1. SHAMBAPLUS
Enhancing Technology in Agriculture and Industry
for Food Security and National Growth.
HLM2 GPEDC – Nairobi, Kenya
30th
November 2016
Concept Note
Kelvin Wahome | Felix Ongati | Daniel Mbugua | Dennis Banga

2. THE SITUATION ROOM: WE HAVE A PROBLEM FOLKS
Food for thought {{pun intended}}
“Feeding a global population of just over 9 billion in 2050
will require a 70 per cent increase in global food
production. This will require that agriculture – particularly
smallholder agriculture –plays a much more effective
role” IFAD
Smallholdings in developing countries, have long been
associated with poor farm practices, low productivity, low
income, intensive labour, lack of training, gender
inequalities and financial risks, have made the sector particularly unattractive to a new
generation of farmers.
Agriculture is increasingly becoming less lucrative forcing farmers in traditional food basket areas
to seek other ventures like real estate albeit the increasing population.
Climate change and increased biofuel production represent major risks for long-term food
security.
Let’s put this into perspective with a bit more detail
By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34
percent higher than today. Nearly all of this population
increase will occur in developing countries. Urbanization
will continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70
percent of the world’s population will be urban
(compared to 49 percent today). Income levels will be
many multiples of what they are now. In order to feed
this larger, more urban and richer population, food production must increase by 70 percent.
Annual cereal production will need to rise to about 3 billion tonnes from 2.1 billion today and
annual meat production will need to rise by over 200 million tonnes to reach 470 million tonnes.

3. One of the major problems facing agriculture is the loss of agricultural land, because as more
land is lost, it will become more difficult to produce the amount of food needed to feed the
growing human population. Worldwide, around three million hectares of agricultural land are
lost each year because the soil degrades and becomes unusable due to erosion, which is when
soil components move from one location to another by wind or water. An additional four million
hectares are lost each year when agricultural land is converted and used for highways, housing,
factories, and other urban needs. In the United States, around 140 million hectares of agricultural
land has been lost in the last 30 years as a result of soil degradation and conversion for urban
use.
“Total average annual net investment in
developing country agriculture required to deliver
the necessary production increases would amount
to USD 83 billion. The global gap in what is required
vis-à-vis current investment levels can be
illustrated by comparing the required annual gross
investment of US $209 billion (which includes the
cost of renewing depreciating investments) with the result of a separate study that estimated
that developing countries on average invested USD 142 billion (USD of 2009) annually in
agriculture over the past decade. The required increase is thus about 50 percent. These figures
are totals for public and private investment, i.e. investments by farmers. Achieving them will
require a major reallocation in developing country budgets as well as in donor programmes. It
will also require policies that support farmers in developing countries and encourage them and
other private participants in agriculture to increase their investment.” - FAO

4. But why is agriculture important for sustainable development?
“Rapid economic growth and increased agricultural
productivity over the past two decades have seen the
number of undernourished people drop by almost half.
Many developing countries that used to suffer from famine
and hunger can now meet the nutritional needs of the most
vulnerable. Central and East Asia, Latin America and the
Caribbean have all made huge progress in eradicating
extreme hunger.
These are all huge achievements in line with the targets set out by the first Millennium
Development Goals. Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to
development in many countries. 795 million people are estimated to be chronically
undernourished as of 2014, often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation,
drought and loss of biodiversity. Over 90 million children under the age of five are dangerously
underweight. And one person in every four still goes hungry in Africa.” - UNDP
Tackling hunger is not only about boosting food production; it’s also about increasing incomes
and strengthening markets so that people can access food even if a crisis prevents them from
growing enough themselves. More than just its direct impact on hunger and malnutrition, our
food system is also linked to other development challenges being addressed in the SDGs. For
instance, rural people represent the largest segment of the world’s extreme poor by far – more
than 70% of the total. Growth in agriculture is at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as it
would in any other sector.

6. IS THERE A SOLUTION?
Small farmers are the key to feeding the world
Battle to feed the world pits small farmers against big agriculture but it may be smallholder
farmers holding the key to fulfilling global goals on hunger and poverty and nourishing the world.
All around the world, small farms are playing a big role in
feeding the world. According to the UN Food &
Agricultural Organisation (FAO), 70% of food we
consume globally comes from small farmers.
Given the adverse challenges of loss of agricultural land and climate that food production is
currently facing, it goes without saying that we cannot afford any wastefulness especially as we
require increased output per unit land area to cater for the over 2 billion more mouths in need
of food by 2050. The realization of this production growth potential will hinge on shifting rapidly
from resource based to science and knowledge-based agriculture.
ICT and Agriculture Value Chains
The strategic application of ICT to
the agricultural industry, the
largest economic sector in most
developing countries, offers the
best opportunity for economic
growth and poverty alleviation
on the continent. There is
realization that ICTs should be
integrated to be effectively used
in agriculture development as facilitating tools to boost its impact to the lives of farmers.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have shown evidence for easier access to
markets and information resources. The role of ICTs to stimulate agriculture, enhance food

7. security and support rural livelihoods is increasingly recognized and was officially endorsed at the
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003-2005.
The Agrarian Revolution – Second Edition
Better production techniques and market-oriented strategies will help generate a sustainable
source of income while contributing to the supply of agricultural produce to satisfy the world’s
increasing food demands. To ensure the future viability of the agricultural sector, tackle rural
poverty and generate employment opportunities, it is crucial to equip the farmers of today and
tomorrow with the right tools. Efforts to increase youth participation and boost economic
development in the agricultural sector are amplified when an integrated approach to ICTs and
capacity development is put in place.

8. So where does the revolution begin? Or rather has it begun?
The transformation and strengthening of
agricultural activities and processes through
technological interventions, such as those
induced by the various value chain
development initiatives funded by
development agencies, have resulted in a
recognition of smallholder farmers and
grassroots organizations as being essential
links in any agricultural value chain. This
recognition of their role and added value,
and the support provided through targeted programmes, offers farmers opportunities to develop
their farms and professionalize their farming activities. Such initiatives have already led to a
gradual increase of younger persons’ interest and involvement in farming, and has provided a
structural basis for farming-as-business. This context of positive market conditions and potential
profitability, in combination with being recognised and approached as important actors in the
chain, has made access to reliable market-related data and information on improved production
technologies more relevant and desirable than in contexts characterised by poor market access
for agricultural goods.

9. Our contribution – SHAMBAPLUS
Using technology to harness knowledge from data in order to advise farmers on the best crop to
grow based on forecasts of weather, market prices and farm agro-climatic conditions so as to
realize food security and enhance national growth. Our objective is to support farmers through
the agriculture value chain as they develop their farms and professionalize their farming
activities.