The Need for Farm Management Skills in Africa

Farming is the principal means of livelihood in rural Africa. As in all parts of the world, these farmers are facing enormous challenges in the 21st century as they adapt to competitive markets, environmental degradation, economic instability and new technologies. For many farmers in Africa poverty, malnutrition, poor roads, long distances and inadequate education compound the challenge. Farm management techniques have evolved over the years to help farmers cope with challenges. They help farmers analyse situations and take informed decisions about the best way forward. Small-scale farmers in Africa need these techniques but extension services rarely offer them, concentrating more on production technology transfer. This paper argues that much more effort is needed to bring practical fatm management skills to these farmers, adapting the techniques as necessary and teaching them in innovative ways that overcome literacy and numeracy constraints. Extension staff themselves need to be more business oriented and better informed about markets, money and farm management methods.