Modern agriculture has the potential to boost African prosperity by transforming the economies that are currently heavily reliant on agriculture. However, African agriculture is underperforming due to a lack of investment in machinery, seeds, fertilizers and training. AGCO, a leading farm machinery manufacturer, is addressing this by investing over $100 million in facilities across Africa to provide equipment, training and support to farmers in order to boost productivity and food production in a sustainable way. This includes a new 150-hectare model farm and learning center in Zambia that aims to educate farmers and help them increase yields through better soil, crop and mechanization techniques.
The document summarizes the 2nd AGCO Africa Summit held in Berlin in 2013 to discuss progress and next steps in realizing the vision of supporting agriculture in Africa. It provides an overview of AGCO's initiatives in Africa over the past year, including opening a training center in Zambia, building a parts warehouse in South Africa, and establishing a tractor manufacturing joint venture in Algeria. It also summarizes remarks from several speakers at the summit on topics like the importance of agriculture for Africa's development, the need for public-private partnerships and aligning government and private sector goals, and modernizing Africa's agriculture through mechanization and agribusiness.
The article profiles Douglas Kanja, a 27-year-old IT specialist in Kenya who has taken up dairy farming despite stereotypes of farming as an occupation for old people. Kanja has found success in dairy farming, earning hundreds of thousands of Kenyan shillings per month. He manages his farm while still working his day job in Nairobi, visiting the farm before and after work each day. Kanja is redefining perceptions of farmers in Kenya as young and successful rather than old and resigned. His success story is inspiring renewed interest in dairy farming among youth.
The document summarizes the East Africa Dairy Development Project, which aims to double incomes for smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. It does this through a hub model where chilling plants are transformed into business hubs. The hubs provide a one-stop shop for farmers, allowing them to access services, inputs, and reliable markets through milk collection and sales to processors. Examples show hubs collecting over 70,000 liters of milk daily from over 13,000 farmers, generating $6.3 million annually in sales. Success requires commitment from farmers, government, and collaboration along the supply chain. Partners are now being sought to scale up the project further.
This document summarizes the story of Joseph Macharia, an innovator from Kenya who created an affordable pulverizer for dairy farmers despite only having a primary school education. He began by repairing cars and other machinery, then started his own business making affordable farm equipment. Through partnering with the East Africa Dairy Development Project, his pulverizer business grew rapidly and he now employs 26 people and sells 25 machines per week. His innovation has helped thousands of smallholder dairy farmers process feed more efficiently.
The document summarizes the 10th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition hosted by the Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association. The conference will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from September 24-26, 2014 with the theme "Discovering African Dairy, Refreshing Mindsets". Over 120 exhibitors and 500 delegates from over 50 countries are expected to attend. The conference and exhibition aims to promote the dairy sector in Africa through knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and increasing intra-regional trade. Key topics to be discussed include the status of the global and regional dairy industries and emerging technologies.
A bulk wheat cargo vessel carrying hundreds of thousands of tonnes of grain from Russia reaches its destination at the Dar Es Salaam port. Some 500 metres away, the Bakhresa grain-handling site prepares for the large wheat intake.
World Bank IFC Financing Dairy Supply Chain in Africa: Successes and Failures Francois Stepman
The document discusses financing opportunities in the dairy supply chain. It notes that the dairy sector often lacks financing, especially for value chain financing. The World Bank (IFC) works with governments, private companies, and foreign investors along various points in the dairy supply chain. IFC provides loans, equity, risk management products, and advisory services to promote development and reduce risks. IFC has investments in dairy companies across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe to support areas like production expansion, processing plant construction, and supply chain development.
Understanding conditions and development opportunities
Milk producers
Collectors and processors
Consumers
Developing a common vision among the different actors and setting priorities
Local production – Consumption
Income – Employment – Livelihoods
Preparing and funding a sustainable development programme
Priorities
Time
The document summarizes the 2nd AGCO Africa Summit held in Berlin in 2013 to discuss progress and next steps in realizing the vision of supporting agriculture in Africa. It provides an overview of AGCO's initiatives in Africa over the past year, including opening a training center in Zambia, building a parts warehouse in South Africa, and establishing a tractor manufacturing joint venture in Algeria. It also summarizes remarks from several speakers at the summit on topics like the importance of agriculture for Africa's development, the need for public-private partnerships and aligning government and private sector goals, and modernizing Africa's agriculture through mechanization and agribusiness.
