Rethinking Agricultural Engineering 2: From War for Land to War Against Poverty

Smallholder and subsistence farmers are the future of food production in developing countries, producing 80% of all the food grown in Africa and Asia. The agricultural engineering challenge is to promote and nurture the nascent agricultural engineering sector in developing countries. Recent discussions and reports have highlighted the need to reexamine the value and approach to mechanization in Sub-Saharan Africa. As highlighted in the part one to this article, Land reform came with a unique set of challenges chief of which is having to reorient our agrarian structure-to shift from subsistence to being the bread basket for Africa, to move from hewers of wood and drawers of water to managers of fully mechanized farms.

Case study

China's expenditure on public sector agriculture research rose to $4.7 billion in 2001 making it the global leader in research resulting in continued rise in productivity from 2001 to 2012 than any country except Brazil. China’s experience in transforming its smallholder farmer based agrarian structure demonstrates that institutional innovation (particularly land tenure), technological changes, and market reform and infrastructure development are critical to the improvement of the nation's food security.
Taking a leaf from China's journey, I would like to propose a few solutions to bring about technological shift to small and medium scale farming post land reform.

Engineering for Agriculture

In order to accelerate the production of small-scale farmer oriented technology, the government must spearhead a nationwide "Engineering for Agriculture" program that is vigorously and intelligently pursued in all research and development institutions. Our neighbouring South Africa has made huge strides on that front, funding research projects through organizations such as ARC, SANCOLD, WRC to mention but a few. We have the Institute of Agricultural Engineering whose voice is fading because of lack of funding and not being integrated with key stakeholders and other programs of national value. The program should catalyze R&D efforts by  resuscitating such organizations and leverage on their experience, networks and structures to channel funds into solving critical problems.

Technology Transfer Centers

On average, there are over 60 new agriculture related innovations presented yearly at universities that do not get to see daylight because of absence of a mechanism that systematically turns new research knowledge and innovations into practice. In order to harvest these low-hanging fruits we must develop Technology Transfer Centers (TTC) that are equipped with research engineers, scientists and innovators. The aim should be to promote vertical technology transfer whereby applied research knowledge is translated to practical and implementable solutions by supporting synergies between public research institutions and industry and match-making innovators with investors. Countries like China and the European Union have regional TTCs to support innovation and accelerate growth through commercialization of ideas and availing intellectual property to industries in a systematic and profitable manner. In the absence of a rich research base as in our case, TTCs can begin by value engineering and reverse-engineering of revolutionary smallholder farmer targeted technology and share technical information with willing takers thereby facilitating speedy adoption of modern technology.

Hybrid Industries

Our socio-economic atmosphere may not, at this moment, have the capacity to host viable agricultural equipment producers that can compete price-wise with imports, but we can attract flourishing hybrid industries that do assembly of tractors, irrigation equipment, post harvest technologies and the likes. That enables the necessary skills transfer required to start having our own brands that are both profitable and pro-smallholder farmer in future. Currently, We have our small scale industries that continue to serve the smallholders but due to their informal nature, their potential is not realized nor their role in the post land reform era acknowledged. What can we say about hubs like Gazaland, teeming with seasoned technologists, developing mobile shellers, milling machines, and other implements? A drive to formalise and recognize these industries can go a long way in empowering our smallholder farmers.

Promoting Adoption of Specific Technology

Over the past five years, we have seen the inception of the two-wheeled and low cost mini tractors from China and India. The mini tractors are a game-changer in terms of dealing with drudgery cost-effectively and ergonomics and most importantly being the best prescription for conservation agriculture. The versatility of these mini machines when paired with suitable small scale implements facilitates mobility, cultivation, spraying, irrigation, harvesting and postharvest operations. However, these tractors sometimes enter the market unchecked at the expense of farmers who have absolutely no knowledge on how to verify the applicability and authenticity of the operational specifications. Imported farming equipment needs to be tested and recalibrated for local conditions and terrain. Instead of government importing the glamourised high tech expensive tractors and harvesters for its input schemes, it should consider these low cost mini machines which are also less prone to nepotism and revamp its Agritex division to facilitate quick adoption of better technologies.

Ownership vs Access?

Lastly, as a nation we can make key institutional innovations by borrowing from our sharing culture. What if we just improve farmers' access to equipment by having a platform that connects farmers to mechanization service providers in real time. Just as we do when we need a lift to go work we delegate that role to transport companies who by experience become so good at it as we also get more time to do what matter most to us. Ownership vs Access? This is what is now commonly known as the "sharing economy" with multi-billion dollar companies like Uber, Lyft and AirBnB leading the revolution. This entails that farmers stick to their business and not worry about buying and servicing equipment, training operators and providing secure shelter for the equipment. On the other hand experienced logistics service providers specialize on mechanization planning, procurement of best equipment, maintenance and deployment.

