The Need for an African Green Revolution
Sub-Saharan Africa is the only place in the world where there is less food per person year after year. Today, farmers in the region are forced to contend with challenges their parents never encountered.
As the continent’s population grew, they were forced to cultivate their land more intensively giving way to a reduction of nutrients in the soil and an increase in disease and pest infestations. As a result of these and other agricultural maladies as well as the rise of harsh weather conditions in Africa, millions of people on the continent are living faced with starvation every day.
Starvation was a threat to majority of the developing world until the dawn of the Green Revolution in the 1940s. This prolonged effort to improve crop yield swept through Asia and Latin America, giving small-scale farmers a measure of security for the first time ever. In 1970, Norman Borlaug, a Rockefeller Foundation scientist and the founding father of the Green Revolution, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his ground-breaking efforts. By the 1980s, the Green Revolution had single-handedly increased the percentage of food produced in the developing world. It is worthy to note that the Green Revolution, though a success in other parts of the world, has to date eluded the African continent. At Notore, we believe in change that counts, that is why we are championing the Green Revolution in Africa.
The Role of Fertiliser and Improved Seeds in the African Green Revolution
Improved seeds and fertiliser were the two major ingredients behind the success of the Green Revolution in Asia and Latin America. Improved seeds were developed by scientists who created seed varieties with significantly greater yield potential while maintaining the natural characteristics of the crops.
Fertiliser was equally as important as improved seeds in the Asian and Latin American Green Revolution. It enabled improved seeds to reach their full potential and culminated in an increment of food produced in Asia and Latin America over the years.