Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development

14.1. By the year 2025, 83 for every penny of the normal worldwide populace of 8.5 billion will be existing in advancing nations. Yet the limit of accessible assets and advances to fulfill the requests of this developing populace for sustenance and other horticultural items remains unverifiable. Farming needs to meet this test, for the most part by expanding processing ashore as of recently being used and by maintaining a strategic distance from further infringement ashore that is just possibly suitable for growth. 14.2. Major conformities are required in horticultural, ecological and macroeconomic approach, at both national and worldwide levels, in improved and also advancing nations, to make the conditions for practical farming and rustic improvement (Sard). The major goal of Sard is to build nourishment processing in a supportable manner and upgrade sustenance security. This will include training activities, usage of monetary motivations and the advancement of fitting and new advances, accordingly guaranteeing stable supplies of nutritiously sufficient nourishment, access to those supplies by defenseless aggregations, and preparation for businesses; job and salary era to reduce destitution; and regular asset administration and ecological insurance. 14.3. The necessity must be on keeping up and enhancing the limit of the higher potential agrarian grounds to uphold a stretching populace. Be that as it may, saving and restoring the common assets on more level potential terrains with a specific end goal to uphold economical man/land degrees is additionally vital. The principle apparatuses of Sard are arrangement and agrarian change, support, salary expansion, arrive preservation and enhanced administration of inputs. The triumph of Sard will depend generally on the backing and support of provincial individuals, national Governments, the private part and worldwide participation, incorporating specialized and logical collaboration. 14.4. The accompanying programme zones are incorporated in this section: (an) Agricultural arrangement survey, arranging and joined customizing in the light of the multifunctional part of horticulture, especially with respect to sustenance security and manageable advancement; (b) Ensuring individuals' interest and pushing human asset improvement for supportable horticulture; (c) Improving ranch preparation and cultivating frameworks through enhancement of homestead and non-ranch occupation and base improvement; (d) Land-asset arranging data and instruction for agribusiness; (e) Land preservation and restoration; (f) Water for supportable nourishment creation and maintainable provincial improvement; (g) Conservation and maintainable use of plant hereditary assets for sustenance and economical farming; (h) Conservation and supportable use of creature hereditary assets for feasible farming; (i) Integrated vermin administration and control in agribusiness; (j) Sustainable plant nourishment to expand sustenance creation; (k) Rural vigor move to improve profit; (l) Evaluation of the impacts of ultraviolet radiation on plants and creatures brought on by the consumption of the stratospheric ozone layer. Programme Areas A. Rural strategy audit, arranging and reconciled programmes in the light of the multifunctional part of horticulture, especially concerning nourishment security and maintainable advancement Groundwork for activity 14.5. There is a need to incorporate maintainable improvement contemplations with agrarian strategy investigation and arranging in all nations, especially in improving nations. Suggestions may as well help specifically to advancement of reasonable and operational medium- to long haul plans and programmes, and consequently to solid activities. Uphold to and observing of usage may as well take after. 14.6. The nonappearance of a lucid national strategy system for economical farming and country improvement (Sard) is across the board and is not constrained to the improving nations. Specifically the economies on the move from wanted to market-turned frameworks need such a system to join ecological contemplations into financial exercises, incorporating horticulture. All nations need to survey thoroughly the effects of such approaches on sustenance and agribusiness segment execution, nourishment security, provincial welfare and worldwide exchanging relations as a methods for distinguishing fitting balancing measures. The major push of sustenance security thus is to achieve a huge expand in farming creation in a maintainable manner and to attain a considerable change in individuals' privilege to satisfactory nourishment and socially suitable sustenance supplies. 14.7. Sound approach choices relating to worldwide exchange and capital streams additionally require movement to

Why Youths Have to Start Thinking Agriculture

Members of DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative planning for DoTheDream Agriculture Conference for Youth

GENERAL FACTS ABOUT AGRICULTURE

Twenty two million American workers produce, process, sell and trade the nation's food and fiber. But only 4.6 million of those people live on the farms-- slightly less than 2 percent of the total U.S.Population. Consumers spend $547 billion for food originating on U.S. farms and

ranches. Of each dollar spent on food, the farmer's share is approximately 23 cents. The rest are for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution.

