Agriculture

Agriculture is a key sector in Sub Saharan Africa as it employs the most people on the continent and is a source of food security and nutrition for citizens. Most Sub Saharan African economies are heavily dependent on agriculture as the sector is a major income earner and a big GDP contributor in many countries in the region.

The agriculture sector in Africa is however under threat as a result of climate change which has brought about erratic rainfall leading to droughts and flooding as well as increased temperatures which have resulted in low crop yields and loss of livestock.

ODS is assisting African farmers on:

• The adaption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices which increase their resilience to climate change, increase their incomes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in farming;
• Training small holder farmers on doing Farming as Business (FaB);
• Linking small holder farmers to existing and new agricultural value chains through establishing out-grower schemes and other commercial linkages;
• Applying Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture (SIA) and Conservation Agriculture (CA) methods that benefit small holder farmers and agribusinesses

Our company works on initiatives that promote the participation of African youth in agriculture. This is because of regional challenges such as food insecurity, poverty, climate change, an ageing farming population, technological changes and high youth unemployment that are driving the need for greater participation of youth in the agricultural sector. We also conduct agriculture research that influences policy.