It is no longer news that our world is becoming increasing hot as a result of different human activities from continent to continent. Thus, the rhythm has been that of extreme, extreme – if it isn’t extreme heat, it is extreme cold or rain and each coming with unkind effects. Unfortunately, the effect of this global transformation doesn’t only come with extreme discomfort but with an unprecedented hunger. A development that the religious and observers alike have ascribed different meanings to; some say they’re signs of end- time, while others say it is the prize of injustice and the evil of men.
Interestingly, Africa has been noted to be the continent with the greatest share of the uncanny effects of the global renaissance; in fact, the worst hit by these effects. And the irony of it is that, the continent Africa isn’t doing much to either ward off or absorb the effects.
Recently, it was published in one of Nigeria’s local Newspapers (The Nation Newspaper) that a research group from the University of California under UN/World Bank sponsorship reported that human activities especially the war in Somalia and other vices in different parts of Africa are major contributors to the global warming, and that its attendant effects are those of extreme hunger and poverty.
Suffice to say that the continent confronted by this supposed or imagined threats is adamant or docile. It behooves all stakeholders in Africa to rise to the challenge posed by global warming and insecurity.
Indeed the Africa business environment is one with many interesting stories, some sweet and quite exciting to hear, yet some are pathetic and discouraging. But an honest narrator will definitely share the untold story of the much potential and the hidden treasures that makes the continent of Africa thick and attractive. And those with a first hand knowledge of the African business environment are the ones that pitched permanent tents against all odds.
Meanwhile, if the identified threats are anything to go by, then we are all vulnerable to the effects associated with the negative global transformation. Therefore as concerned people, we owe a collective duty to do the needful before it degenerates into an uncontrollable situation.
The common but very serious challenges confronting Africa generally are those of poverty, unemployment, hunger, environmental degradation, insecurity, religious intolerance, illiteracy, injustice, inequality, abuses, and gross neglect and so on. As a matter of fact, we can overcome all these challenges with one thing, and that is satisfaction.
But with what and from where are we to derive the much needed satisfaction? Is it from the harsh and uncomfortable environment we’ve created? There is no doubt that a jobless and very hungry man can rarely, find happiness, neither can he find interest in the security and peace of another, especially when he is suspecting the other person to be responsible for his plight/fate.
This very suspicion among different people has led to several incidences of annihilation, strive and all manner of crisis awfully common in Africa. Indeed it poses a grievous danger to our growth as well as our peaceful co-existence. It therefore calls for concern because ignoring its resolution amounts to endangering our various interests, be it private, public or charity business. Unfortunately, the environment is in fact, the worst victim of the carnage that often comes with the violence and man’s inhumanity to the bionetwork.
Too many convoluted problems you may say; yes! Those are the machinations that make Africa thick and quite exciting. But don’t get too excited, otherwise it might encumber your intention of doing business here in Africa. We pledge our loyalty to prospective investors, and you can be rest assured that doing business here is worth the risk because of the mammoth hidden treasures embedded underneath the soil and propitiously scattered in different parts of Africa. But the truth remains that Africa needs help to be able to get out of the woods and those seemingly insurmountable challenges.
One quick panacea to the dissatisfaction, disenchantment, disaffection and strives that often fall back on the environment is simply gainful employment for majority of the idle and busy minds we have in Africa. Indeed Agribusiness is one very vital but grossly ignored panacea. It is the fastest way out of Africa’s numerous challenges.
Interestingly the continent of Africa is greatly endowed with the right weather, soil and manpower spread all over the place; unfortunately, ignorance, illiteracy and our quick returns/gains syndrome has blinded our business acumen. So doing agribusiness is mostly seen by many African business men as an unprofitable venture. Yet agribusiness is one business with many solutions to Africa’s unemployment, hunger, insecurity and poverty problems.
According to International Finance Corporation (IFC):
Agribusiness plays a vital role in economic development, contributing a major portion of GDP, employment, and foreign exchange earnings in many developing countries. This is particularly true in Sub-Saharan Africa, where many countries have low per capita incomes. In Tanzania, for example, agriculture accounts for 45 percent of GDP and 65 percent of employment.
Despite its importance, Sub-Saharan Africa’s agribusiness sector faces numerous challenges. In many countries, most crops are produced by small-sized farms with limited mechanization and capacity, leading to poor yields. Fragmented markets, price controls, and poor infrastructure also hamper production, while the current pressure on natural resources such as land and water is too strong to be sustainable. And many of the agricultural products produced in the region, such as maize, rice, and palm oil, are not competitive globally or have low profit margins. This means that Sub-Saharan Africa is ill equipped to meet its food requirements, which are set to double in the next 30 years or even sooner.
