If you know anything about African agriculture, many commonly held beliefs about the sector will easily spring to mind. Most farmers are women. Uptake of fertilizer and improved seed is low. Post harvest losses are huge.
Yet according to a new project “Agriculture in Africa – Telling Facts from Myths,” the evidence upon which we base our decisions and views about agriculture and farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa is often inadequate or out of date.
The project seeks to tell facts from myths about African agriculture using the Living Standards Measurement Study - Integrated Surveys on Agriculture, or LSMS-ISA, a household survey project working to collect up to date agricultural data. It tests the validity of 15 commonly believed statements; statements that, although commonly accepted, may no longer be valid given Africa’s rapid economic growth and the new era of high food prices, amongst other driving forces of change. To date, surveys have been conducted in six countries — Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda — representing 40 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa.
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About the authors
Emily Alpert
As deputy director, Emily Alpert ensures the Agriculture for Impact team and the Montpellier Panel strategically delivers expert advice to European governments on their approach to agricultural development. Previously, Emily served as the agriculture policy lead for Oxfam International and managed global policy development in addition to advocating Oxfam’s policies to the U.S. government and international institutions.
Stephanie Brittain
Stephanie Brittain is project and communications officer for Agriculture for Impact. Stephanie holds a degree in geography from Queen Mary University of London and a master's in conservation science from Imperial College London.
