Should Africa be importing food?

Editor, RE: “Africa should not be importing food” (The New Times, May 1). May I ask what you disagree with? Is it the use of modern ways of farming that include the use of technology to improve productivity? Surely, you aren’t dismissing this proven way of doing things just because it is seen as ‘European’ etc, and if so, then you are careless in your assessment of things. Put simply: in Africa we have lagged behind in technology, and one way to help avoid famine is improve productivity. Technology avails methods to do so. There is little in having to know the colour of your doctor, what matters is the prescription they are giving you. Technology has no colour, no region. It is for everyone and we, Africans, desperately need it as soon as yesterday! Freddy G. *************************** I categorically disagree, first, with the assumption that Western technology is the “modern” and sole cure for all humanity ills, hunger included. Second, quite contrary to your assertion, any technology has colour, and it is suitable and applicable to and for respectively specific purpose and region. If and when borrowed but not well assessed, introduced, and adapted to a new situation, for sure catastrophes will cascade in chain. Just the same way similar calamity will happen to your body if your doctor doesn’t adapt medicine to your condition and context. Any genuine practitioner will tell you that no omnibus cure does exist against all ills! Francois-X. Nziyonsenga

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Should Africa be importing food?