Over the past few years, Africa’s agricultural sector has faced a host of challenges, with new ones emerging every day. However, technological adaptation is how farmers across the African continent and the world are winning against several disruptive forces.
This was the key message during the first panel discussion at the 2023 Africa Agri Tech Conference currently underway in Pretoria.
The robust panel themed “Feeding a global population of 9.8 billion people by 2050” was facilitated by Professor Ferdi Meyer, managing director at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP).
Weather patterns and farming methods
Kevin Kalb, a farmer based in Indiana, USA, told attendees that changing weather patterns have significantly changed how he farms.
“Weather patterns have changed… We used to [have] floods [later in the year], but in the last six years we have [seen] flooding earlier,” said Du Bois. “We can see that the weather has changed, it seems colder and drier.”
This, he explained, has resulted in shorter planting periods for his farm. Before, Du Bois would plant soybeans first and then maize. With the new weather patterns, he has to plant maize first and then soybeans.
South Africa’s Danie Bester from Mpumalanga shared Du Bois’ sentiments that climate change has shortened the planting season.
“There has been a shift in rainfall patterns. The time window is getting shorter, but technology is helping us manage the shorter planting period,” he said.
Watch this space…
Meanwhile, Afrigi CEO Norman Celliers applauded farmers for their resilience despite several industry disruptions, especially Covid-19.
“[Agriculture] came through that crisis and the world realised its dependency on food… The agricultural industry, coupled with technology – I can’t help but be incredibly positive about the industry that we’re in and the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Celliers.
“I believe that combining human excellence and technology will make agriculture one of the most exciting industries in the next 50 years.”
Conference offers something for everyone
The conference brings together technology and agriculture leaders under one roof and provides farmers, growers, and agribusinesses from across the agricultural landscape with a glimpse into the future. The latest technologies, innovations, and techniques available to meet tomorrow’s agricultural production realities, also feature strongly.
Day one focused on equipment, data, and tech in agriculture. Day two will focus on biotechnology and scientific advances in agriculture, while day three will focus on economic, financial and global trade impacts on agriculture.
Team Food For Mzansi also made its debut appearance at Africa’s biggest agriculture technology gathering and introduced the continent’s leaders in agriculture and technology to the possibilities of virtual farming.
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