There's a potential to produce over 50% to the world's food supply from Africa if we empower the rural and marginalized communities through financial access and skills development. As the world’s population surges towards 9 billion by mid-century, food production has failed to keep pace, creating rising food shortages and a global food crisis ahead, according to the United Nations. To avoid mass starvation, the world needs to produce 70 per cent more food by 2050. Africa is home to 25% of the worlds agricultural land and yet produces just 10% to the world's supply yet China alone has 10% agricultural land but produces 20% of the global food supply. In Zimbabwe 75% are smallholder farmers who aren't able to access finance, skills and development as they have no collateral, are poor and have been neglected since they cannot provide collateral. The only collateral they have is the land which if they cannot pay will be taken and they won't have anywhere or any thing to do and yet the smallholder farmer contributes 78% of the national food supply making them the biggest producer in Zimbabwe but are not at their maximum. Our solution is to bridge this gap by ensuring that we focus on empowering these particular farmers through access to finance at zero collateral, access to skills training and how to develop and scale. If these farmers are empowered this way there's potential to increase produce and cover the gap in the food crisis not only in Zimbabwe but in Africa. If rural farmers are the biggest producer in Africa then why not increase their capacity and make them the economic developers. This solution is working on SDG GOALS 1: No Poverty, SDG GOAL 2: Zero Hunger, SDG GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Rural youth are the future of the sector, with the capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship. Yet their participation has been hindered by the perception that the sector is unattractive due to risks, costs, low-profitability and agriculture’s labor intensive nature. Additionally, rural youth have limited access to educational programs that provide agricultural skills, often limited access to land, and a lack of financial services tailored to their needs, as well as poor infrastructure and utilities. Which will also be the role we will play in ensuring that sustainability is increased in order to increase the food crisis in the world.
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