The article profiles Douglas Kanja, a 27-year-old IT specialist in Kenya who has taken up dairy farming despite stereotypes of farming as an occupation for old people. Kanja has found success in dairy farming, earning hundreds of thousands of Kenyan shillings per month. He manages his farm while still working his day job in Nairobi, visiting the farm before and after work each day. Kanja is redefining perceptions of farmers in Kenya as young and successful rather than old and resigned. His success story is inspiring renewed interest in dairy farming among youth.
The document summarizes the East Africa Dairy Development Project, which aims to double incomes for smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. It does this through a hub model where chilling plants are transformed into business hubs. The hubs provide a one-stop shop for farmers, allowing them to access services, inputs, and reliable markets through milk collection and sales to processors. Examples show hubs collecting over 70,000 liters of milk daily from over 13,000 farmers, generating $6.3 million annually in sales. Success requires commitment from farmers, government, and collaboration along the supply chain. Partners are now being sought to scale up the project further.
This document summarizes the story of Joseph Macharia, an innovator from Kenya who created an affordable pulverizer for dairy farmers despite only having a primary school education. He began by repairing cars and other machinery, then started his own business making affordable farm equipment. Through partnering with the East Africa Dairy Development Project, his pulverizer business grew rapidly and he now employs 26 people and sells 25 machines per week. His innovation has helped thousands of smallholder dairy farmers process feed more efficiently.
The document summarizes the 10th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition hosted by the Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association. The conference will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from September 24-26, 2014 with the theme "Discovering African Dairy, Refreshing Mindsets". Over 120 exhibitors and 500 delegates from over 50 countries are expected to attend. The conference and exhibition aims to promote the dairy sector in Africa through knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and increasing intra-regional trade. Key topics to be discussed include the status of the global and regional dairy industries and emerging technologies.
A bulk wheat cargo vessel carrying hundreds of thousands of tonnes of grain from Russia reaches its destination at the Dar Es Salaam port. Some 500 metres away, the Bakhresa grain-handling site prepares for the large wheat intake.
World Bank IFC Financing Dairy Supply Chain in Africa: Successes and Failures Francois Stepman
The document discusses financing opportunities in the dairy supply chain. It notes that the dairy sector often lacks financing, especially for value chain financing. The World Bank (IFC) works with governments, private companies, and foreign investors along various points in the dairy supply chain. IFC provides loans, equity, risk management products, and advisory services to promote development and reduce risks. IFC has investments in dairy companies across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe to support areas like production expansion, processing plant construction, and supply chain development.
Understanding conditions and development opportunities
Milk producers
Collectors and processors
Consumers
Developing a common vision among the different actors and setting priorities
Local production – Consumption
Income – Employment – Livelihoods
Preparing and funding a sustainable development programme
Priorities
Time
The document discusses challenges facing African agriculture, including lack of investment, low productivity, and over-reliance on food imports. It describes AGCO's efforts to address these issues through its annual Africa Summit, investments in model farms and learning centers in Africa, and expansion of parts distribution infrastructure on the continent. AGCO's model farm in Zambia provides training to farmers to boost productivity through mechanization, improved agronomy practices, and post-harvest handling techniques. The company aims to disseminate knowledge from this farm across Africa to establish sustainable, economically viable agriculture.
The Brussels Briefing on the subject of “Emerging donors and rising powers in agriculture in ACP countries” took place on Tuesday 27 October 2015 from 9:00h to 13:00h at the ACP Secretariat (451 Avenue Georges Henri, 1200 Brussels, Room C ).
The Briefing discussed the key challenges and new opportunities to enhance South-South and Triangular cooperation. The Briefing : i) reviewed successes and the lessons learned from research and practice; ii) promoted the exchange of information on best practices and drivers of success; iii) fed into the debate various perspectives on policy options. It reviewed the key challenges and opportunities in South-South cooperation in agriculture and the lessons learned from research and practice. It looked at examples of successes in South-South and triangular partnerships across the ACP.
