Alliance for a Green Revolution

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) was founded in 2006 under a partnership between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Its mission states that investing in agriculture is the best way to reduce poverty and food insecurity in Africa. Billions of dollars have been raised by various foundations to assist this mission (Moseley 2017). AGRA is unusual in that it is independent and led by Africans based in Africa. Instead of having foreigners take charge of the organization, it is largely run by African professionals who have a lot of knowledge about agriculture in Africa. This may also mean that people have more incentive to ensure the initiatives and investments in agriculture in Africa are successful.

AGRA focuses on smallholder farmers, which is essential because they make up 70% of the population in Africa. By supporting smallholder farmers, it gives those farmers the opportunity to not only feed their own families, but also to profit from their crops (AGRA). Some projects aim to improve soil fertility or to make farmers' associations stronger. AGRA also seeks to encourage sustainability and minimize environmental degradation when pursuing agriculture. This follows the beliefs of Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, who sought to emphasize smallholder farm productivity in Africa while also maintaining the environment. Use of science and technology is emphasized and deemed essential to minimize environmental degradation as the risks of climate change become more present (Moseley 2017).

One AGRA initiative is the focus on Africa’s lack of access to good seeds, which help produce more reliable staple crops, such as maize and cassava. Good seeds are resilient ones. They are adapted to withstand pests and harsh conditions (AGRA). AGRA provides the necessary operational support and assistance to improve access to good seeds, which is essential given that many farmers live in rural areas. Rural areas are far away from the cities, where good seeds are sold. “Farm Input Promotions Africa” (FIP) is a program supported by AGRA that helps improve access by smallholder farmers to good seeds. This includes seeds being brought to rural areas where many smallholder farmers are located and helping farmers learn the most efficient way to use the modern/good seeds (Blackie and Albright 2005). Although access to quality seeds is essential, it is also vital that farmers in Africa are trained in efficient farming practices to allow larger crop yields and greater profits (AGRA). Linked here is a short video by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that demonstrates the positive impact the Farm Input Promotions program is having. This program supports the distribution of good seeds and supports smallholder farmers.


Figure 1: Alliance for a Green Revolution


If you are interested in learning more about Bill Gates and and Melinda's process of addressing water issues in Africa, you should watch the three part Netflix Documentary “Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates.” It highlights the actions Bill and Melinda Gates have taken to address sanitation issues in Africa and may be inspiring to those who want to pursue similar initiatives. The documentary recounts how kids are still playing in mud contaminated with human sewage, resulting in infection and disease. It emphasizes how essential clean water is to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the citizenry. Along with these goals, the series urges the viewer to consider the use of technology that is appropriate to the specific country at hand. What works in one country, perhaps a more developed one, may not work in another due to the structural layout and cultural differences. This is important to remember as we continue to discuss different irrigation techniques in Africa.



To learn more about the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, check out their website here.

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