Is African Agriculture Sustainable Enough to Support an Agro-Allied Industrial Development Strategy? Steve Onyeiwu, Eric Pallant, Meredith Hanlon Departments of Economics, Environmental Science, and Biology Allegheny College, Meadville, PA 16335 USA

RATIONALE AND MOTIVATION FOR PAPER The last 50 years in West Africa: Environmental Degradation + Economic Decisions + Climate Change = Unsustainable Farming Systems

CONCEPTUALIZING SUSTAINABILITY Economists overlook the environment and environmentalists, the economy Environment Economics: ability to generate & sustain output levels that support a decent living standard in ways that are both equitable & protective of natural and human capital. Equity: perceived in terms of whether a given agricultural system has narrowed or accentuated the inequality between farmers & other sectors of the economy. Environment: deals with the management of carbon, nitrogen, and water. Agriculture must be at the bare minimum carbon neutral, and transfer carbon from the atmosphere to the biosphere and geosphere. Sustainability Equity Economy

Environmental Transformation Precipitation changes Longer dry seasons, more intense rainfalls

Deforestation

Declining Soil Quality Low Fertilizer use

Untreated Human Waste = Nitrogen Loss, Nitrogen Cycle Facilitates the spread of disease Contaminates potable water Nitrogen-rich sewage could be used to replenish soils

Short Crop Rotations Shorter fallow periods lead to nutrient depletion and the need to burn and clear more land

Arable Land As a Percent of Land Area Regardless of this increase, agricultural value added has been decreasing rapidly in Nigeria and steadily in Ghana

GDP Per Capita Lack of growth in Ghana and Nigeria as compared to other developing countries

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, 1960s – 1970s Urban investment and industrialization Fewer people needed to farm Rural to urban migration and overcrowding Government lowers prices of goods to be competitive on international market Decrease in farmer’s profit

Structural Adjustment Programs SAP implemented to fix pricing problems Trade & Product Markets liberalization Removal of subsidies Devaluation Privatization Reduction or elimination of budget deficits Firms: reduce X-inefficiency, eliminate wastes, and raise productivity All had a negative impact on rural development

CASE STUDY OF UNSUSTAINABILITY: THE VILLAGE OF UMULUWE IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA Population: 6500 Average Income: $150 Main Occupations: Subsistence Farming, Petty Trading, Palm-Wine Tapping & Palm-Oil Processing

POVERTY PROFILE OF UMULUWE

Similar rural poverty in Ghana Massive charcoal production to supply urban areas is leading to deforestation and land degradation

THE EBENEZER FARM: AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE “AGRO-ENTREPRENEURIAL” MODEL

Ebenezer Farms Non-Traditional Animal Production

River Management and Fish Production

Food Production and Nutrient Recycling

“AGRO-ENTREPRENEURIAL” MODEL Investors Government Donors Venture Capitalists Green Entrepreneurial Volunteers or Experts Agro-Entrepreneurial Financial Institutions Sustainable Farmers and Villages Sustainable Extension Officers income The Market Organic Market Restaurants Eco-Tourism

CONCLUSION Agricultural Unsustainability Has Environmental, Economic & Equity Dimensions Paper Proposes an “Agro-Entrepreneurial Model” of Sustainability that Combines Sustainable Farming Practices with Entrepreneurship.