Why naked neck poultry needs to be put in focus in africa by ivo arrey mbongayaivo arrey
Why Naked Neck Poultry Needs to be put in Focus in Africa by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya
Abstract This article advocates for cost saving and other benefits in the farming of Naked Neck chicken breed in Africa. It is based on academic literature and research conducted under African Centre for Community and Development.
The document discusses the 3rd AGCO Africa Summit in Berlin which focused on promoting sustainable and efficient agriculture in Africa to address the growing global population and food supply challenges. It outlines AGCO's investments and initiatives in Africa over the past century and their current plans to expand operations and support African farmers through training programs, improved technology, and new financial solutions. The summit brought together representatives from governments, businesses, universities, and organizations to discuss partnerships and collaborative efforts needed to transform African agriculture.
The document summarizes a regional workshop held in Kampala, Uganda from December 9-12, 2019 to share experiences on sustainable agricultural mechanization hire service practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. The workshop was convened by the African Conservation Tillage Network and attended by over 60 delegates from governments, the private sector, and development organizations. The workshop aimed to support the implementation of the Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa framework, which presents 10 priority elements for national sustainable agricultural mechanization strategies, including boosting farm power, financing mechanisms, facilitating tooling systems, focusing on value chains, fuel innovation, transforming farmer practices, social sustainability, human resource development, long-term visions, and regional cooperation institutions.
This document summarizes the transformation and outlook of agriculture in Africa over the past 30 years. It notes that while agricultural production has increased significantly, yields remain low due to limited improvements in production factors like labor and land. The continent's rapid population growth has outpaced agricultural production growth, resulting in Africa becoming a net importer of food. However, agriculture continues to employ a large portion of the population. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme aims to increase investment and productivity to boost food security, trade, and economic opportunities for Africans.
The document discusses conservation agriculture (CA) in Africa and the work of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) to promote CA. It provides an overview of ACT as an organization, outlines the principles of CA (minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, crop rotations), and describes various projects and partnerships ACT has used to disseminate CA practices to farmers across Africa. Challenges to adopting CA include managing crop residues and cover crops, weed control during the transition to CA, and compacted soil layers left by previous tillage practices.
Conservation Agriculture in africa ACT experiences at the FAO subregional wo...Janet Cox Achora Alonyo
This document discusses conservation agriculture (CA) in Africa from the perspective of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT). It summarizes that CA aims to address food insecurity, improve crop yields, and help adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. While CA is being adopted on over 1 million hectares in Africa, most of this is on large commercial farms, and smallholders face challenges accessing CA services, inputs, and markets. ACT works to promote CA through projects, partnerships, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and research to benefit smallholders. ACT's goals include expanding CA adoption to 25 million hectares
DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE GRADUATION OF 150 PARTICIPANTS AND DECLARATION OF A N500 MILLION CREDIT FACILITY FOR ARABLE PRODUCTION HELD IN ADO-EKITI ON MONDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2012.
Farm Africa has received a new £3 million grant from the UK Government, through the FoodTrade East and Southern Africa trade enhancement and promotion programme.
While the majority of the African population is heavily reliant on agriculture, the continent has lagged behind other developing regions in progressing this essential sector. Research and development specific to the continent’s varied ecosystems and crops has been chronically neglected, as has infrastructure and education to support farmers. As Harvard professor and Kenyan national Calestous Juma has argued: “Neglect of agriculture has been a defining feature of Africa’s economic policy over the last four decades.”
UniBRAIN is an initiative that aims to link university education, research, and business in sustainable agriculture in Africa. It is supported by the Danish government and facilitated by seven partner organizations. UniBRAIN establishes agribusiness innovation consortia between universities, businesses, and research institutions in key agricultural value chains across Africa. The consortia provide resources and services to commercialize innovations and produce entrepreneurial graduates. The overall goal is to contribute to job creation and income growth in Africa through sustainable agribusiness development.
