Irrigation schemes should promote local food systems While irrigation is touted as a solution to food and nutrition security under a changing climate, it may not be helpful if irrigation schemes set up in African dry regions focus on producing exotic or external commodities. In dry regions where small grains and small livestock grow naturally, Read more about Irrigation schemes should promote local food systems[…]
Enriching Climate Change discourses with indigenous knowledge perspectives The relationship between climate change and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) can be understood better if discussed from a historical perspective. This approach can show pathways and trends through which indigenous knowledge was an integral driver of how African communities dealt with a changing climate using their knowledge, Read more about Enriching Climate Change discourses with indigenous knowledge perspectives[…]
Pathways for stimulating economic development in local communities While it makes sense for African policy makers to move decision making closer to communities who are often impacted by shocks like climate change and economic collapse, most countries still struggle to embed socio-economic literacy and national policies into grassroots communities. One of the main challenges is Read more about Pathways for stimulating economic development in local communities[…]
Why invest in production when there is no market for surplus commodities? Post-harvest losses remain very high in most African countries due to lack of solid plans on handling surplus commodities. This enduring problem is not only at farmer or community level but extends to national policy level where the quality of grain in national Read more about Why invest in production when there is no market for surplus commodities?[…]
Why African politics should stop undermining socio-economic development It is now widely known that politics sets the tone and context within which countries can convert natural resources such as land and minerals into better lives for citizens. However, the brand of politics in most African countries has continued to undermine socio-economic development in several ways. Read more about Why African politics should stop undermining socio-economic development[…]
When social status is more important than money in the bank In spite of invasion by western commercial systems, African communities continue to trade their commodities in ways that reveal preference for social status over money in the bank. This is not to say, African communities do not appreciate the value of money. They just Read more about When social status is more important than money in the bank[…]
Indigenous commerce should inform criteria for valuating African economies Instead of continuously depending on western criteria to value their economies, African countries and influential institutions like the African Development Bank should develop relevant criteria for valuating African economies. Unless that happens, they will not escape the narrow definition of economic growth which does not translate Read more about Indigenous commerce should inform criteria for valuating African economies[…]
Narrow extension models are no longer suitable for holistic food systems Besides being instruction-oriented, conventional extension models were designed to promote a narrow range of hybrid crops and livestock. This has rendered extension services in many African countries unfit for purpose given that African food systems are too broad and includes wild life that co-exist Read more about Narrow extension models are no longer suitable for holistic food systems[…]
The curse of imported knowledge and extractive investment models Local communities in the Global South are waking up to the limitations of imported knowledge and extractive investment strategies that leave them worse off. Meanwhile, African countries continue to use land, minerals, oil, gas, timber and many other natural resources to compete for investors. Policy makers Read more about The curse of imported knowledge and extractive investment models[…]
How can communities protect their food systems from external influence? Answering the above question is at the centre of a campaign being implemented by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) in more than 13 African countries including Zimbabwe. Dubbed My Food is Africa, the campaign started in 2022 with baseline surveys to understand Read more about How can communities protect their food systems from external influence?[…]