Growing Western calls for local produce threaten African agricultural exports

As more African farmers gear up to try to access markets in Europe and the U.S. there is a small but growing movement in the target countries for buying more local food, versus that imported from far away. Concerns over the high "fuel miles" and pollution involved in air-freighting goods from distant lands, the desire to support local farmers, as well as some concerns over taste and freshness are just some of the factors driving these calls, which have been met with deep alarm by agricultural exporters in Africa.

In February around Valentines Day there was a furore in Britain over whether it was politically correct to import flowers from countries like Kenya, or whether it made more sense to support the British greenhouse floriculture industry instead. The flower industry is highly developed in Kenya and an important contributor to the economy, so the British debate caused much worry there.

The March 02 2007 issue of Time magazine has a feature on which consideration should count more between buying organic produce from far away, versus conventional produce sourced from near the selling point. Nearly a quarter of American shoppers now buy organic products once a week, up from 17% in 2000.

Entitled "Eating better than organic," the article says for food purists, "local" is the new "organic;" the new ideal that promises healthier bodies and a healthier planet. Many are outraged that "Big Organic" firms now use the same industrial-size farming and long-distance-shipping methods as conventional agribusiness.

Export business is potentially very lucrative for those who can meet the increasingly stringent requirements of food trade. But there are also many pitfalls, including brutal global competition whose effects on prices can have farmers go from riches to rags in one season.

It therefore behooves the exporting sector in Africa's agriculture to aggressively pursue export opportunities, but also protect themselves by paying close attention to rapidly-changing consumer trends in their target markets so they can make informed business decisions. Failure to do could lead to expensive losses which can be very difficult to recover from, as has been previously experienced in various sectors.

Chido Makunike