The
greatest problem we have in Africa is our leaders who have no clue on
development programmes.
Instead
of improving their economies, they are only interested in enriching themselves
and their families with the aim of remaining in power forever.
This
could explain the reason why nothing is being done to help our continent.
A
recent report showed that since 2005, merely 13 African countries among them
Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Ethiopia have hit or surpassed their pledge
to invest at least 10 per cent of public funds in agriculture.
The
report 'African Agricultural Status Report 2016' shows that farmers in Africa
are earning 70 per cent less income from agriculture than their peers in Asia
due to poor soils.
It
noted that 65 per cent of Africa's farm lands lack the necessary nutrients, and
many farmers lack the inputs and technical knowledge to revive them.
This
costs African farmers at least $68 million (Sh680 billion) in lost income
opportunities.
African
Heads of State should wake to the reality and ensure that our continent
develops considering that our land and soils are far much better than other
continents.
When
everything is said and done, let us not forget that a decade of intense
domestic attention to farmers and food production has generated the most
successful levels in African history.
This
is, because, we have seen a strong case for agriculture being the surest path
to producing sustainable economic growth that is felt in all sectors of
society, particularly poor Africans.
The
Jubilee government should not forget that agriculture is the mainstay of the
economies of almost all African countries. It is for this reason we should
concentrate on financing agriculture to ensure that we become the most
developed country in Africa.