The Forum is changing our understanding of Africa’s Green Revolution, because it is providing a showcase for changes actually taking place on the ground.
Maize seed
“Prior to coming to this Forum, we were with our chairman in Mali visiting farmers’ fields. The farmers are looking at growing three-to-four times their normal yield because they are using improved seed,” according to Joe DeVries, director of AGRA’s seed program. “There is no doubt that those hybrid sorghum, hybrid maize and hybrid rice varieties are much, much more productive than the older ones. The proof is in the field.”
Concrete results are fueling enthusiasm for Africa’s farm transformation. A Green Revolution is not a just idea or a vision.
“For the first time, I can see the broader audience is discovering what we really mean by a Green Revolution,” says DeVries.
According to DeVries, the Forum is helping us figure out how to get from point A to Z.
What are the next steps?
“There are two ways we are going to continue to achieve rapid growth. One, those existing seed companies need to grow, and we’re doing everything possible to help them grow, so they can reach more farmers. Today, they are producing on average 500 metric tons a year. A medium-size country in Africa has about a 20,000 metric ton annual seed market. So that’s 4-5% of the total, from just one company. These companies each need to produce 3,000 or more tons of seed annually.
The second thing, in areas where there are no seed producers — we’re going to establish them. We are going to bring on new grass roots seed entrepreneurs. Now we are at 40, we will have to get up to 100 or more within the 10 year time horizon we have set ourselves.
Last year, the companies we support produced 8,500 metric tons, this year 20,000 plus, next year we believe we will be over 40,000.
We’ve found that on average, any farmer who gets our seed doubles their harvest. Our target is to reach 250,000 metric tons, and at that point we will have reached a key target for Africa’s green revolution.”
AGRA Blog 