M. T. MUCHERO MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES (PVT) LTD

1
M. T. MUCHEROMANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES
(PVT) LTD

• GECAFS
• Discussion Meeting in Preparation for a Research
  Planning
• Workshop for a GECAFS Southern Africa Project
• Perspectives on regional food security and
• Food systems issues, relevant regional research

2
SOUTHERN AFRICAN ISSUES

• Vision for Africa
• Aim
• To promote improved food production and
  distribution
• Purpose
• In order to reduce or even eradicate hunger and
  poverty
• Through
• The attainment of Self-sufficiency in food
  production of most basic grains meat, at
  regional level food security at national level

3
SOUTHERN AFRICAN ISSUES

• How
• Through specialisation in food production and
  agricultural trade
• Effect
• At minimal environmental degradation
• Therefore
• The need to incorporate GEC into agricultural
  research, planning production strategies and
  policies.

4
SOUTHERN AFRICAN ISSUES

• Areas of Potential Conflict
• Improved food production distribution
• Reducing, even eradicating hunger poverty
• Self-sufficiency in food production
• Specialisation in food production agricultural
  trade
• Environmental impact and general degradation

5
AREAS OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT

• PRODUCTION
• MEANS TO AN END

Increased Production
6
AREAS OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT

• POLICIES/STRATEGIES PRODUCTION

Increase cultivated land
Multiple cropping (Irrigation water Utilisation)
Increased Production
Intensify Production Systems
Technological Advancements (e.g. in hybrid seed)
7
AREAS OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT

• POLICIES/STRATEGIES PRODUCTION

Increase cultivated land
Multiple cropping (Irrigation water Utilisation)
Increased Production
Intensify Production Systems
Technological Advancements (e.g. in hybrid seed)
8
AREAS OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT

• POLICIES/STRATEGIES OVERACHING FACTORS

Political Environment Environmental
Factors Marketing Constraints Global Environment
Increase cultivated land
Multiple cropping (Irrigation water Utilisation)
Technological Advancements (e.g. in hybrid seed)
Intensify Production Systems
9
BROAD CHALLENGES FACING SOUTHERN AFRICA

• The factors associated with the need to achieve
  Africas vision in relation to the above
  perceived Policies and Strategies include the
  following
• Resource Endowment and Ecological
  Conditions
•          i.    Land Resource Agroecological
  Conditions
•          ii.   Agroclimatic Conditions
•          iii.  Reliability of Production
•          iv.  Increased variability and
  reliability of rainfall and
•           v.  Technological Factors.
•  

10
BROAD CHALLENGES FACING SOUTHERN AFRICA

• Socioeconomic Environmental Conditions
• i.  High birth rate and high rate of population
  growth
•  ii. High death rate (due to HIV/AIDS, Malaria
  other Health Concerns)
• iii. Reducing per capita incomes and
• iv.  Reducing and sometimes negative economic
  growth rates.
•  

11
BROAD CHALLENGES FACING SOUTHERN AFRICA

• Biophysical environment
•        i.   Degradation of soil and water
  resources
•  
•   Institutional and Policy Factors
•         i.     Lack of coordination of policies
•         ii.    Reduced human and financial
  resources and
•        iii.    Need for training and capacity
  building.
•  

12
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

• The following are some of the questions or issues
  that need to be addressed
• How do we increase land under cultivation without
  adversely affecting
• How do we assist in increased fertilizer and
  input usage without exacerbation of gas
  emissions?
• How do we maintain traditional values and
  products (e.g. traditional seeds) in order to
  minimize vulnerability?
• How do we ensure wholesome and properly
  coordinated National/Regional/International
  production policies that enhance production at
  minimal environmental degradation at affordable
  costs.
• How do we optimise water usage?
• How do we minimize the impact and effect of
  variable climatic conditions
• How do counter droughts/floods less optimal
  production factors.