Two Opposing Articles on Africa's Green Revolution That Can Be Read Together

I'm still in India, but I wanted to share these two articles.

Neither of these articles promotes absolute fiction or fact. I present these two articles on the Green Revolution in Africa as a mere reproduction of view points. The one from New Vision (Uganda) is more sensationalist than the article from the Daily Nation (Kenya), but both should be read.


When reading the article from New Vision (Uganda), think about what truths you may know about organic agriculture in Africa and in the West. Think about how big the organic industry is in the US for example, what it's limitations on expansion are, and what percentage of American farm products are inorganic.

I don't think promoting organic agriculture in Africa purely because of it's ability to attract higher premiums in the US, EU, and Japan is a well substantiated idea. The logistical impracticability of long distance refrigerated transport in most of present day Africa leaves most small holders worlds away from such market access. Regardless of what this New Vision author thinks about the motives of the Rockefellar and Gates foundations, and whether any of her claims are true (I don't know whether they are or not), her viewpoint about agriculture is infeasible for most of Africa and possibly deleterious for those who can.

Kenya has been on a three year drought. Is it representative of all of Africa? No. But it is costal, and has been privy to some ifnrastructural improvements. If there is a hypothetical Kenyan farmer looking to take advantage of the international organic market, then what crops will he grow? Will he still take care of subsistance needs? Will those be organic? Will any of his crop be sold for domestic consumption? Will he automatically be garunteed more money and a better standard of living when other material or climatic considerations make organic farming relatively more daunting? Would drought resistant corn be a better crop because of the Kenyan water crisis? Will the organic crops need more or less sun? Will they fit in with Kenya's proprosed agro-forestry plan* (probably not a huge effect on production?

Framing food production in Africa for export seems like it automatically assumes a trickle down shema. The successful exporter buys goods and services from others, so the wealth of the organic producer is shared and Africa benifits. But that assumes the existance of a rigid trade system, with established links between neigbors and merchants that may not exist all the time. I arguably don't know enough to keep speaking around a point I haven't yet made.

I just think the New Vision article is too symplistic. And the fact that it is published and receiving notariety may spread its sensationalism and simple notions.