Poorly sequenced investments doing more harm than good in Africa Imagine the Japanese Embassy financing the building of a house at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo for victims of Gender-Based Violence but a few kilometres down the road Malaleni food market traders continue to sell their commodities in the open space with no shed to protect Read more about Poorly sequenced investments doing more harm than good in Africa[…]
When a vibrant sense of belonging is more important than selling commodities While corporates are more interested in agricultural commodities than producers, African territorial markets thrive on the notion that farmers, traders and consumers value a sense of belonging more than commodities. These key actors want to be part of something that feels like it’s Read more about When a vibrant sense of belonging is more important than selling commodities[…]
Bankers expect smallholder farmers to repay loans at a particular interest. For economists, African smallholder farmers are supposed to master return on investment. Nutritionists expect smallholder farmers to be food scientists just as agronomists and livestock specialists expect smallholder farmers to think and act like scientists. NGOs promoting farmer field schools see farmers as learners Read more about Why the elite should stop imposing their expectations on smallholder farmers[…]
After taking their good intentions to the grassroots and supporting rural communities to build dams, irrigation schemes, clinics, dip tanks and market sheds, many development agencies are fond of putting their banners at such community assets. While there might be nothing wrong with external organizations announcing their presence in particular communities, inserting banners complete with Read more about When it’s counter-productive for development agencies to insert their banners in rural communities[…]
In addition to unearthing community resilience and coping mechanisms, baseline studies can be good at identifying relevant partners and local expertise. A lot of market infrastructure in many African countries has remained unused because construction has not been adequately informed by baseline studies. Absence of baseline data also leads to mismatches between production and market Read more about The role of baseline studies in anchoring local solutions and resilience[…]
To what extent can a few beneficiaries transform a whole community? Due to limited resources, among other reasons, development interventions often work with a few targeted beneficiaries hoping that knew knowledge or practices can trickle to the entire community. For instance, in a community of more than 1000 households, an intervention can support 50 households Read more about To what extent can a few beneficiaries transform a whole community?[…]
Understanding African food systems through public transport African public transport systems such as long-distance buses can be the best way of appreciating components of an African food basket as well as different pathways through which African food moves from production areas to consumption zones. For instance, food that moves from rural areas to urban markets Read more about Understanding African food systems through public transport[…]
Developing countries that depend on external inputs are still colonized Countries whose environment is not ideal for food production but have resources like minerals and oil can afford use those resources in importing food and living a healthy life. Such countries are not as colonized as those that depend on external inputs to produce their Read more about Developing countries that depend on external inputs are still colonized[…]
Travelling from capital cities to rural areas using public transport like long distance buses could go a long way in inculcating servant leadership in African presidents and ministers. Such experiences would also lead to better people-oriented policies. Imagine the President of Zimbabwe boarding Zvishandwa Bus Service at Mbare Bus Terminus in Harare on the way Read more about Travelling to rural areas by bus can transform the mindsets of African leaders[…]
Of agroecology and related terminologies that hogged the limelight in 2023 The year 2023 saw agroecology receiving a lot of attention as one of the main proposed solutions for combating climate change in harmony with nature. However, like many other buzzwords, agroecology continues to be diluted, generalized and coopted before its full potential can be Read more about Of agroecology and related terminologies that hogged the limelight in 2023[…]