NEWS
DIGITAL SOLUTIONS
THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ), the world population is growing rapidly and is expected to reach reach 9.1 billion by 2050 , and to feed that number of people , global food production will need to grow by 70 % from what it currently is .
Kefiloe Manthata Senwes Journalist
The African continent alone is
expected to have a population of 2 billion people by then , for the continent to maintain and support food security , farm productivity in African countries must increase a lot faster than the global average to avoid continued mass hunger .
The adoption of digital farming solutions in agricultural practices across Africa will be the difference in bridging the productivity gap . Digital solutions in agriculture include the incorporation of tailored , location-specific information regarding weather forecasts , pests and disease and crop to increase precision agriculture and reduce production risks . These data-driven practices , which integrate advanced technologies , such as artificial intelligence and Internet of Things , are also expected to bring more businesses into the sector due to their ability to streamline farming operations , scale down labour intensiveness and optimise farming businesses across the continent .
On the other hand , the agriculture sector in African countries still faces various challenges in terms of its sustainability and actual use of digital solutions and services . One of the most prevalent cases against the fast development of technolo- gical solutions to African farming remains accessibility . A large portion of the African farming community is made up of emerging and subsistence farmers who do not necessarily have neither the funds nor the exposure to the digital advancements . Finding ways to bridge the gap between those who do and those who do not could elevate Africa ’ s plight to strengthen food security in the continent .
According to a Global System for Mobile Communications report , ( GSMA ) there are 437 information and communications technology and digital solutions actively operating in the African agriculture space which means that while technology adoption in African agriculture might be slower , it is indeed happening . The data indicates that African farmers are positive and receptive to the idea of incorporating technology into their practices . Olukemi Afun-Odigan , Principal Agribusiness officer at The African Development Bank group reckons the issue of accessibility to digital solutions is more a legislative issue than anything else . “ To achieve scale in Africa and ensure that digital technologies reach and benefit every last farmer , requires a policy and regulatory framework that enables innovation to thrive . Governments also need to invest in digital infrastructure and technology .”
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SENWES SCENARIO | HERFS � AUTUMN 2021