s worse though is that many local
what’s worse though is that many local people were displaced and the forest
people were displaced and the forest
people were displaced and the forest that they relied on for their food had
that they relied on for their food had
that they relied on for their food had been destroyed this girl is in the inner
been destroyed this girl is in the inner
been destroyed this girl is in the inner farm owned by a large Indian group
farm owned by a large Indian group
farm owned by a large Indian group called kuru torie and she’s picking
called kuru torie and she’s picking
called kuru torie and she’s picking weeds from between the mace talks was
weeds from between the mace talks was
weeds from between the mace talks was sure useful cooking this used to be a
sure useful cooking this used to be a
sure useful cooking this used to be a forest with Easter hunt together I
forest with Easter hunt together I
forest with Easter hunt together I followed her back to her village and was
followed her back to her village and was
followed her back to her village and was soon as I arrived people
soon as I arrived people
soon as I arrived people tell me stories about food shortages and
tell me stories about food shortages and
tell me stories about food shortages and malnutrition so a lot of NGOs talk about
malnutrition so a lot of NGOs talk about
malnutrition so a lot of NGOs talk about foreign investment as we heard for it as
foreign investment as we heard for it as
foreign investment as we heard for it as land grabs and I think that this
land grabs and I think that this
land grabs and I think that this definitely concerns over big foreign
definitely concerns over big foreign
definitely concerns over big foreign companies coming to poor countries food
companies coming to poor countries food
companies coming to poor countries food insecure countries growing food there
insecure countries growing food there
insecure countries growing food there and then taking that back to their own
and then taking that back to their own
and then taking that back to their own rich countries but there’s also a lot of
rich countries but there’s also a lot of
rich countries but there’s also a lot of concerns about what happens for the
concerns about what happens for the
concerns about what happens for the small holders when deals are done
small holders when deals are done
small holders when deals are done between governments and investors as I
between governments and investors as I
between governments and investors as I discovered this is a very sensitive
discovered this is a very sensitive
discovered this is a very sensitive topic my career mostly focuses on human
topic my career mostly focuses on human
topic my career mostly focuses on human rights issues and so I’m used to go into
rights issues and so I’m used to go into
rights issues and so I’m used to go into countries where the government isn’t
countries where the government isn’t
countries where the government isn’t they’re keen on having me there the
they’re keen on having me there the
they’re keen on having me there the Ethiopian government were very happy for
Ethiopian government were very happy for
Ethiopian government were very happy for us to come to their country to talk
us to come to their country to talk
us to come to their country to talk about commercial farming but we’ve got
about commercial farming but we’ve got
about commercial farming but we’ve got extremely upset when we wanted to find
extremely upset when we wanted to find
extremely upset when we wanted to find out what the impacts were on local
out what the impacts were on local
out what the impacts were on local people
another challenge during the story was
another challenge during the story was that the information that we were
that the information that we were
that the information that we were getting from NGOs and the media and
getting from NGOs and the media and
getting from NGOs and the media and governments and companies involved in
governments and companies involved in
governments and companies involved in this issue often didn’t match what we
this issue often didn’t match what we
this issue often didn’t match what we were seeing on the ground seems to be a
were seeing on the ground seems to be a
were seeing on the ground seems to be a some kind of PR war the which made it
some kind of PR war the which made it
some kind of PR war the which made it out was made it for us very well may be
out was made it for us very well may be
out was made it for us very well may be very difficult I was trying to explain
very difficult I was trying to explain
very difficult I was trying to explain to my editors here in Washington DC why
to my editors here in Washington DC why
to my editors here in Washington DC why they weren’t going to begin the pictures
they weren’t going to begin the pictures
they weren’t going to begin the pictures that we thought we’re going to get often
that we thought we’re going to get often
that we thought we’re going to get often we found that these land grabs are on
we found that these land grabs are on
we found that these land grabs are on paper only and that stories put out by
paper only and that stories put out by
paper only and that stories put out by governments and by NGOs and the
governments and by NGOs and the
governments and by NGOs and the companies involved were seem to be
companies involved were seem to be
companies involved were seem to be conveniently suiting suiting their
conveniently suiting suiting their
conveniently suiting suiting their agenda of talking about how successful
agenda of talking about how successful
agenda of talking about how successful or how big the failures were it seems
or how big the failures were it seems
or how big the failures were it seems that in these remote parts of the
that in these remote parts of the
that in these remote parts of the continent there’s very few independent
continent there’s very few independent
continent there’s very few independent voices
but not all foreign investments in
but not all foreign investments in Africa in food is a land grab and not
Africa in food is a land grab and not
Africa in food is a land grab and not all food produced in Africa by
all food produced in Africa by
all food produced in Africa by foreigners taken out what by foreigners
foreigners taken out what by foreigners
foreigners taken out what by foreigners are taken out of the country investment
are taken out of the country investment
are taken out of the country investment comes in all shapes and sizes and what I
comes in all shapes and sizes and what I
comes in all shapes and sizes and what I found is most of the food being produced