On average, every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, around $6 million in U.S. agricultural products--grains, oilseeds, cotton, meats, vegetables, snack foods, etc., will be consigned for shipment for export to foreign markets. It all means more jobs and higher wages across the nation. U.S. agricultural exports generate more than $100 billion annually in business activity throughout the U.S. economy and provide jobs for nearly 1 million workers.

Agricultural land provides habitat for 75 percent of the nation's wildlife. Deer, moose, waterfowl and other species have shown significant population increases during the past several years.

Ethanol and new bio-diesel fuels made from corn and other grains are beneficial to the environment and promote energy security.

Today's Farmer and Farm Family

Nearly two million people farm or ranch in the United States. Almost 90 percent of U.S. farms are operated by individuals or family corporations. And American agriculture provides jobs—including production agriculture, farm inputs, processing and marketing, along with retail and wholesale sales--for 15 percent of the U.S. population. A recent survey of America's young farmers and ranchers revealed that 97.2 percent planned to farm and ranch for life. And 90 percent said they would like their children to follow in their footsteps. This provides strong incentive for today's farmers and ranchers to protect and preserve he natural resources on their property. Not only is the land and its resources a farmer's lifeblood today, it represents the future for his family and its business. America's farmers and ranchers are true professionals. Most farmers and reachers are trained and certified in the use of agricultural chemicals. And farmers test and evaluate the soil before administering fertilizers. Farmers and ranchers don't spend hard-earned money on costly fertilizers and nutrients unless they absolutely safe to do otherwise doesn't make good business sense. Nearly 30 percent of today's farmers and ranchers have attended college, with over half of his group obtaining a degree. A growing number of today's farmers and ranchers with four-year college degrees are pursuing post-graduate studies.

Today's Modern Farm

Thanks to modern farming techniques, America's farmers and ranchers are producing more food on fewer acres, leaving more open space for wildlife habitat. Modern farming practices free up millions of acres of wildlife habitat. Modern farming practices free up millions of acres for wildlife to live and thrive. Precision farming practices boost crop yields and reduce waste by using satellite maps and computers to match seed, fertilizer and crop protection applications to local soil conditions. A recent survey of young farmers and ranchers reveals that computers are used on 83 percent of America's farms. Nearly 75 percent of today's young farmers have a cellular telephone, and nearly one-third have access to the Internet, up from 10.5 percent from last year.

Youth engaging youth in agriculture

Africa has the youngest population in the world; over 200 million people are between ages 15 and 24 and the African Economic Outlooks expects this number to double by 2045. It is easy to see why youth have become such an important part of Africa Agricultural Science Week (AASW), which is taking place right now in Accra, Ghana. This year’s theme is ‘Africa Feeding Africa Through Agricultural Science and Innovation’.

How can we make agriculture an attractive option for youth? Photo: CGIAR Climate on Flickr

For Africa to be able to feed itself, agriculture needs to become a more attractive option for youth. Otherwise, the current trend of young people migrating out of rural agricultural areas and into cities in search of bigger, better jobs will leave Africa with a shortage of farmers.  As Maureen Agena proposes, “agriculture must be made ‘sexy’ and profitable to the youth.”
But just how can this be accomplished? Some clues might be drawn from examining one channel that has enjoyed widespread popularity amongst youth attending this week’s event. At AASW, there is a team of over 165 social reporters, the majority of whom are young Africans, actively working to take the messages and discussions occurring at AASW and transmit them to millions of people around the world.  Halfway through the conference, the buzz and excitement is clear.  By the end of day 2, over 2,800 tweets had been sent out by 275 people, reaching almost 800,000 people.  87 blog posts had been published on the AASW blog, generating over 300 comments.
Social media is sexy.  It has the power to reach millions.   It’s measurable.  And it has gained a quick following among youth with access to the appropriate technologies.
Young people are attracted to the instantaneous nature of communications and fast changing technologies—keeping pace with these exciting innovations is our addiction.  Information is at our fingertips and we have the ability now to share it beyond those sitting next to us and out into the world at large.  So why don’t we figure out a way to link this with agriculture?

