In the midst of geopolitical tensions, Africa has been called to rise and unlock its full potential. That is the key to growth and development, and reduced dependency on other continents, making Africa a better place to live.
Speaking at the Standard Bank Africa Unlocked conference in Cape Town, Saki Macozoma, chairman of Safika Holdings, said Africa’s salvation does not lie in the United States. Africans need to talk to one another and make trade easier, he added, especially in the agricultural sector.
“There is really no time for new enemies, but rather time for collaboration. We have seen how technology, through network connectivity, has made it easier for farmers to get subsidised fertilisers in countries like Kenya, able to trade using technology, and not having a barrier that one must go through. That is the development we want to see,” he said.
Unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential
United Nations special envoy for the food systems, Dr Agnes Kalibata, said ensuring the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) for Africans is a matter of urgency.
“Efforts have been made to make sure that agriculture in Africa is inclusive; however, a lot needs to be done. Our financing systems are still fenced around what do you have, which is a barrier on its own.
“Giving women land will unlock a lot of great opportunities. Women have shown that if given more land, they are able to produce 30% more than what they produce and not only given land but also access to inputs,” she said.
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Kalibata said farmers in Africa are ready to export, and favourable trade relations and a conducive environment for agricultural businesses to flourish are needed.
Meanwhile, Bill Blackie, chief executive officer of business and commercial banking at Standard Bank, said access to energy has the potential of creating 3.3 million jobs in Africa with agriculture at the centre.
“Smart agriculture is the way to go. We have managed to finance a farm in Mpumalanga, which enables them to use green energy and that has resulted in them saving R500 000 annually and continuing to grow their business. So there is potential in Africa and in different sectors to unlock Africa’s potential,” he said.
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Opportunities to grow trade
Louis Van Ravesteyn, head of agribusiness at Standard Bank, said that for Africa to realise its growth and sustainability, agriculture must be at the centre of job creation and boosting economies.
“Agriculture is very critical and it has the biggest growth opportunity because it is the biggest employer on the continent, contributing 25-30% of the gross domestic product, and it’s the biggest commodity that is being traded on the continent.
“We have the soil, the arable land, we have good water, and we have young people coming through, government supporting the industry, and we have AfCTA that is developing and becoming better. So there is a big opportunity for growth,” he said.
Van Ravesteyn explained that for Africa to work with the other continents on a larger scale, technology and innovation need to be introduced to increase yields and production.
“For me, technology is the game changer as it affords farmers to bring new technology to their yields and operations. So technology is one of those key drivers,” he said.
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