Project Breadbasket Ppt Summary July 10-16 2011klaguardia
The document discusses two organizations, the Fiorello H. LaGuardia Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. The Fiorello H. LaGuardia Foundation promotes community development, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy through local programs with global impact. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa aims to achieve food security in Africa by promoting smallholder farmers through improved seeds, soils, access to markets and information, and supportive policies. It has $400 million in funding and targets reducing food insecurity in 20 countries and doubling incomes for 20 million families by 2020.
Rice - Advanced rice varieties for Africa Hillary Hanson
Science and Technical Partnership in Africa: Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, April 4&5, 2017
Smallholder farmers in Africa face challenges in achieving food security and income growth despite some countries experiencing economic growth. While Africa has great potential in agriculture, only a small percentage of smallholders have been able to access lucrative export markets. New opportunities exist for smallholders through partnerships with the private sector and adding value locally. For smallholder agriculture to transform, priority must be given to diversifying crops, increasing competitiveness across value chains, and developing human and technological capital.
Smallholder farmers in Africa face challenges in achieving food security and income growth despite some countries experiencing economic growth. While Africa has great potential in agriculture, only a small percentage of smallholders have been able to access lucrative export markets. New opportunities exist for smallholders through partnerships with the private sector and adding value locally. For smallholder agriculture to transform, priority must be given to diversifying crops, increasing competitiveness across value chains, and developing human and technological capital.
This document summarizes the challenges of food security and climate change in Africa and introduces conservation agriculture as a solution. It discusses two projects - CA SARD and SCAP - that have promoted conservation agriculture to smallholder farmers in East and West Africa. It outlines the principles and techniques of conservation agriculture being taught, and summarizes the achievements and lessons learned, including increased yields and food security, reduced labor, and farmer adoption of the practices. Challenges and the need to further scale up conservation agriculture in Africa are also discussed.
The document discusses challenges facing African agriculture, including lack of investment, low productivity, and over-reliance on food imports. It describes AGCO's efforts to address these issues through its annual Africa Summit, investments in model farms and learning centers in Africa, and expansion of parts distribution infrastructure on the continent. AGCO's model farm in Zambia provides training to farmers to boost productivity through mechanization, improved agronomy practices, and post-harvest handling techniques. The company aims to disseminate knowledge from this farm across Africa to establish sustainable, economically viable agriculture.
The Brussels Briefing on the subject of “Emerging donors and rising powers in agriculture in ACP countries” took place on Tuesday 27 October 2015 from 9:00h to 13:00h at the ACP Secretariat (451 Avenue Georges Henri, 1200 Brussels, Room C ).
The Briefing discussed the key challenges and new opportunities to enhance South-South and Triangular cooperation. The Briefing : i) reviewed successes and the lessons learned from research and practice; ii) promoted the exchange of information on best practices and drivers of success; iii) fed into the debate various perspectives on policy options. It reviewed the key challenges and opportunities in South-South cooperation in agriculture and the lessons learned from research and practice. It looked at examples of successes in South-South and triangular partnerships across the ACP.
Why naked neck poultry needs to be put in focus in africa by ivo arrey mbongayaivo arrey
Why Naked Neck Poultry Needs to be put in Focus in Africa by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya
Abstract This article advocates for cost saving and other benefits in the farming of Naked Neck chicken breed in Africa. It is based on academic literature and research conducted under African Centre for Community and Development.
The document discusses the 3rd AGCO Africa Summit in Berlin which focused on promoting sustainable and efficient agriculture in Africa to address the growing global population and food supply challenges. It outlines AGCO's investments and initiatives in Africa over the past century and their current plans to expand operations and support African farmers through training programs, improved technology, and new financial solutions. The summit brought together representatives from governments, businesses, universities, and organizations to discuss partnerships and collaborative efforts needed to transform African agriculture.
The document summarizes a regional workshop held in Kampala, Uganda from December 9-12, 2019 to share experiences on sustainable agricultural mechanization hire service practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. The workshop was convened by the African Conservation Tillage Network and attended by over 60 delegates from governments, the private sector, and development organizations. The workshop aimed to support the implementation of the Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa framework, which presents 10 priority elements for national sustainable agricultural mechanization strategies, including boosting farm power, financing mechanisms, facilitating tooling systems, focusing on value chains, fuel innovation, transforming farmer practices, social sustainability, human resource development, long-term visions, and regional cooperation institutions.
