Abraham Johan Meintjes: Optimizing Agriculture and Ethnobotany in Southern Africa

The dire need of stable and reliable food production in Africa and beyond had been emphasized often to date.

Plants as both food and medicine to the rural regions in Africa might deserve more attention.

Climate, wars, political and socio-economic instability, economic inequality, some negative views of farming as the option of migration to cities seems more glamorous to many in the rural regions, and manipulative agricultural giants such as promoters of genetically modified seed as well as stricter food production and food export or import guidelines are factors that currently still hamper the optimal development of the comprehensive and holistic farming picture in Southern-Africa.

The absence of well-coordinated farming and agricultural advisory services and active field or extension officers, and ineffective agricultural or development cooperatives do little to stimulate, enthuse or encourage effective and sustainable farming methods.

Big “agri” and big banks tend to set up farmers to fail, scaring others away too.

Existing and emerging rural initiatives often seem to develop a spirit of its own, soon overtaking the original aims of the NGO or project, and manifesting in high positions as well as luxury vehicles just before falling flat completely.

Too many rural farmers are neglecting or forsaking the land, while emerging farmers want to be big too soon and while commercial farms are often beset by labour issues, government harassment or climate challenges.

Glossy advertisements, seminars and talk of expensive seed, expensive fertilizers, big tractors, shining farming equipment, agricultural loans and elusive markets cause both interest and disgust.

The general atmosphere relating to agriculture and farming in Southern-Africa seem to me to be more of a struggle than a joy.

Not enough information about alternative energy, green farming, conservation farming and more effective production or processing methods is available at grass roots Africa.

To crown all the challenges related to effective farming and agriculture in Africa, farm murders and land grabs seem to do little for deep down confidence inside Africa or with regards to options of international soft commodity and forestry investment.

Africa is simply not humming with regard to its primary or basic socio-economic production asset, being agriculture on as many levels and spheres as may be optimally possible.

Experiential and visionary proposition – challenges to be overcome

This impressionist overview is being submitted via the SA Government Veterinarian in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, as a first point of entry to the Department of Agriculture.

Firstly my impression as a ground level missionary and encourager of the local, relevant and sustainable economy in Southern-Africa with a main focus on agriculture and ethno botany (plants as medicine), is the absence of Pan-African vision and the absence of focused organization.

Efforts at coordinated farming are fragmented, random and apparently, from speaking to grassroots communities as far as Kisangani in the DRC, seldom effectively promoted or sustained.

“Big agri” is seemingly focused upon money and manipulation, even also for purposes of political control, - and lacks the vision, dedication and drive, or the deep-felt motivation, to establish sustainable food production in Southern-Africa.

Solutions to Optimal Farming in Africa

Every potential farmer on every piece of suitable land in Africa must be encouraged to farm.

Proper unity in purpose as well as in corruption free effort towards optimal food production need to be established and managed by Africa for Africa.

Rural vs. city must receive and equally intensive planning and management vision for the sake of clean air, clean water, nature conservation, choice of movement and lifestyle preference, and importantly, well managed food production.

The subsistence farmer in the deep rural village as far away as along the 14 000 km of navigable rivers in the Congo River region must take pride and joy in providing for his family and his village.

The emerging farmer must take pride and joy in his or her learning curve.

Small scale famers must be able to network and coach both the subsistence farmer and big farmers with small problems.

Big or commercial farmers must be able to network and coach others in their region.

Veterinary and agricultural advice must be available, - whether by mobile communications or by being present on the ground (and not sitting around offices in capital cities).

Agri-business must be available and geared to provide the right service and products for the right market. (Small tractors and trailers, - as well as simple agricultural tools such as the Sha.

It is submitted that rural development and agricultural cooperatives need some deeper thought, coupled with better coordinated regional marketing where the ground level economy meets the first world economy as and where prudent or desirable.

Stabilized local Socio-economic regions in Southern-Africa

World politics, weak governments and manipulated economies continue to have a negative effect on the majority (the Bottom Billion) in Africa.

It is submitted that local economies and ground-level development regions, managed by traditional rural leaders might well be possible and prudent in Southern-Africa.

Rural economies might include agriculture, nature conservation, rural agricultural cooperatives and basic manufacturing, as well as tourism.

Conclusion

It remains my humble but earnest prayer to see a stable, optimized and prosperous local and agricultural based economy in Southern-Africa to honour both God and man.

While government and larger Africa organizations might well need to provide the legislation as well as nurturing and facilitating mechanisms, it is the people and local leadership who must rise up and stand firm in feeding the nations.

 

Abraham Johan Meintjes is a voluntary Social Entrepreneur and Encourager of sustainable Local Development in Southern-Africa, who cooperates with the church and applies principles called Business as Mission. Reliable and win-win partnerships as well as voluntary co-operative ventures are favoured, - if scarce. Abraham (known as Johan by family and friends in South-Africa) is currently researching sustainable agricultural models for rural communities and recently achieved a Diploma in Herbal Medicine. Johan is married to Marí and resides outside Pretoria, with four Schnauzer dogs. Christine, our daughter is a State Vet in Vryheid, KZN.

 

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