found is most of the food being produced
found is most of the food being produced by foreigners was actually for local
by foreigners was actually for local
by foreigners was actually for local markets I mentioned earlier that Africa
markets I mentioned earlier that Africa
markets I mentioned earlier that Africa imports a lot of food so this is
imports a lot of food so this is
imports a lot of food so this is actually really high demand for locally
actually really high demand for locally
actually really high demand for locally produced food as well thousands of
produced food as well thousands of
produced food as well thousands of Chinese have come to Zambia for the into
Chinese have come to Zambia for the into
Chinese have come to Zambia for the into their mining and construction industry
their mining and construction industry
their mining and construction industry and other Chinese have followed to
and other Chinese have followed to
and other Chinese have followed to produce food now these aren’t you know
produce food now these aren’t you know
produce food now these aren’t you know state sponsored these aren’t from big
state sponsored these aren’t from big
state sponsored these aren’t from big companies or these are from lower
companies or these are from lower
companies or these are from lower middle-class families in China who have
middle-class families in China who have
middle-class families in China who have come to Africa to seek a better future
come to Africa to seek a better future
come to Africa to seek a better future in the capital Lusaka the Chinese have
in the capital Lusaka the Chinese have
in the capital Lusaka the Chinese have pretty much taken over the poultry
pretty much taken over the poultry
pretty much taken over the poultry business which is great for the locals
business which is great for the locals
business which is great for the locals because they get cheaper chickens but
because they get cheaper chickens but
because they get cheaper chickens but then there are examples of Africans
then there are examples of Africans
then there are examples of Africans doing it for themselves in a really
doing it for themselves in a really
doing it for themselves in a really interesting example of this is in
interesting example of this is in
interesting example of this is in Somaliland 50% of Somaliland GDP is made
Somaliland 50% of Somaliland GDP is made
Somaliland 50% of Somaliland GDP is made up of exports of sheep and goats this is
up of exports of sheep and goats this is
up of exports of sheep and goats this is a market in the capital hog Acer capital
a market in the capital hog Acer capital
a market in the capital hog Acer capital of Somaliland they sell about about 3.5
of Somaliland they sell about about 3.5
of Somaliland they sell about about 3.5 million animals come through this market
million animals come through this market
million animals come through this market every year most of those animals are
every year most of those animals are
every year most of those animals are going to the Middle East
going to the Middle East
going to the Middle East about 1.3 million sheep and goats are
about 1.3 million sheep and goats are
about 1.3 million sheep and goats are exported in the period leading up to the
exported in the period leading up to the
exported in the period leading up to the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca I spent a few
Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca I spent a few
Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca I spent a few days here on the on the coast here in a
days here on the on the coast here in a
days here on the on the coast here in a port town called Berber these large
port town called Berber these large
port town called Berber these large ships in the six weeks leading up to the
ships in the six weeks leading up to the
ships in the six weeks leading up to the pilgrimage up to three or four of these
pilgrimage up to three or four of these
pilgrimage up to three or four of these ships come a day and they can put about
ships come a day and they can put about
ships come a day and they can put about 85,000 sheep and goats
smells pretty bad but the reality of
smells pretty bad but the reality of agriculture in Africa looks more like
agriculture in Africa looks more like
agriculture in Africa looks more like this scene from Tigre in northern
this scene from Tigre in northern
this scene from Tigre in northern Ethiopia about 80% of agriculture on the
Ethiopia about 80% of agriculture on the
Ethiopia about 80% of agriculture on the continent is smallholder farmers and for
continent is smallholder farmers and for
continent is smallholder farmers and for a lot of them up there their farming
a lot of them up there their farming
a lot of them up there their farming practices haven’t changed for hundreds
practices haven’t changed for hundreds
practices haven’t changed for hundreds of years
Tigre was at the epicenter of the famine
Tigre was at the epicenter of the famine in the 80s and these farmers suffered
in the 80s and these farmers suffered
in the 80s and these farmers suffered tremendously and even today up to 3
tremendously and even today up to 3
tremendously and even today up to 3 million Ethiopians still rely on food
million Ethiopians still rely on food
million Ethiopians still rely on food aid to survive
aid to survive
aid to survive but cheap fertilizers and some
but cheap fertilizers and some
but cheap fertilizers and some government assistance is helping to
government assistance is helping to
government assistance is helping to improve food security for all these
improve food security for all these
improve food security for all these people
this is we’ll get at this fight and it
this is we’ll get at this fight and it gets him there sir they farm wheat
gets him there sir they farm wheat
gets him there sir they farm wheat barley and beans in the mountain or tea
barley and beans in the mountain or tea
barley and beans in the mountain or tea grade they don’t produce enough food to
grade they don’t produce enough food to
grade they don’t produce enough food to feed their family of nine and we’ll get
feed their family of nine and we’ll get
feed their family of nine and we’ll get there on the right has to take on a day
there on the right has to take on a day
there on the right has to take on a day laboring job occasionally to supplement
laboring job occasionally to supplement
laboring job occasionally to supplement their income but he says that life is
their income but he says that life is
their income but he says that life is vastly improved from in 80’s when he
vastly improved from in 80’s when he