This document summarizes the transformation and outlook of agriculture in Africa over the past 30 years. It notes that while agricultural production has increased significantly, yields remain low due to limited improvements in production factors like labor and land. The continent's rapid population growth has outpaced agricultural production growth, resulting in Africa becoming a net importer of food. However, agriculture continues to employ a large portion of the population. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme aims to increase investment and productivity to boost food security, trade, and economic opportunities for Africans.
The document discusses conservation agriculture (CA) in Africa and the work of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) to promote CA. It provides an overview of ACT as an organization, outlines the principles of CA (minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, crop rotations), and describes various projects and partnerships ACT has used to disseminate CA practices to farmers across Africa. Challenges to adopting CA include managing crop residues and cover crops, weed control during the transition to CA, and compacted soil layers left by previous tillage practices.
Conservation Agriculture in africa ACT experiences at the FAO subregional wo...Janet Cox Achora Alonyo
This document discusses conservation agriculture (CA) in Africa from the perspective of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT). It summarizes that CA aims to address food insecurity, improve crop yields, and help adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. While CA is being adopted on over 1 million hectares in Africa, most of this is on large commercial farms, and smallholders face challenges accessing CA services, inputs, and markets. ACT works to promote CA through projects, partnerships, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and research to benefit smallholders. ACT's goals include expanding CA adoption to 25 million hectares
DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE GRADUATION OF 150 PARTICIPANTS AND DECLARATION OF A N500 MILLION CREDIT FACILITY FOR ARABLE PRODUCTION HELD IN ADO-EKITI ON MONDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2012.
Farm Africa has received a new £3 million grant from the UK Government, through the FoodTrade East and Southern Africa trade enhancement and promotion programme.
While the majority of the African population is heavily reliant on agriculture, the continent has lagged behind other developing regions in progressing this essential sector. Research and development specific to the continent’s varied ecosystems and crops has been chronically neglected, as has infrastructure and education to support farmers. As Harvard professor and Kenyan national Calestous Juma has argued: “Neglect of agriculture has been a defining feature of Africa’s economic policy over the last four decades.”
UniBRAIN is an initiative that aims to link university education, research, and business in sustainable agriculture in Africa. It is supported by the Danish government and facilitated by seven partner organizations. UniBRAIN establishes agribusiness innovation consortia between universities, businesses, and research institutions in key agricultural value chains across Africa. The consortia provide resources and services to commercialize innovations and produce entrepreneurial graduates. The overall goal is to contribute to job creation and income growth in Africa through sustainable agribusiness development.
Project Breadbasket Ppt Summary July 10-16 2011klaguardia
The document discusses two organizations, the Fiorello H. LaGuardia Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. The Fiorello H. LaGuardia Foundation promotes community development, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy through local programs with global impact. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa aims to achieve food security in Africa by promoting smallholder farmers through improved seeds, soils, access to markets and information, and supportive policies. It has $400 million in funding and targets reducing food insecurity in 20 countries and doubling incomes for 20 million families by 2020.
Rice - Advanced rice varieties for Africa Hillary Hanson
Science and Technical Partnership in Africa: Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, April 4&5, 2017
Smallholder farmers in Africa face challenges in achieving food security and income growth despite some countries experiencing economic growth. While Africa has great potential in agriculture, only a small percentage of smallholders have been able to access lucrative export markets. New opportunities exist for smallholders through partnerships with the private sector and adding value locally. For smallholder agriculture to transform, priority must be given to diversifying crops, increasing competitiveness across value chains, and developing human and technological capital.
Smallholder farmers in Africa face challenges in achieving food security and income growth despite some countries experiencing economic growth. While Africa has great potential in agriculture, only a small percentage of smallholders have been able to access lucrative export markets. New opportunities exist for smallholders through partnerships with the private sector and adding value locally. For smallholder agriculture to transform, priority must be given to diversifying crops, increasing competitiveness across value chains, and developing human and technological capital.
