All (well, some; noted here. I'm not a fast typist and Google Microfony doesn't like me. Or my vernacular. A tight, coloured, sabelaring and swearing one) the problems with agriculture, food shortages, climate change, global warming etc. etc.
The Truths Boere probably don't wanna hear or copy n paste this n add their name as contributor or originator of ideas or breakthroughs. Cool. Do it.
70% BIGGER YIELD WILL BE NEEDED GLOBALLY IF WE ARE TO EVADE STARVATION
Agriculture in Africa, the need for 70% more food output in 20yrs time, droughts and famines and how we can potentially control general rainfall on the African continent, genetic modification in crop seeds focusing on improved photosynthesis (maximizing crop yield, size, nutritional value and mitigating the loss of a crop in a particularly dry year through satellite imaging, which allows for crop saving actions to be implemented) and the worsening of our soil nutrient levels is all taking a turn for the better. However, we have to implement measures to be positively affected by them.
SPACE TECHNOLOGY CAN BE APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE AND WE CAN AVOID CALAMITIES
Advances in satellite tracking is also set to benefit farmers as it allows for swarms of insects and pests to be identified, watched and thwarted like the deadly malaria mosquito through RealTime public alerts, free widely available mosquito nets, repellents, citronella and lemongrass oil products, window screens and prophylactics for in case, cerebral (which is deadly) or just garden variety malaria is contracted.
INDOOR AGRICULTURAL CONCERNS SEEM TO BE THE BEST OPTION WITH ONLY ESTABLISHING THE GREENHOUSE THE ONLY REAL EXTRA EXPENSE IF ONE USES RENEWABLE ENERGY TO POWER UP.
Making use of soilless agriculture is a viable, space-saving option; in areas where soil has a limited constitiuency and available nutrients; in controlled warehouses. By utilizing this method, adding row upon row upon row with sometimes only 20cm spaces inbetween crop plants - growing crops vertically - we can put 10-50 x crop plants planted in m2 surface area; yielding 10 - 50 x bigger crops in the same square kilometres of land. Every drop of water is used and no fertilizers are necessary, which leave behind Nitrate (N2) crystals - 300 x more toxic than carbon dioxide. Little or no soil is used and the damage that rain water, carrying fertilizer toxins/mining by-products further afield is alleviated. Having compartmentalized crop plants also means that high levels of trace elements; found in mine dump gravel cannot not be carried along to agricultural sites. No more water and only 1% more nitrogen is needed for soilless crops and the crop yields up to 30% more in freight. Sunlight is a must to power for these indoor operations and I assume that the better the sunlight, the more solar energy can be absorbed by solar panels for powering automation devices and infrastructure, underground oxygen, nitrogen and water pipes, humidifiers, L.E.D. lights (pink is best) and temperature control and droid gadgets such as sensors, testers and gauges.
ROBOTICS IN AGRICULTURE
Current A.I. agriculture innovations include a GummiArm for soft picking; fruits such as grapes etc. as well as an insecticide/pesticide "spietkop" that comes in the form of a drone that identifies specific pests on specific crop plants and only emits the pesticide for that particular parasite on that particular plant; saving poison and sparing costs and the negative environmental effects on crop plants, other necessary insects and soil.
L.E.D. LIGHTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR INDOOR GROWING WITH RED THE OPTIMAL COLOUR
Another innovation is the UV lights; in indoor food growing operations; which have taken the place of UV rays neccessary for photosynthes. These lights can also be useful in winter and in areas with little sun; or during a rainy season; on crop sites which rotate crop plants between the sun and indoor UV lights; closing off the crop aerially, when necessary.
TREFOIL AND THE NEED FOR GROUNDCOVER
The voracity of trefoil as a general groundcover in Africa still has to be asserted but if studies are anything to go by; natural groundcover, lost due to a myriad of factors, can be planted anywhere as grazing for all kinds of livestock. Not only does it grow really easily but in grazing animals, it aids in digestion, kills various internal and external parasites, reduces bloating as well as being a favourite amongst livestock; akin to catnip. It will also greatly reduce the methane farts emitted from cows.
