African smallholder farmers were ignored during key food summit

Farmers tilling land in Malaa area, Matungulu. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Since 2006, the green revolution banner has preceded all the 12 AGRF annual conferences which until recently stood for the Alliance for A Green Revolution Forum. Proponents of the revolution have always met to, among other things, push chemicals, commercialise seeds and create a market for their products.

The recently concluded 13th forum saw a name change. It went under the banner of the African Food Systems Summit with the theme to "Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa's Solutions to Food Systems Transformation." The intention, they write on their website, is to build "back better food systems and food sovereignty with youth and women at the center."

Many of us would be pardoned for thinking that this time round, the conference's agenda was all about the African farmer and their needs which would ideally be centred around "African solutions to African problems."

But, as the old adage goes, the truth is in the pudding! So, the conference did not disappoint in its industrial agriculture agenda. For starters, the ordinary African smallholder farmer was not given a voice. This was despite AGRA loudly proclaiming, "we ensured the inclusion of farmers, youth and women represented 57 per cent of the speakers."

Instead, heads of states and leaders of the institutions that fund the green revolution were given the pride of place. They are proudly paraded on the website as speakers. No ordinary smallholder farmer is listed. In fact, representatives from groups that hold divergent views and opinions from them were denied a space at the table.

African civil society and farmer groups voiced their dissatisfaction at their exclusion from attending the conference. Their discontent was and will remain ignored since the conference is over.

Many on the continent know that the solution to hunger, climate change and failing nutrition lies with the farmers and in sustainable agricultural practices as enshrined in the agroecology movement. This particular solution, has not been embraced and the farmer who provides, implements and shares this solution has not been given the platform to share how his/her solution.

The agroecology movement and practices are gaining momentum as farmers struggle with the increasing costs of synthetic fertilisers and toxic pesticides. The transition to agroecology promotes the use of biofertilisers and biopesticides that support the building of the soil nutrient and carbon matter. Farmers work closely with research scientists to study, test soils and identify what works best as they embrace co-creation and nutrient cycling.

However, it is important to note that as we promote agroecology, industry is co-opting the sustainable agriculture language to justify their existence with some of them now saying that they are promoting indigenous foods.

The recent Africa Climate Week is a good example of how corporates hijack processes and are now selling the carbon market agenda in Africa which in the end only benefits northern-based industries and brokers while farmers in Africa receive very little for their carbon sequestration efforts.

A communique from the Dar es Salaam forum says: "During the Summit discussions, a central theme was the vision for cultivating resilient, sustainable, and nourishing food systems prioritising human well-being and the planet's health. The focus was on shaping food systems that feed populations and safeguard the environment for present and future generations."

Yet the obvious question is: How does AGRA hope to "shape food systems that feed populations and safeguard the environment" when the modus operandi remains fossil fuel fertiliser and lending a deaf ear to agroecology proponents?