This document summarizes the challenges of food security and climate change in Africa and introduces conservation agriculture as a solution. It discusses two projects - CA SARD and SCAP - that have promoted conservation agriculture to smallholder farmers in East and West Africa. It outlines the principles and techniques of conservation agriculture being taught, and summarizes the achievements and lessons learned, including increased yields and food security, reduced labor, and farmer adoption of the practices. Challenges and the need to further scale up conservation agriculture in Africa are also discussed.
Similar to The East Africa - Agriculture in EA (20)
Conservation Agriculture in Africa ,the challenges and vision
The East Africa - Agriculture in EA
1. Modern agriculture set to boost African prosperity
Agriculture holds the key to
transforming the prosperity
of many African countries,
where the farming sector
already dominates their
economies. In some cases,
agriculture currently accounts
for up to half of the entire Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and
is responsible for up to 80% of
trade, in value, as well as being
the largest employer.
B
ut African agri-
culture is badly
under-performing
and failing to take
full advantage of available
natural resources of land
and water as well as labour.
There is also a serious lack
of investment in modern
seed and fertiliser, while few
farms employ the latest agro-
nomic advice or mechanisa-
tion. Together this is causing
productivity to lag far behind
advances being made in
other developing countries
such as India and China;
while Brazil is now exporting
its produce.
Yields of staples such as
maize and rice in Africa
typically remain at about
one third to one half of those
achieved in other developing
countries. Moreover, lack of
infrastructure, storage and
transport results in losses of
between 30% to 40% of all
produce through wastage
and damage. Few crops have
any further processing and
this loses the potential to add
value.
Currently the majority of
power for farming in Africa
is provided by animals,
or human hands wielding
manual tools and hoes. This
not only severely limits pro-
ductivity, the hard work for
so little return also makes
agriculture an unattractive
occupation, escalating the
migration of manual workers
from rural areas to towns.
But investment in mecha-
nisation accompanied,
importantly, by education
will provide the catalyst for
rural development. Farm
machinery boosts efficiency
and helps increase yields. It
also relieves workers from
the drudgery of hard manual
work, while bringing more
land into production and
sustainability - helping them
to produce more from less.
AGCO’s commitment to
Africa
As a world-leading farm ma-
chinery manufacturer, AGCO
has unparalleled expertise
and local knowledge of Afri-
can Agriculture, which it has
amassed over many genera-
tions.
For more than half a cen-
tury African farmers have
come to rely on the quality,
reliability and back-up pro-
vided by Massey Ferguson,
AGCO’s global brand, which
started the power farming
revolution, mechanising and
increasing farming efficiency
across the continent.
Today Massey Ferguson re-
mains the market leader and
is complemented by AGCO’s
other leading brands - Chal-
lenger tracked tractors,
sprayers and application
equipment, Valtra tractors
for specialist applications as
well as GSI post-harvest tech-
nology for grain handling
and storage.
Together these offer a com-
prehensive and diverse range
of equipment developed and
built specifically for African
conditions. AGCO brands
offer the widest range of
machines suitable for every
farming business - from
smallholders through the
emerging sector, as well as
co-operatives and the largest
agribusinesses.
AGCO is also taking the
initiative by promoting
debate and action through
its annual Africa Summit.
This aims to raise aware-
ness about the needs of the
continent and to discuss the
challenges facing African ag-
riculture, address the world
food supply problem, declin-
ing arable land base and
population growth.
“Large areas across Africa
have suitable soil and climate
for successful agriculture,
but many areas are not yet
cultivated or are not produc-
tive enough,” explains Martin
Richenhagen, Chairman,
President and CEO, AGCO.
“With 11% of the world’s
arable land, of which 86%
remains uncultivated, Africa
will benefit from modern,
mechanised farming tech-
niques.”
AGCO is helping to develop
a systematic approach to
forming strategic partner-
ships to deliver crops to feed
increasing populations in an
economically, environmen-
tally and socially responsible
way. While the challenge is
enormous, the opportuni-
ties are both substantial and
achievable.
