Happy Holidays
In response to Chapter 5 "Actions to reduce inequalities in food and other systems to improve FSN" and
Question 9 " Can you suggest success stories from countries that were able to reduce FSN inequalities?"
Many African countries have laws that are more suited for medium to large agriculture organizations and not for small farmers. The supplies needed by a small farmer are different that those of a medium or large farmer. The seed supplies that are offered in many African countries are not diverse, robust, or appropriate if small farmers are to meet FSN needs. I am pretty sure the lack of appropriate seeds is causing problems for the small African farmer meeting the FSN needs of their country. The FAO needs to clarify their guidance to African politicians so that African seed supplies will meet the FSN needs envisioned by the FAO.
In contrast, the Chinese were able to develop methods between 1979 and 1992 that helped the small farmer provide for the FSN needs in China. Getting the right supplies to the farmers was addressed by Chinese businessmen while Chinese law makers focused more on land and financial reform. Some African nations are trending to use the ideas that the Chinese used between 1979 and 1992. Perhaps the FAO can identify exactly what supplies small farmers most need and can afford given their financial constraints so that small farmers can swiftly meet the FSN needs in their country. There was more to the Chinese actions than land and financial reform.
I once tried to grow rare Native American products in South Africa to show cooperation between people of Native American and Zulu descent as a tourist attraction. The Zulu women farmers with whom I was working considered my ideas as entrepreneurial opportunities that they typically did not get because they were Zulu women. It took me a couple of years to get permission from the South African government to import a few seeds. Unfortunately, we ran into a pollination problem that I did not expect. I did not try to export any more of the rare seeds due to my previous agreement on how many seeds I would be allowed to have for export to South Africa.
Success stories from countries that were able to reduce FSN inequalities
Raising goats appears to be the best way for small farmers to get out of poverty and meet FSN needs.
For those small farmers that cannot afford goats, I recommend that they earn additional income raising onions, sunflowers, green pole beans, and passion fruit first. Small farmers will need to monitor local markets to determine what products offer the best return on investment. They do not want to lose their investment by supplying a particular product that was overproduced. At one time watermelons farming was an excellent investment but there now may be an oversupply in some African countries.
For those small farmers that are in bad shape I recommend that they use the "three sisters gardening technique" to grow corn or sunflowers, green pole beans, and squash. The farmers will need to know how to hand pollinate corn and squash to maximize their production.
Here are some success stories
Onions https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1521373/grow-onions-taste-money
Sunflowers https://www.bukedde.co.ug/agric.%20%26%20environment/114205/how-to-grow-sunflower
Companion planting/Three sisters gardening https://www.renature.co/articles/companion-planting-is-key-to-food-security/
Hand pollinating corn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj4aW-TiD3M
Hand pollinating watermelons and squash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfXPe58Zis and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFRoNfEjDKg
Thank you for considering my comments
Dr. Paul Rigterink
Dr. Paul Rigterink