WE NEED TO CATCH MORE RAIN AND STORE IT MORE INTELLIGENTLY
Water and the catching, storage and treatment of water must take priority and stored water needs to be impervious to sunlight lest a booming of bacteria were to be kickstarted. Tbe idea of the open air reservoir or dam also needs to be rethought as water is where the deadly malaria mlosquito lays it eggs, amongst other insects like dragonflies etc. A mesh cover would allow water in but keep insects, eggs and hatchlings out. Malaria kills impoverished human beings therefore allowing insects to breed and then go and attack a poor, unsuspecting public cannot be tolerated; even when promotion of bio-diversity and support of the insect world is cited. Also, stored water needs to be kept at temperatures lower than 25°C, which cannot be guaranteed above ground. All non-municipal water sources need to be taken a sample from and a lab needs to become available for testing of water and a analytical report and chemical treatment pack sent in return. Many people and animals as well as crops use potable water sources that could have any amount of parasites, bacteria and other dangers that could develop into something deadly.
SUSTAINENCE FARMING FARMERS NEED TO BE COUNSELED INTO CASH CROP FARMING AND GIVEN ACCESS TO MARKETS
The owners and farm hands of sustainence farmers also have to be counselled, financed and mentored into getting a report of soil analytics which will deduce the kinds of crops that would be the most prosperous on that particular site; taking into account local rainfall, available water, naturally occurring enemies of a particular crop as well as the soil composition, type of soil, implements, machines and manpower available. Ready finance or lack thereof also plays a role. By choosing a more suited, cash crop and belonging to a larger network; pickers, transporters, refrigerators, refiners, packagers, distributors, warehouses and retailers can be sourced; getting the best combined supplier/service provider deal for sustainence farmers, who instead will benefit from cash crops.
EDUCATION AND COHESION IN THE SECTOR
By hosting yearly conferences and workshops for all agricultural workers from landowners to farm foremen to cattle herders to crop planters and pickers, but most especially those handling machinery, drones, automation systems and the software programs and devices associated with them, we can expose the whole agricultural world in Africa to new INNOVATIONS, make them available for everyone at reasonable bulk purchase prices by negotiating deals that apply to all agricultural concerns, lone farm owners as well as the unregistered, individual sustainence farmers. A sliding scale would obviously apply; making turning out a good yield a commonplace for sustainence farmers and small holding growers. Also, taking into account that growing concerns produce large quantities of export freight and also need to be kept afloat in hard times especially during droughts, political and social unrest, strikes and a crash in market prices, a suffering currency, as well as conflict in the region, we need to create a system to implement for the next crucial 20yrs to ensure our much-needed 70% increase in yield.
WELL EDUCATED AFRICAN NATIONALS SITTING IN REFUGEE CAMPS IN S.A. ARE AN UNDER-UTILIZED RESOURCE
In Africa we have a severely under-utilized and under-employed, well-qualified (with multiple degrees/diplomas/certificates and trade levels) Black, African encumbants who could be employed to correct many businesses that have top management's positions filled by well-experienced but under-qualified Whites. By reaching out to the Shanduka Black Empowerment, Incubatorship and Mentorship Programme, we can potentially hook up qualified encumbants to audit or guide top management in roles within corporations or companies that are imperative to the African continent transforming into a stronger, 1st World one. I am not suggesting people be fired or even criticised - white school leavers who managed to work their way up management positions having a natural talent for business and having grown up without funds for secondary education completion, let alone tertiary education. This is not their fault and we applaud their success and what better way to bring white and black and different African tribes and nations together? Where agriculture or power supply/municipal amenities supply is concerned, Africa and it's leaders are well within their rights to ask for a certain amount of transparency and cohesion within companies (potentially with Shaduka waiting list encumbants) that are essential service providers/produce-growers. It is time to pull together and stop being defensive. We need to deal with the problems at hand and those looming on the horizon, in a generation's time, rather than stick our heads in the sand and try to pretend it's all going to go away.