But the lack of infrastruc-
ture, mechanisation and
technology across the conti-
nent, calls for market-based
co-operation between farm-
ers, private industry, govern-
ment and society to establish
a new blueprint.
It pays to pick a strong part-
ner, and with net sales of
$10 billion in 2012, AGCO
is the largest specialist, full-
line agricultural equipment
manufacturer, which sells
machinery in 140 countries.
A truly global corporation,
AGCO has the power, prod-
ucts and support structure to
make an immediate impact.
AGCO’s African invest-
ment in action
AGCO is addressing this ur-
gent need by investing more
than $100 million to boost
African agriculture. It is
currently developing a wide
range of new facilities across
the continent to provide the
highest quality farm mecha-
nisation and training as well
as technical and spare parts
support.
In Zambia AGCO has re-
cently created a new 150ha
(330 acre) model farm and
learning centre near Lusaka.
“The AGCO Global Learning
Centre will empower farm-
ers in Africa to improve food
production levels,” says Nura-
din Osman, AGCO’s Director
Africa & Middle East. “Small
to medium scale farm-
ers with limited access to
modern farming techniques
will benefit from training
courses ranging from basic
agronomy through to general
mechanisation.”
Here AGCO is putting its de-
velopment commitment and
ideas into action. The key
aim is to provide education
and training to African farm-
ers, at all levels, to help them
understand more about soils,
agronomy and crop protec-
tion to boost productivity. At
the same time it will provide
access to information about
how to employ the latest,
most appropriate mechanisa-
tion techniques to increase
crop production in a sustain-
able way.
Mechanisation is the key to
unlocking African agricul-
tural productivity, adds Mr
Osman. “The only way to
ensure Africa can expand its
agricultural output is to use
machinery – appropriate to
the needs of the user. Also
operators require thorough,
professional training to make
the best use of equipment.
“Mechanisation can help
relieve the burden of manual
labour currently employed
to cultivate the land and
AGCO’s
Challenger
tracked
tractors are
capable of
providing
ultimate
outputs in
demanding
conditions
and are al-
ready being
employed to
help bring
land into
produc-
tion across
Africa.
The EastAfrican
AGRICULTURE IN EA
APRIL 20-26, 2013
Special advertising section
1
sow and tend crops by hand.
Employing the most appro-
priate machines will improve
farming efficiency and help
produce more much-needed
food, while making better
use of existing resources –
land, water and labour.”
AGCO’s Zambian Model
Farm and Learning Centre
also aims to educate large-
scale commercial farming
businesses by providing
training on the latest high
specification tractors and
harvesting equipment, in-
cluding precision farming
techniques.
Through its wholly-owned
company GSI, AGCO is also
able to offer crop storage
buildings and equipment to
build a better agricultural
infrastructure in the region.
Improving storage and the
ability to condition crops
not only prevents losses, but
also allows farmers to hold
produce and improve returns
by responding to market de-
mands.
AGCO invests across
Africa
AGCO’s eventual aim is to
transfer the knowledge and
infrastructure being devel-
oped at the Zambian Model
farm and Learning Centre
across Africa.
Exporting the core knowl-
edge and expertise from
Zambia will help establish
the ‘Future Farm’ concept to
provide further education
and agricultural develop-
ment across the continent.
At the same time the project
aims to ‘pull in’ other part-
ners with AGCO to help
develop the much-needed
infrastructure and supply
industry.
Meanwhile AGCO continues
to invest in developing its
own business and facilities in
the region and has recently
built and opened a new Parts
Distribution Centre in Jo-
hannesburg, South Africa as
well as a new regional office
in Cape Town.
Local assembly of Massey
Ferguson tractors for the
African market has now also
started with a joint venture
operation in Algeria. At the
same time the company is
also working on a variety of
projects to improve its distri-
bution network in West and
East Africa.
With these initiatives AGCO,
a world leading farm ma-
chinery manufacturer, is not
only strengthening its posi-
tion in the region, but also
delivering on its mission: ‘To
provide high-tech solutions
to farmers feeding the world.’
AGCO has invested in a model farm and global learning centre near Lusaka,
Zambia, providing education and training on soil management, cropping and
mechanisation.