Farm size has become an issue on the minds of the many Africans as a solution for the low productivity levels of farms and possibly food security. They often debate, in order to alleviate poverty and ensure food security, farmers ought to increase their farm sizes.
Does farm size really matter?
I think the argument has not gotten to that point yet. There are a couple of fundamental issues we need to tackle as a continent first.
Read also: Site Selection for Farming Purposes: 7 Very Key Factors to Consider
What are the issues?
- Costs of production are already high due to high costs of inputs. These inputs could be soil enhancements inputs, mechanical inputs etc. In this case, I am referring to inputs for sustainable agriculture.
- Farmers can no more use their farmlands because they are fast becoming infertile, due to the use of unsustainable agricultural technologies like slash and burn.
Read also: Conservation Agriculture (CA): Increase yields and improve farmlands
My thought
We must address these basic issues (i would say) to ensure higher productivity on the existing farm sizes before we can consider expansion.
Positive and direct interventions like subsidies will help reduce the cost of inputs. This will ultimately help reduce the cost of production.
However, to ensure sustainable production, inputs that promote sustainable agriculture must be encouraged. In that case, farmers would be sure to have and very productive farm areas for a prolonged period.
The promotion and education of farmers on sustainable agricultural practices are also key. Especially during these climate changes, it is the best practice to ensure continuous food supply even by the smallholder farmers.
Now, your thoughts…..?
15 Comments. Leave new
You make a good point. But farmers need to access capital from other sources to create opportunities to increase those inputs for more productive yields.
Definitely. Well said Lela.
For the small farm, there are only so many hours in the day and only so many hands to do the work.
Subsidies and mechanization won’t necessarily make a difference.
Learning more about good soil and crop management practices will make a difference.
The Cuban experience is instructive. When the chemicals went away some fifty years ago, they learned how to farm organically.
Yes, it took time but today they feed more people with better quality food from the same farming footprint that used chemical a half century ago.
Good point Michael, and thanks for the Cuban reference.
from my experience as a young farmer both matters very much
No please but how you put the best agronomic practices in place.
Farms can produce more in smaller plots if you increase the seeds yields. More may not mean better in more open space due to supplies needs. The use of a small space can be used efficiently and easier to be taken care of if built right and planned out. Looking at how different plants compliment each other and other details are the key to having high yields where it is manageable where people can share what is grown with each other.
Joan, i perfectly agree with your point. That is a more wholistic approach to farming that benefits society. Well said. Thank you
Thanks I hope you have people interested in growing their food as a means of living for the changes that will happen to the planet will change many way things are done to be able to survive. Much love and blessings to you Afrane and your people.
Thanks
Much love and blessings to you too Joan, for supporting farming in Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UDwbOHRSi8
you need to see this and show your people
imo it doesn’t matter if its a vegetable farm
Why only vegetable farm?
haha I didn’t read the article b4 commenting. I read it n realised it was something else
Vovolytic Vovo Dono , thanks for taking time to read.