Why Africa must ramp up mechanized farming — an explainer
DW explains why African nations need to increase their use of machinery and technology in agriculture to alleviate hunger.
Transcript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:01 South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya,
00:05 and Tanzania are trailblazing in adopting mechanization
00:08 to optimize food production.
00:10 But across Africa, the process of implementing technology
00:13 and machines in agriculture has been slow.
00:16 Mechanization in agriculture has numerous advantages.
00:20 Firstly, timely and efficient farming operations.
00:23 Mechanized farming allows for timely planting,
00:25 irrigation, and harvesting of crops.
00:27 This is especially important in Africa
00:29 where climate change has led
00:31 to unpredictable weather patterns.
00:33 Secondly, fewer post-harvest losses.
00:35 Mechanized equipment can help with post-harvest processing,
00:38 storage, and transport of crops.
00:41 This reduces losses due to spoilage and pests,
00:43 which are significant contributors to food insecurity
00:47 in many African countries.
00:48 Thirdly, sustainable agriculture.
00:51 Sustainable practices such as precision agriculture
00:54 are made more accessible through mechanization.
00:57 These practices help conserve soil and water resources,
01:00 making farming more resilient to climate change.
01:03 There are challenges to mechanizing agriculture
01:05 across Africa, including high initial cost of machinery
01:08 and limited access to credit for small-scale farmers.
01:11 Addressing these challenges is essential
01:13 to ensure its benefits are realized across Africa,
01:17 ultimately contributing to food security
01:19 and economic development.