EDITORIAL

THE LABOUR PAINS OF DISSEMINATING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN AFRICA

Here we are again with another issue of the journal, which means that we are still proding on and have not yet fallen. As we continue on this course of action, it is clear that poverty continues to be a major problem in Africa. Interest in alleviation of poverty and hunger in Africa is growing. Philanthropists across the world such as Bill and Melinda Gates, Bill Clinton and Ted Turner of CNN have also been touched and they have either contributed funds to or devoted their time on issues in the developing world particularly in Africa.

I am sure there are many African philanthropists but I can only name them if I know them. My belief has always been that if only as a world we could operationalise a cost effective and efficient food distribution system, there would be no hunger. In certain parts of the world, there are mountains of food which go to waste for lack of storage, or which are stacked away for apparent lack of market mainly by the producing country. Even in some of poor countries, there are places where food is in plenty but cannot move to food deficient areas. There needs to be commitment and indeed political will to make food accessible. The ability to increase food yields many times is there, so is the capability to prepare and pack it for long distance distribution. The knowledge to do this exists in this world, and must of necessity be part of the bilateral agreements. For example, in my country, Kenya, food production is entrusted to subsistence farmers who are truly struggling with no insurance or subsidies.

The only magic bullet there is to fight world hunger is food. What is food then? Food constitutes of a range of orally consumable products from different sources but none-the less, should be culturally and socially acceptable. Such food should be eatable and for it to be eatable, it should be tasty and acceptable to the palate, and able, to bring some joy into people’s lives. By walking the path towards single crop (staple) project to try and put all nutrients into one, we are in essence accepting that the poor have no hope of diversifying their diet, and that we become part of the growing group that believe that the poor are not entitled to foods other than just the staples. Biotechnology is a great science, which if used properly, would help improve the food systems worldwide: seed, weed control, drought resistance, increased yield, early maturity, better processing, high in nutrients, better storability, and so on. However, biotechnology could also be misused. The poor lack food of good quality and quantity.

Biotechnology is a science that Africa should be involved in. I fear that once again, the biotechnology and its application will be breeders’ driven and not necessarily consumer and poor people driven.

Unfortunately, there is so much controversy around biotechnology with innuendos and misinformation that Africa is left confused as to what stand to take. African governments require their own scientists to advise them. Funds that have gone into national agricultural research systems in Africa over the years are not commensurate with what we see as far as the food security situation on the ground. In Kenya, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute has grown to be a well renown institution serving the national interest and employing more the 5 thousand Kenyans, a sizeable number trained both overseas but locally.

Between 1985 and 2002 alone, KARI released over 146 improved varieties of horticultural crops including 22 varieties of maize (the main grain staple for Kenyans), 18 varieties of wheat, and 32 varieties of legumes. Despite all this, Kenyans continue to be food insecure. This story is the same at the international level, where so much has been invested in international agricultural research, yet we continue to experience food crises, and to see pictures of starving children and emaciated adults on our television screens and in our print media. Is it so difficult to imagine what is wrong?

Except for the arid parts of Africa, food is plentiful in the more productive areas, except that infrastructure is poor and processing technology still rudimentary. Even where technology is advanced, it is not used effectively. As one travels in rural areas, one discovers very quickly that very little has changed. There is so much cassava, sweet-potatoes, fruits, green leafy vegetables all over the place during season. Yet within no time, there is no food anywhere in sight. Clearly there is too much concentration on the production side of things and little on the processing, marketing and consumption aspects. It is about time some resources went into these particular aspects of the food chain. Our journal aims at communicating all the issues to those concerned, to ensure that development is more integrated than has hitherto been the case. It is our own small way of making a contribution.

We wish you good reading and a most blessed 2004!

Editor-in-Chief