vastly improved from in 80’s when he says it was hardly any food around at
says it was hardly any food around at
says it was hardly any food around at all as beautiful as the geography and
all as beautiful as the geography and
all as beautiful as the geography and the people are of Tigre they’re hardly a
the people are of Tigre they’re hardly a
the people are of Tigre they’re hardly a positive advertisement for smallholder
positive advertisement for smallholder
positive advertisement for smallholder farmers so should we forget about
farmers so should we forget about
farmers so should we forget about smallholder farming when it comes to
smallholder farming when it comes to
smallholder farming when it comes to talking about the feeding Africa and
talking about the feeding Africa and
talking about the feeding Africa and feeding the world I think not
feeding the world I think not
feeding the world I think not non-governmental organizations like the
non-governmental organizations like the
non-governmental organizations like the one acre fund who are working in Rwanda
one acre fund who are working in Rwanda
one acre fund who are working in Rwanda and other parts of East Africa approving
and other parts of East Africa approving
and other parts of East Africa approving that smallholders can make a real
that smallholders can make a real
that smallholders can make a real contribution with some basic training
contribution with some basic training
contribution with some basic training and some small loans which allow these
and some small loans which allow these
and some small loans which allow these farmers to get access to some
farmers to get access to some
farmers to get access to some fertilizers these guys are able to quite
fertilizers these guys are able to quite
fertilizers these guys are able to quite often double their yield in the first
often double their yield in the first
often double their yield in the first year of the program
this is 36 year old Mary Mikoto Kaka and
this is 36 year old Mary Mikoto Kaka and this is a quote I’m going to read you
this is a quote I’m going to read you
this is a quote I’m going to read you from Mary before joining one acre
from Mary before joining one acre
from Mary before joining one acre I farmed only for food for my family and
I farmed only for food for my family and
I farmed only for food for my family and it would only last a few days I then
it would only last a few days I then
it would only last a few days I then joined the program for my first harvest
joined the program for my first harvest
joined the program for my first harvest I was able to purchase two packs of
I was able to purchase two packs of
I was able to purchase two packs of cement the second season I was able to
cement the second season I was able to
cement the second season I was able to buy a goat and now I have nine of them
buy a goat and now I have nine of them
buy a goat and now I have nine of them and I plan to buy clothes for my
and I plan to buy clothes for my
and I plan to buy clothes for my children this next season so Mary is
children this next season so Mary is
children this next season so Mary is growing enough food for herself and for
growing enough food for herself and for
growing enough food for herself and for her family but she’s also producing the
her family but she’s also producing the
her family but she’s also producing the surplus to be able to buy clothes and
surplus to be able to buy clothes and
surplus to be able to buy clothes and cementum and animals so it’s only it’s
cementum and animals so it’s only it’s
cementum and animals so it’s only it’s only a small thing right but for these
only a small thing right but for these
only a small thing right but for these people she’s you know she’s able to feed
people she’s you know she’s able to feed
people she’s you know she’s able to feed herself she doubled feed her family and
herself she doubled feed her family and
herself she doubled feed her family and I think that in a small way she is able
I think that in a small way she is able
I think that in a small way she is able to feed the world the answer to Africa’s
to feed the world the answer to Africa’s
to feed the world the answer to Africa’s food challenges are complex I mean here
food challenges are complex I mean here
food challenges are complex I mean here we can see a commercial farm next to
we can see a commercial farm next to
we can see a commercial farm next to smallholders and perhaps this is a model
smallholders and perhaps this is a model
smallholders and perhaps this is a model for the future not just commercial
for the future not just commercial
for the future not just commercial farming not just smallholders but a a
farming not just smallholders but a a
farming not just smallholders but a a combination of the two but Africa is a
combination of the two but Africa is a
combination of the two but Africa is a incredibly diverse continent and what is
incredibly diverse continent and what is
incredibly diverse continent and what is right for Mozambique may not be right
right for Mozambique may not be right
right for Mozambique may not be right for Rwanda or for Ethiopia or for
for Rwanda or for Ethiopia or for
for Rwanda or for Ethiopia or for Somalia
there are enormous challenges but there
there are enormous challenges but there are plenty of examples of Agriculture
are plenty of examples of Agriculture
are plenty of examples of Agriculture working on the continent there are many
working on the continent there are many
working on the continent there are many examples or that illustrate the
examples or that illustrate the
examples or that illustrate the potential of Africans themselves Africa
potential of Africans themselves Africa
potential of Africans themselves Africa is a diverse continent of nearly a
is a diverse continent of nearly a
is a diverse continent of nearly a billion people half of them rely on
billion people half of them rely on
billion people half of them rely on agriculture for their livelihoods it’s
agriculture for their livelihoods it’s
agriculture for their livelihoods it’s in their interest and ours that the
in their interest and ours that the
in their interest and ours that the resources and expertise be made
resources and expertise be made
resources and expertise be made available to make them more productive
available to make them more productive
available to make them more productive and perhaps these farmers can make their
and perhaps these farmers can make their
and perhaps these farmers can make their continent the world’s next red basket
continent the world’s next red basket
continent the world’s next red basket thank you
”
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