To conclude, let me re-emphasize that the war for land was just the beginning. Now is the time to think about the war for food and war against poverty. In order to win this war, Agricultural Engineering must play a key role in reshaping the agrarian structure of the nation and the government must invest much into research and development and make the necessary institutional transitions to accelerate economic recovery.

Rethinking Agricultural Engineering Post-Land Reform.

Rethinking Agricultural Engineering Post-Land Reform.

Agricultural Engineering is an applied scientific discipline, often narrowly associated with farm machinery, but now much wider, emboding key areas of global food security such as soil and water management, agroprocessing, mechanization and automation of livestock farming, and bioenergy. This broad view has led to the subject being redefined to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. A multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, that applies complex engineering principles in real time and on real life while sympathizing with the environment, is what makes the discipline not only indispensable but also critical to deliver food security post land reform.

The Fast Track Land Reform, brought about abrupt and unprecedented transitions that required robust structural adjustments and in some cases total strategic turn around. A unique set of challenges and opportunities arose and some traditional technologies and practices were rendered ineffective under the new agrarian structure posing a huge threat to productivity and national food security.

I will expound on 3 post-land reform challenges and then proffer solutions and recommendations from an Agricultural Engineering perspective in the next article.

 Land Size and Unresolved Ownership Issues 

Just the size of arable land at one's disposal can determine what machinery is economic to own. For instance it is not economic to own a tractor that can till all the land one has in a day and remain idle the rest of the season-the downtime is just ridiculous and fixed costs unsustainable. The size of land in general terms limits the maximum attainable yield and revenues. Cost becomes a limiting factor when purchasing machinery and investing in farm infrastructure. An unclear tenure system restricts the new farmer's access to credit and this calls for new farming tools and methods that suit budgetary constraints. The size and proximity of the subdivided land units meant the already existing natural resources and man-made infrastructure (dams, storage and livestock structures) were left without a clear owner and no clear plan on how to utilize them for cooperate benefit. Oftentimes that resulted in people dismantling the infrastructure and selling parts or attempting in vain to rebuild it, this time at a scale they saw fit for their farms.

Capital (intellectual and financial)

The new farmers were financially disadvantaged coupled with chronic economic crisis that bedeviled the country from the year 2000. Procurement of mechanization and irrigation equipment  became a challenge as the farmers only had just enough capital to grow food for subsistence. At national level, the increased demand for resources that are critical to agriculture such as electricity caught the government unprepared leaving farmers  with only a few available but expensive energy alternatives like diesel and solar. New farmers had little knowledge on why and how to safely store larger harvest while maintaining best quality standards, and the cost that come with post harvest processes. To cater for their lean budget, farmers need value-add their produce but again that invites the uncomfortable question of whether they can afford or access the available agroprocessing technology options on the market.

Climate Change and Land Degradation

The implications of climate change vary with one's access to resources and knowledge to mitigate its devastating effects. Large scale farmers managed to cope with climate change by accessing cutting-edge innovations to enhance water use efficiency and facilitate water harvesting. Most people are under the illusion that drip irrigation is cheap and meant for small scale farmers by virtue of it being small in size only to realize later that beyond certain scale, the costs far outweigh the benefits.The principles of the "gospel" of Conservation Agriculture, which are minimum soil disturbance, crop rotation and soil cover, have been well received by farmers. The intention of Conservation Agriculture: to abate land degradation, retain and sustainably use water and nutrients, is well articulated and the issue is no longer a knowledge problem but a technology problem. Are we developing the right technology and techniques to implement these programs effectively and efficiently? .

We cannot give an infant the same drug we give to adults just because they are suffering from the same ailment, neither can patients, drug dispensaries and pharmaceuticals operate on auto-pilot_ markets unchecked, efforts uncoordinated, and findings undocumented.The effects can be disastrous. Similarly, small scale farmers require small scale tailor-made solutions that are equally effective and sometimes context-specific models that ensure co-access and broad-based ownership of critical infrastructure and resources.

The dilemma of scale, resources and global natural trends requires interventions at policy, institutional and micro-level. Policy to give vision and highlight the gravity of the issues in order for the government to avail resources. Institutions to crystallize the policy elements that resonate with their objectives into practical strategies which they can implement. At micro level, it's about execution, monitoring and evaluation, and results used to inform policy evolution efforts. Currently, interventions in the agricultural sector are de-linked from each other and an integrated approach of supporting the full continuum of research and development, production, processing to marketing of food must be vigorously and intelligently pursued. "Hondo yeMinda" translated "War for Land," is the vernacular name given to land reform but the war is not over yet until the beneficiaries and survivors have something to show for it. Let's take it to another level! In my next weekly article, I will share my remarks and recommendations on the aforementioned challenges.


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