Unpopular opinion

Our response to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina' popular mantra, "Agriculture should not be a way of life, but a business!" Dr. Adesina President of African Development Bank (AfAB). 

African Development Bank Group

 African Union

Global African Development (GAD)

SADC

The mantra "Agriculture should not be a way of life but a business!"  is well-meaning and has been on a roll lately. However, it is misleading to the future and cause of Regenerative and Sustainable Agriculture. Unsustainable Agriculture is currently the number one degrader of land/soils in Africa largely because people think it a mere means to a profitable end. It is also not surprising that the saying comes from a development banker who sees everything through the prism of development! (Clearly, this is the development and not Sustainable Development!)

Agriculture must be a way of life first and then a business. If it is not a way of life but a business only then it becomes mechanical and profit-centred. Organic farming, Permaculture, Agroecology are sustainable and regenerative largely because the farmer sees himself as a part of the farm ecosystem and NOT apart of it. Overemphasis of the business component of farming at the expense of the lifestyle aspect of it eventually numbs its life component and what ends up suffering is the soil. And if the soil suffers the crops suffer. Once the crops suffer the profits disappear and the business fails! Agriculture must first be a way of life and then a business. The two aspects are complementary and should not be antagonized. Ironically, when farming is treated a way of life its costs will reduce and its longevity as a business will be guaranteed.