Human capital, agricultural development and the African food crisis

Explanations of lagging productivity in African agriculture generally are divided between proponents of the failure of agricultural policy to stimulate peasant farmers and proponents of the lack of appropriate technology argument. Both explanations assume that human capital is available to implement changes in agricultural policy, research and extension activities. However, trained scientists, administrators and extension specialists are scarce, especially in the Sahelian countries. Until the pool of human resources in agricultural sciences reaches a critical mass, neither technology nor oriented programs for agricultural development will have much impact on African food production, distribution and consumption.