🇧🇼BotswanaSouthern Africa
New book explores African agriculture at a critical crossroads
via Mmegi4 min read
A recently released 146-page book, "I thought of you, my beloved farmer," offers a compelling and reflective examination of African agriculture. Published by In-step Publications Pty Ltd, the book addresses the prevalence of traditional farming systems, increasing food import bills, and persistent hunger across the continent. Author Kentse Oupa Batsima stated that the book emerged from lived experience and concern for the future of African agriculture, highlighting the vulnerability of food systems exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of low agricultural productivity. The book challenges the reliance on unproductive farming practices and aims to inspire a shift towards viewing farming as a disciplined, data-driven, and economically viable enterprise. It advocates for efficiency, productivity, and value creation, seeking to restore dignity and purpose to the farming profession. The book emphasizes that modern agriculture is both a business and a science, requiring strategy and informed decision-making, and extends beyond primary production to include secondary and tertiary sectors for value addition and market access. It notes that nearly 10% of the global population experiences hunger, with Botswana's hunger levels estimated at approximately 24%, underscoring the urgent need for change.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Mmegi.
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