FT: Technology to increase food productivity or simply better farming practices?

14 October 2011

The Financial Times published a piece on October 13th that discusses various agricultural extension services that help increase food productivity. This means spreading the knowledge amongst smallholder farmers on anything from fertiliser use to marketing.  

The FT notes that large companies recognise the benefits of a stable supply of commodities and raw materials and that the private sector is becoming more active in agricultural extension services, often in partnership with NGOs.  

SABMiller was used as an example of such company, with its activities in South Sudan highlighted, as the Group is working there with Farm-Africa to help smallholder farmers that supply cassava for brewing improve their yields.  

SABMiller's work in Rajasthan, India, was also mentioned, where 15 extension centres staffed by agronomists were set up to help farmers grow barley. The group head of Sustainable Development, Andy Wales, explains further about these market-based approaches to reducing poverty.  

Please follow the link below to read the full article:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/321f4c64-e824-11e0-9fc7-00144feab49a.html#axzz1afzLJ95M