Environment & Climate
Research links agricultural initiative to falling traditional African crop yields
Al Jazeera reports that AGRA's emphasis on maize monocultures has reduced traditional crop cultivation and missed productivity targets.
The short version
- Research indicates that AGRA's focus on commercial inputs for monocultures like maize has reduced land and yields for traditional crops including millet, cassava, and groundnuts.[Al Jazeera]
- Since AGRA's launch in 2006, land allocated to maize in participating countries rose 71%, while maize yields grew only 40% over 18 years—missing its 100% target.[Al Jazeera]
- Undernourishment in AGRA-active nations increased by roughly 60%, mirroring broader African trends while traditional nutritional staples lost ground.[Al Jazeera]
Key facts
- Land allocated to maize in AGRA-participant countries grew by 71% since 2006, while land for millet fell by 12%.[Al Jazeera]
- Maize yields increased 40% over 18 years, failing to reach AGRA's stated goal of a 100% improvement.[Al Jazeera]
- Millet production declined by 27% and millet yields dropped by 17% since 2006.[Al Jazeera]
- Productivity across 13 participant countries dropped by 21% for cassava and 10% for groundnuts.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which AGRA will shift resources toward traditional, climate-adapted crops despite expressing rhetorical support for crop diversity.[Al Jazeera]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.