{"id":329,"date":"2012-06-20T01:51:06","date_gmt":"2012-06-20T01:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rationalargumentator.com\/index\/?p=329"},"modified":"2014-02-09T05:30:25","modified_gmt":"2014-02-09T05:30:25","slug":"commonsense-wisdom-from-african-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rationalargumentator.com\/index\/blog\/2012\/06\/commonsense-wisdom-from-african-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"Commonsense Wisdom from African Farmers – Article by Kelvin Kemm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Kelvin Kemm
\n<\/big><\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
June 19, 2012<\/big><\/span><\/div>\n
Recommend this page<\/a>.<\/strong><\/div>\n
******************************<\/div>\n
\n

If you want to learn what farmers think (and need), talk to African farmers \u2013 not to bureaucrats, environmental activists or politicos at the Rio+20 United Nations summit in Rio de Janeiro. You\u2019ll get very different, far more honest and thoughtful perspectives.<\/p>\n

The recent (May 24) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network conference in Pretoria, South Africa brought together delegates from agricultural communities in many African countries. FANRPAN\u2019s primary objective is to improve food security in Africa, by ensuring that small-scale farmers can become more productive. Their obvious enthusiasm and commonsense views were heartening.<\/p>\n

FANRPAN chair Sindiso Ngwenya of Zambia gave an incisive presentation, pointing out that agriculture is the key to reducing poverty and ensuring food security in Africa. \u201cWe call upon the world to assist us,\u201d he said, \u201cnot by treating us as beggars, but by treating us as equals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ngwenya criticised many First World attempts to use climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development arguments to prevent African agriculture from advancing. \u201cIf you are using implements that were there before Christ, how much chance do you have?\u201d he wanted to know.<\/p>\n

And why would anyone think these UN-EU-US issues are important to African farmers and families who are trying to feed their families and neighbors, and improve their living standards by exporting their products?<\/p>\n

Africa does not need foreign aid in the form of handouts, Ngwenya emphasized. African farmers need modern technology and reliable, affordable electricity. They need the world to buy African produce. Instead, far too often, European and other First World countries impose rules or block African exports, using a multitude of excuses that can no longer be tolerated.<\/p>\n

FANRPAN has decided to go \u201cAfrica-wide,\u201d Ngwenya announced. Africa is huge \u2013larger than the United States, China, India and Europe combined. And yet 60% of its arable land is not used at all. On the arable land that is used in most African countries, crop yields are typically a quarter of the norm in South Africa. What\u2019s needed, he said, are modern farming methods, seeds, fertilizers and equipment \u2013at the level of every individual farmer.<\/p>\n

Referring to the 2011 COP-17 world environment congress in Durban, South Africa, Ngwenya pointed out that the FANRPAN slogan is \u201cNo agriculture, no deal.\u201d However, agriculture, and particularly the advancement of rural African agriculture, was not included in past COP objectives. Many delegates criticised this, saying it reflected the First World\u2019s hope that Africa and African agriculture will remain primitive and underdeveloped, so that rich countries can praise Africans for being \u201csustainable\u201d and protecting the planet.<\/p>\n

Africans are being told by First World activists, politicians and pressure groups to \u201cstay in tune with nature,\u201d delegates noted \u2013 when this attitude really reflects a well-fed First World\u2019s maneuver to retard African agricultural improvements.<\/p>\n

When it came to the eternal climate change saga, FRANRPAN delegates emphasized \u201cclimate-smart agriculture\u201d and noted that Africa has always experienced dramatic weather and climate variations. What\u2019s needed now, they stresse, is sensible, fact-based science, to predict and adapt to local and regional climate cycles and variations.<\/p>\n

Equally impressive was learning that a group of small-scale farmers from Burkino Faso had paid their own way to attend a meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, nearly 3,000 miles (4,500 kilometers) away, to present a petition calling for the development of evidence-based policies, to replace what to now have been emotional, harmful and oppressive policies, rules and treaties.<\/p>\n

The delegates said they were tired of the First World telling them what to do, based on First World interests and perceptions. They understand all too well that calls for \u201csustainable development,\u201d \u201cbiodiversity\u201d and climate change \u201cprevention\u201d really mean demands for policies and practices that ensure sustained poverty and malnutrition.<\/p>\n

FRANRPAN CEO Dr. Lindiwe Sibanda emphasized that the real work is done on the ground, at the level of individual countries \u2013 and \u201cpolicy comes from people.\u201d Individual countries must come to their own conclusions about what works for them, and countries must align their policies to ensure food security for their people, she said. Modern methods and technologies are also required, to enhance intra-Africa food trade and enable countries to export what they are good at producing.<\/p>\n

Her enthusiasm was praised by a farmer who spoke from the floor, with a strong French accent. \u201cThere\u2019s a lack of resources for small farmers to come here,\u201d he said, even for important meetings like this, but he was glad he had spent the time and money to be there. Certainly, those that did attend exhibited enough excitement and enthusiasm for the millions who could not join them.<\/p>\n

Chairman Ngwenya wrapped up the proceedings by criticising the apparently intentional side-stepping of agricultural issues during COP-17. The First World must stop impeding African farmers and end \u201cthe paralysis by analysis,\u201d he said. Absolutely right.<\/p>\n

There is far too much First World smoke and mirrors, telling Africans they are saving the planet \u2013 when the real intention is to stop them from acquiring modern technology and electricity that would allow them to surge to middle class or even rich country status.<\/p>\n

This FANRPAN conference serves notice to the United Nations Environment Programme, Rio+20 Sustainable Development Summit, Europe, United States and other obstructionists that Africa has caught on to what they are doing \u2013 and is no longer willing to play their game.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s good news for every African, Asian, Latin American and other poor family that wants to eat better, live better and have the freedom to pursue their dreams.<\/p>\n

Dr Kelvin Kemm is a nuclear physicist and business strategy consultant in Pretoria, South Africa. He is a member of the International Board of Advisors of the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), based in Washington, DC (www.CFACT.org<\/a>). Dr. Kemm received the prestigious Lifetime Achievers Award of the National Science and Technology Forum of South Africa.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kelvin Kemm June 19, 2012 Recommend this page. ****************************** If you want to learn what farmers think (and need), talk to African farmers \u2013 not to bureaucrats, environmental activists or politicos at the Rio+20 United Nations summit in Rio de Janeiro. You\u2019ll get very different, far more honest and thoughtful perspectives. The recent (May 24) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network conference in Pretoria, South Africa brought together delegates from agricultural communities in many African countries. FANRPAN\u2019s primary…<\/p>\n

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