VIEW FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: THE KEY TO GROWTH IN AFRICA
Agriculture has been the mainstay of modern human survival for centuries. Through agriculture, man has produced food and cash crops. In contemporary times, the prospects of successful agriculture have been beset by human resources, access to land, rapid deforestation and environmental degradation, fertiliser over-dependency, and the emergence of modern science such as genetically modified seeds.
Agricultural activities worldwide are varied. There are people who are still undertaking agriculture at peasant level, mainly to satisfy their subsistence food supply and cash earnings. There are, however, those who conduct large-scale commercial farming in what is generally termed as agribusiness. These include those whose farms produce grains to process for vehicles and other machinery. Both of these categories have their prospects and problems.
In many Commonwealth countries, agriculture is an activity undertaken by as much as 70 per cent of the total population. The population that is expected to engage in agriculture is the young generation. That is in why many countries which are 50 to 60 years old (in terms of independence), the development priority list tends to be education, agriculture, infrastructural development and energy (including water) supply.
Dr William F. Shija Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The attention on agriculture for food security and commercial purpose has gained momentum in many young governments. Several countries are working to transform the sector in order to attract the youth to it, and to reduce the youth influx to towns and cities. Reciting this potential in Africa, A. Namanga Ngongi (New African, May 2013) states that: “Africa’s land is attracting unprecedented attention not for its mineral wealth but for its agricultural potential, with 60% of the world’s unused agricultural land. A new scramble for
The Secretary-General’s
Dr William F. Shija (second righ Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, and Tanzanian Speaker Hon. A
The CPA Secretary-general (right) greeting the new Speaker of the Parliament of Kenya, Hon. Justin Muturi, MP (left).
98 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Two
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