Investors from Saudi Arabia who had a clue of what manner fertile soil one can find in West Africa took the risk with a bold step by setting up farms in a country like Ghana. And in fact, no one can underestimate the value that will add to the Ghanaian economy as well as the Agribusiness sector in Africa.
Thus, the era where donor countries sees Africa as a continent that need relief materials and funding is gone, what Africa needs now is foreign direct investment; technological advancement as against transfer, educational empowerment, rights recognition and enlightenment, agricultural development and pragmatic policies, political equality and justice. It is rather difficult and even counter-productive to tackle a problem in isolation or even deal with a problem by assumption. It is for this reason that one would rather love to see those who are genuinely concern about moving Africa forward come with practical solutions.
My development communication course back in school made me to understand that the most Western scholars don’t really see genuine aid and upliftment of the under-developed world as any serious business to get involved in, perhaps for fear of making them better developed than they are. Interestingly, the narrow view about even-development as being inimical to whatever gains the proponents think they’re making from the imbalance has not helped matters. Because whenever Africa is stricken by any disaster whether man made or an act of God, we often have out-cry coming first from people in far away continents. Thus, showing how closely linked to each other we are, and perhaps because of the same colour of blood that runs in our veins despite the racial and location differences.
Indeed globalization has taken charge of whatever differences, complexions and interests we think we have. No one can point to how, Guinness has failed just because she set a complete beverage and drinks industry in Africa, or how investment interest in Africa has affected her progress or prosperity in Europe and America. It has never been said anywhere that Schlumberger, Chevron, Mobil, Shell and a host of others with business presence in different continents is under-performing because of their business presences in Africa.
Those who are afraid of doing business in Africa should first ask those who have established business presence here to open up a bit about the African treasure, in case that would help stimulate their interest. We can neither solve the problem of Africa by pretence nor by assumption. Besides, even-development does not pose any danger to any continent; so the help Africa needs is one born of genuine concern and intention, not aids that meets only momentary needs.
Africa will only move forward when she gets her political acts right, when she recognizes the rights of others, when she gets proper education for everyone, regardless of age, sex, colour, religion, ethnic and political class. If Africa’s problems must be solved then other continents who are concerned must bring everyone to the reconciliation and resolution table, as against the approach whereby only the elites, majority of whom are self-centered, special interest seekers, extremely corrupt and greedy were called to resolve Africa’s problem or forge a way forward for a continent whose problems most of them know little or next to nothing about. As a matter of fact, the enormity of our problem makes it seem insurmountable.
But the obvious reality remains that Africa’s problems are surmountable and requires pragmatic, genuine and earnest solutions and not relief materials, financial aids, or research solutions tied to some expedient interest or done in isolation of the truly affected people who could tell better their problems and resolve them better as partners/counterparts in the solutions provision.
Like the musical legend, his blessed memory, Bob Marley rightly puts it… until the philosophy that makes one race superior and the other inferior is completely eradicated, everyday will be war; so it is with Africa, until African leaders and elites alike are told the truth about equality and justice, peace will continue to elude Africa. And the rest of the world cannot afford to fold its arms while the spoil keeps making it turns in Africa and afterwards a meeting is summoned to deliberate on what relief material and financial aid to send to Africa.
If for no other reason, we should for the reason of the multiplier effects of global warming show genuine concern to the problem of Africa. In fact, the time has come for all and sundry to push behind the fear of the danger of a balanced and an even-development, because the danger pose by poverty, war and strive to our environment which is no longer immune by distance or continental differences is unimaginable. We should at least balance our ecosystem through fair treatment and of course by taking necessary actions as well as doing the needful in Africa to ensure a safe environment for everyone. Indeed those who have travel from one continent to another can attest to the fact that we’re differently gifted and that we’ll need each other to make the world a better place for our living.
So the only way anyone can relief Africa of her enormous challenges is to assist her get out of the aforementioned problems that have entangled her annually, through genuine and pragmatic approaches, especially by approaching her with agribusiness. With that many idle hands in Africa can enthrone peace and tranquility. That way, the continent’s environment can be engaged in productive and useful ventures that will move from the unemployment level that often make them vulnerable to sundry vices. Again by doing that our environment will know peace from the fires, deforestation, and the indiscriminate activities of the victims of war and political instability whose displacement the environment is made to suffer the repercussion.
More so, saving the African environment is a disfavor to our raging global warming, whose impact is universal and knows no continental boundary. If for no other reason, for the sake of humanity, and the red blood that runs in our veins regardless of race, religion, continent and background, we should help Africa get out of the woods by keeping busy with Agribusiness, which IFC has acknowledge its invaluable benefits to millions of hungry and violence prone Africans.
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