Editor,

RE: "Cultivating Africa’s economic fortunes on the family farm” (The New Times, February 19).

I agree 100% with Dr. Agnes Kalibata. When you are concerned with development of an African country, there is no other way initially (I say initially because eventually many people have to change to manufacturing and other ways of economic prosperity) you can develop it unless you help individual rural farmer.

This statement is crucial: "Agriculture is poised to drive a new era of inclusive economic growth for Africa — but only if we focus on the small, family-run farms that are Africa’s main source of employment and produce the majority of what Africans eat”.

Every time I visit the countryside and look at family gardens, it is obvious that unless something is done to these gardens, the big bulk of our population will never come out of poverty. They will always be subsistence farmers.

Whatever can be done to change our rural farmers from "subsistence growers” and instead find ways to embrace and facilitate their potential to generate income is key.

As I said earlier, when I look at the gardens in the villages I always wonder how the framers survive. I would encourage the Ministry of Agriculture’s extension workers to work harder.

Whatever comes out of the meeting Dr. Kalibata attended is very a welcome.

Emmanuel