Africa has the highest number of youth in the whole world, and some of the most fertile soils – the two combined could be a force to promote agricultural development!

Actively engaging youth in social media might be a good entry point for finding the best way to engage in agriculture.  We tend to see eye-to-eye on certain matters like the lure and attraction of technology.

Let’s see what the AASW social media reporters have to say…

In Margaret Bulamu’s blog post, I am young: agriculture is not for me, she highlights three of the main challenges facing youth, particularly young women, in agriculture: limited access to land, credit and information – and arguably the desire to join the face paced, more advanced lifestyles that cities offer.  Moses Owiny writes that in Uganda, “agriculture has become an especially unattractive sector, due to a combination of youth attitudes and perceptions, lack of investment from the government and inability to incentivize the involvement of a younger generation.”
Others such as Rivaldo Kpadonou propose strengthening higher education in agriculture;  “African universities continue to produce several thousands of young graduates every year in law, economics or political science. Only a few dozen, poorly equipped students graduate from agricultural and health and nutritional schools.”
Technological innovation provides cost effective options of extending information and education to those who are not attending school.  Owiny proposes the use of information and communication technology (ICT)-based agricultural training in these instances—especially among women with fewer opportunities to attain higher education.  Technology can also be a driver for change in agriculture—offering young people a range of opportunities: socialization and network-building, employment and research, among others.
Aside from these suggestions, perhaps youth need to do a better job of getting a seat at the table, “If youth want a seat at the table, they need to start making room for themselves” writes Grace Wanene.

How ICT tools are improving efficiency of agricultural development

 

 

Kenyan rancher sending a quick message

A Kenyan rancher sends a quick message to enquire about the most recent maize costs from her maize field in Thigio, close Nairobi. Photo: Antony Njuguna/reuters

Information accumulation and screening and assessment (M&e) are a crucial part of advancement work, as the effects figure out where open administrations are most wanted, and what approaches demonstrate successful.

Customarily, pen and paper have been utilized to gather information in the field and for observing and assessment of tasks in country ranges. Be that as it may, this approach is lengthy and helpless to human failure that may influence profit and exactness. Data and correspondence innovations are presently being utilized generally with exceptional positive comes about to perform these undertakings in farming advancement ventures.

In a later worldwide exchange organised by the World Bank and e-Agriculture, specialists from different fields and organisations far and wide imparted their encounters and talked over the courses in which they were utilizing Ict – mobilephones, tablets, requisitions and programming – to gather information in the field, and to perform M&e being developed activities, while additionally working nearly with country neighborhoods and taking their sentiment. The talk has been summarised in an arrangement concise and traces the profits of utilizing Ict for information accumulation. Numerous cases of theapps were likewise showcased in the examination, around those:

iformbuilder

An ios versatile information accumulation stage that characteristics a provision that requires no paper or association and is accessible worldwide. This requisition is, no doubt utilized for information gathering within over 110 nations and it permits continuous information transfer and disconnected from the net information accumulation, while instantly sending any overhauls to a versatile workforce with server duty. Catholic Relief Services utilized iformbuilder to enroll and convey vouchers to beneficiaries throughout a seed reasonable in Central African Republic, and they were equipped to recover over a week of preparatory work and decrease staff by half.

Cropster

Cropster is an activity that tries to back supportable horticulture by engaging agriculturists with access to key data and guaranteeing information transparency. It empowers them to settle on educated choices, and likewise underpins individuals and groups whatsoever levels of production network. This application offers a M&e device that expedites information gathering and also the trade of data inside maker aggregations, Ngos and business accomplices in Latin America. This instrument furnishes decentralised following, ongoing data, and the capability for clients to customise information and confirm info.

Episurveyor

A honor winning versatile application that lets clients make a record, outline shapes, download them to their portable telephones, gather information and send it to a server. As per a World Bank report, in 2010, nine information authorities utilized Episurveyor to question beneficiaries within 25 regions in an optional overview (the first, directed in 2009, utilized paper and pen) in a World Bank Conditional Cash Transfer task in Guatemala. Digitisation cut the expense of a meeting by 71%, expanded the example measure from 200 to 700 beneficiaries, and decreased the singular question time by 3.6%.

