Farmers Weekly reported on urbanization, increased food demand, rising rural wages, and seasonal labour bottlenecks have led to the interest in promoting agricultural mechanization in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural transformation is imperative for growth and poverty reduction in Africa. Yet progress has been elusive. The region is a net food importer despite the fact that agriculture accounts for 60% of employment. Main food crop yields are estimated at about half the world average, and rural poverty, hunger and malnutrition are persistent. The IFPRI report, ‘An evolving paradigm of agricultural mechanisation development: How much can Africa learn from Asia?’ states that Africa can learn a great deal from Asia's experience with mechanization. Promoting a Green Revolution-style agricultural intensification, focusing on improved seed varieties, fertilizer and agrochemicals that increase land productivity could be a way to achieve the needed transformation.
