Agriculture and economic diplomacy

Blame for European fatalities was first put on smelly air (or mal-air) oozing from lagoons and sewages as causes. Academic research eventually pinned responsibility on mosquitoes that drink human blood to breed new larvae. ‘’Mal-air’’ would become ‘’malaria’’.  Travel to Peru, however, brought knowledge that juice from the bark of a native tree contained a […]

Blame for European fatalities was first put on smelly air (or mal-air) oozing from lagoons and sewages as causes. Academic research eventually pinned responsibility on mosquitoes that drink human blood to breed new larvae. ‘’Mal-air’’ would become ‘’malaria’’.  Travel to Peru, however, brought knowledge that juice from the bark of a native tree contained a chemical known as ‘’quinine’’ traditionally used to cure the ailment.
While academic research at Liverpool’s School of Tropical Medicine uncovered the secret weapon of the mosquito; information about food security; suitability of soils; climate and topography for crops with industrial use in the metropolis were more vital.
In the American Midwestern state of Wisconsin, walls of the State’s legislature carry historical representations of activities by farmers; implements they once used and crops they produced. Those who legislated for a state in which farming was a major section of the economy were constantly reminded of roots of their mandate. One line of action expected of them was to ensure that the publicly owned and financed University of Wisconsin gave priority to serving interests of farmers. From researchers and teachers of soil chemistry; engineers of crop harvesters to historians of Asia, South America and Africa, each had to justify funds budgeted for them in terms of serving interests of local farmers and agro-industrialists.
Current foreign policies of the United States of America and the European Union reflect intensive lobbying by powerful multinational corporations with interests in producing, processing and marketing agricultural products. France anchors its membership of the European Union on Germany agreeing to subsidise high incomes for French farmers. Forcing African governments to allow imports of American and European agricultural products which are cheaper than products by Africa’s farmers remains the thrust of their diplomacy.
The April 2014 edition of African Business magazine carries a most instructive report on Israel’s economic diplomacy’s thrust into Tanzania’s agriculture. It justifies its vigour on Tanzania’s policy flag of ‘’Kilimo Kwanza’’ (or ‘’Agriculture First’’); and, opens up the agricultural sector for imaginative minds of scientists to explore diverse ways of hunting for wealth beyond drudgeries of tilling soils; hauling harvests and tending bleating goats and other livestock.
As many as ten Israeli companies have surged into Tanzania since 1975 when diplomatic relations was restored between the two countries. ‘’Balton Tanzania’’ sells seeds and imports Israel’s technology to constructs irrigation systems. Seeds are engineered to ensure that only those annually bought from Israeli breeders can ensure high yields. Scientists who breed seeds become leeches sucking agricultures of foreign countries. ‘’Kijani Agro’’ brings in Israeli managerial and husbandry skills to look after arabica coffee farms for Olam International; tend to wheat farms for Bakhreesa Group – an industrial conglomerate, and look after farms growing vegetables and grapes for a private individual, most probably a politician with powerful tentacles in Tanzania.
Yodfat, are engineers who supply water to farmers, probably in collaboration with Netafam described as ‘’a global leader in smart drip and micro irrigation solutions’’ runs a number of irrigation projects including one in the tea plantations in the southern highlands’’. The prospects of imaginative students in polytechnics and crop geneticists working together to come up with equipment for small scale irrigation for groups of peasant farmers is suggested here.
IDE Technologies manufactures technologies which remove salt from ocean waters. Its interest in harvesting waters from the Indian Ocean and making it drinkable for urban Dar es Salaam should incite scientists at coastal universities like Calabar, Lagos, Dakar, Cape Town, Durban and Luanda. On land is Ormat which is described as ‘’the second largest company in the world working in the field of geothermal energy and residual heat’’.
 It recalls a warm stream of water oozing into a pool in Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State; another in Ogun State and Lake Naas in Cameroun, as well as bottoms of two branches of east Africa’s Rift Valley. One wonders if similar technological imagination has been tickled in local universities and polytechnics near these thermal wells. Israel’s ambassador to Tanzania has offered his country’s experience in tapping gas deposits. Tanzania holds an estimated 43.4 trillion cubic feet of gas, and it worth wondering how the country’s scientists will exploit challenges of this vast resource.
Israel has built a considerable quantity of ‘’soft power’’ in being viewed as a site rich in human creativity which squeezes productivity out of harsh deserts and rocky landscapes. It is part of a narrative of victimhood which meets the arrogance of ‘’resurrection’’ borrowed from black African Pharaohs’ notion of conquering death and travelling to ‘AfterAfrica’ beyond gates of judgement.  Bringing possibility out of impossibility feeds on lazy consumption by others of what Israelis produce.
 In February 2014 an ‘’African Creativity Summit’’ was financed by the African Development Bank and the government of Cape Verde. Creativity infused into Africa- to- Africa diplomacy over agriculture would serve food security. Integrating bold creativity into the education of Africa’s young scientists about potentialities of the agricultural sector for creating wealth would give wings to Africa’s independence. It would translate the power in Africa’s human resources into a new diplomacy.