Specialists who took an interest in the e-gathering likewise coincided on critical components that ought not be neglected:

• Technology itself is not sufficient, an overall prepared group is likewise needed: research endeavors show that putting exclusively in innovation won't guarantee solid execution of Ict requisitions; it is important to put resources into a group that can adequately perform M&e undertakings, and in addition to put resources into limit improvement of the finish clients who can guarantee the supportability of the venture.

• Complex Ict or complex stages are possibly fundamental: advances recently being utilized by agriculturists ought to be thought seriously about. Case in point, Usaid's Feed the Future venture utilizes a synthesis of accepted instruments to gather essential information in the field, which is then recorded in Excel sheets and accordingly imparted free of expense to potential purchasers continuously through Drop Box.

Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina: Why you need to vote for this man for the forbes man of the year

Before President Goodluck Jonathan released the list of his ministerial nominees in early July Nigerians were anxious to see which technocrats he was bringing on board to help deliver on his promise of national transformation especially in key national sectors. His nomination of Dr Akinwumi Adesina – agricultural economist, academic, development thinker, entrepreneur, research consultant and international icon – for the strategic agriculture ministry drew positive attention in various quarters. And by the time Adesina appeared for screening before the Senate, his expertise, achievements  and vision for agriculture in Nigeria left no one in doubt that this was a perfect choice.. Educational/Professional Background
Akinwumi Adesina began his agricultural journey in the 1970s at Obafemi Awolowo University- then University of Ife- where he studied agricultural economics. Nigeria’s oil era was already underway, and agriculture was losing its place as the mainstay of the economy. In an era when industrialization and modernization had become the buzzwords, agriculture was considered retrograde and students of agriculture were sometimes derided as “old school”. Yet, Adesina’s unwavering passion for agriculture kept him focused. His dedication and hard work paid off when he graduated with a First Class Honours.  He went on to earn a PhD in agricultural economics from Purdue University, USA.
An agricultural economist by discipline, young Adesina particularly explored and thrived in the world of agricultural research. He held various research positions at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Combining his expertise as a researcher and an economist, he also actively engaged the international development world as an Africa spokesperson in the field of agriculture, serving as a senior scientist for the Rockefeller Foundation, and later leading the agri-entreprise program at the foundation, aimed at raising the incomes and improving the practices of rural farmers.
The Model
Over the years, Adesina has proven himself to be a great model not only to those seeking a career in agriculture but to many Nigerians – young and old – in pursuit of great dreams. Possessing strong leadership qualities, he has demonstrated remarkable leadership in different fields, distinguishing himself as part of Africa’s Cheetah Generation.

Taking advantage of Opportunities in Agribusiness Industry

Agribusiness is normally a vertical assembly holding numerous operations that can incorporate, yet not constrained to cultivating. Ademola Alawiye composes on the most proficient method to bring home the bacon from the segment

There is a mixture of business exercises included in getting agrarian process to shoppers. The exercises incorporate the developing of the sustenance, its handling, bundling, its appropriation and advertising. The term agribusiness includes the organizations discovered in any of these exercises.

With an amazing ascent in urban populaces the nation over, the need for crisp nourishments to provide food for these individuals is inexorable. Slants to industrialisation have left fewer enterprisers to focus on nourishment processing. It is, along these lines, an exceptional area for one to make benefit, while in the meantime helping the planet's nourishment supply.

The ascent in sustenance costs and the expanded interest for consumables have made suitable chances in the rural area. Agriculturists say insightful business people can profit in cultivating business. They note that cultivating salaries will climb drastically in the following not many decades, speedier than those in most different commercial ventures.

This, they say, is on account of the ascent in the costs of agrarian produce and the business for such things. Specialists say the present day economy does not require more investors, yet more individuals in the agribusiness part. As per them, the planet has got a genuine sustenance issue and the main true approach to unravel it is to get more enterprisers again to horticulture.

