Sustainable Food Production.

Sustainable food production solution for developing countries is an ideological concept aimed at helping small farmers to specialize yet while diversifying their production. Through a coordinated system, farmers are able to avoid the problem of overproducing a specific commodity while neglecting another one that would have otherwise fetched higher profits. through insurance services, farmers are able to venture into new commodities, or even try a new technology due to reduced uncertainties.

This model does not only help the farmers, but the whole chain at large, from production to the consumption. It helps in sustainability of the farmers as well as other members along the chain. Consumer confidence is also boosted due to traceability accountability, which is not common in developing countries. The performance of this model at the local level should be replicated at the global level.

Small-scale farmers play an important role in food production not only at a national level, but also a global one. According to FAO estimates, around 70-80 percent of all Kenyan farmers are small-scale. The same figures translates to both Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Smallholders provide up to 80% of the food supply in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

These overview clearly shows how small-scale farmers forms an important part of the community. Despite this, these farmers unending problems are inevitable. Competition provided by globalization and economic integration has always threatened their existence. They are therefore either forced to exit the market or just focus on subsistence production. 

Generally, the highest incidences of workers living with their families below the poverty line is associated with employment in Agriculture. 

All the above problems, coupled with food wastage at the production sites and overemphasis on certain crops and animals has led to the deterioration and reduced attraction of the Agricultural sector. 

A coordinated production together with sustainable diversification for a predetermined market might just be the right solution for the small-scale farmers.     

Specialized-Diversity production. As awkward as the term sounds, it can be looked at as in terms of different locations specializing in the production of a given line of commodity. Two different locations within a given country will therefore produce different commodities. An example of one location specialized in producing horticultural crops, while another produces agronomic crops, other dairy products etc. Within the locations also, different farmers produce different crops along the same line, to enhance diversity and possibilities of rotation. A special emphasis put on high value and indigenous commodities.  

Cheap solar cooling rooms near the farmers production sites to minimize on food wastage. 

Research for decision support systems provided to the farmers by a collaboration with the research institutes. A coordinated system that helps especially crop farmers to know what crops to grow, pest and disease control strategies etc.

Collaboration with local financial institutions to ease its access, insurance subscription to all farmers. 

Value chain market, in addition to the local market. Value addition companies located at the area of commodity specialization. 

A slide presentation of my solution.

My main target is small-scale farmers. Although, a special emphasis to be put on women and youth. These two groups, which also happens to be the most vulnerable within the society, possesses a great potential. 

FAO estimates up to 43% of Agricultural labor force in developing countries coming from women. Though they do not access resources easily compared to men. Increase access of productive resources to women could lead to increased yield by 20-30%. 

Through a project I happened to work on titled 'Women in sustainable Agriculture' women seem to be more passionate and ready to accept new ideas. Targeting them as a pioneer group, though not limited to them, may act as a leeway to the greater society at large.

Coordination and Diversification in production will help small-scale farmers to meet different market needs and avoid overproduction of a certain commodity. 

This model will collaborate with different sectors such as financial and input firms. The accessibility  of these services will be much eased, keeping in mind that this is one of the major hindrances to the small-scale farmers.

This model also provides ready market to the small-scale producers through helping with local markets distribution and value addition.

This solution does not only encourage the specialization of farmers, and diversity in food production, but it also enhances their sustainability. Both sustainable Agricultural practices are encouraged here, together with economic sustainability, due to the ready market provided by both the local market, and the value addition market. 

Another exciting feature of this solution is the coordination in the value chain. Farmers always advised on the types of crops to grow for each new season. Services such as insurance are always available for these farmers.

Many projects focusing on value addition have often neglected small farmers and concentrated only on the large scale producers. This project instead aims to change this narrative and concentrate more on the small-scale produces.Thi

This system works well with proper coordination. Meaning that proper communication system throughout the production system is needed. Information dissemination within farmers, markets of in different locations, farmers and researchers, farmers and the all other stakeholders to be precise. Without this, this system cannot operate effectively. 

This solution got its inspiration from the early practices that were undertaken by the Israelites. Although not so similar, but the system of living in villages known as 'Kibbutz', where each of this village was specialized in a specific line of product made them to be more prosperous and sustainable. 

The Challenges gotten from farming, especially in developing countries are enormous. These  challenges have often resulted to abandonment of the farms, of the farmers just limiting their production to the subsistence farming. However, a new proposal that is aimed at market guarantee, together with insurance cover in case of any crop failures might just be too lucrative for these farmers to ignore. 

Of course it's expected that not a larger number of farmers will be ready to change, or adopt to this new idea, but it only requires a few of them, especially the ladies and the youths that are more receptive to the new ideas to try-out. The benefits will speak for volumes, and I believe that seeing these benefits will draw in other farmers.

The most important thing that solve will grant me is a platform where I will be able to share my idea with the main stakeholders in Agricultural sector. This is just an idea that needs to be improved on to be put into use. The technical capacity of MIT and other stakeholders will definitely be needed. Simulating the model to assess it's feasibility, as well as carrying out preliminary trials on small scale before recommendations of a wide scale application is equally important. 

Solve platform for exposure. 

MIT for technical enhancement, Model simulation and assessing the work-ability of this idea. 

Funding Organisations such as the World bank, IMF and other Non-governmental well-wishers. 

Territorial governments, both for financial, bureaucracies and policy-support.  

Usually, women are more receptive to new structural ideas compared to men, especially in the farming sector. This has always been the case when NGOs want to introduce a new way of doing something into the society. Women tend to be more passionate. With this, although my long term target is to see that all the farmers are helped, I prefer using women as pioneers or pacesetters of this project. With there passion, this project will have higher chances of succeeding and therefore it will be easier for men to join in. 

Due to the fact that this project's aim is not only to help one country, but most developing countries. This idea in itself is a global-scale idea. Assessing its feasibility and being settled upon, would be implemented in different countries therefore changing the lives of many farmers. This could be a sustainable long-term solution for the small-scale farmers.