They demonstrate that agribusiness opens a ton of chances for enterprisers who wish to put resources into the division. These chances can help ambition people to make riches and furnish employments for the unemployed. Specialists say engineering, administration employments and money have been the support of the economy for over 20 years. They support that cultivating is turning into what might as well be called most areas that drive any specific economy.

On how the agriculturist can serve to make employments, masters say there is a conceivable renaissance in ranch towns. Consistent with them, the stream of cash in agribusinesses will incite agriculturists to look for where to contribute. A speculator in the part, Mr. Wale Ashiru, says ranchers will put their cash in new commercial ventures that will make utilizes for their harvests, for example biodegradable plastics, different sorts of biofuels or comparative farming items.

He says, "When this is carried out, you might make sure that the finished outcome will be more occupations. Agribusiness is a dynamic division and it is the most discriminating story in our economy and has the possibility to influence what's to come for the planet decidedly."

Underneath are some paramount steps that will help an enterpriser to profit in the agribusiness area, consistent with specialists:

Make your own dissimilar market

Masters say it is paramount for an enterpriser to make a corner for himself in the offer of a specific produce. They note that the ambition person might as well draw in a corner market with the harvests that he decides to offer. For example, they say that the business person could offer natural produce and vegetables and additionally elusive assortments of edibles to nearby supermarkets. He could additionally offer some of these produce to restaurants as crisp or canned items. As per specialists, this doesn't suggest that the enterpriser must develop leafy foods on ranches, however can have a nursery on his property, where assortments of vegetables and different yields are planted.

The point when clients realize that they can dependably get some chose generate from you, they will dependably patronise your homestead, masters say. This will accelerate expanded returns and will give the ambition person enough reserves.

Supply new produce

Adigun notes that you can offer a new produce wicker bin a few times month to month. This, he says, could be sold as a membership administration. The thought is to have the produce crisp and engaging to your clients. Masters say your membership administration ought to be loaded with a mixture of the products of the soil you develop on your homestead.

They note that you can charge your clients a rate of the membership expense forthright and the equalization amidst your developing or harvest season. For additional pay, specialists say the ambition person can additionally offer comparative membership administration with new cut blooms from his ranch and additionally different things of investment to his clients.

Family Farming: The Key to Alleviating Hunger and Poverty

After decades of fizzled endeavors to annihilate appetite, improvement offices, universal exploration establishments, non-benefit associations, and the subsidizing and giver groups now see family ranchers as key to easing worldwide destitution and craving. Later gauges show that as of now, 1.2 billion individuals on the planet live in amazing destitution, and no less than 870 million head off to mattress eager each night. As the planet designs up for the International Year of Family Farming in 2014, Food Tank: The Food Think Tank and the U.n. Nourishment and Agriculture Organization (Fao) are highlighting viable approaches to furnish family agriculturists the apparatuses they have to truly support the planet.

Fao's High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (Hlpe) reports that more or less 96 percent of all the farming property in Africa measure less than ten hectares. Fao Agricultural Census information demonstrates that around 80 percent of rural property in sub-Saharan Africa and 88 percent of the aforementioned in advancing nations in Asia measure less than 2 hectares.

Family ranchers assume a critical part in determining planet appetite, yet they're additionally those well on the way to succumb to yearning and neediness. An expected 800 million individuals living underneath the worldwide destitution line work in the rural part. In China and India alone there are separately 189 million and 112 million smallholder ranchers with plots measuring less than two hectares.

Then again, smallholder agribusiness has incredible potential to diminish in general national destitution levels. Consistent with a milestone World Bank report, an expansion of one percent in rural Gdp decreases neediness by four times to the extent that the same rate build in non-farming Gdp.

Sustenance Tank: The Food Think Tank is working with the U.n. Nourishment and Agriculture Organization (Fao) to highlight the critical part that family agriculturists play in the sustenance framework. Throughout the following two years, the both associations will work to sparkle a focus on how family cultivating can upgrade soil health, ensure water supplies, enhance sustenance, and increment salaries. Minor scale, family-run ranches not just shape the base of provincial neighborhoods in both the improving and advanced planet and furnish countless, yet they are additionally at the inside of manageable creation.