Afrique tropicale : de l'échec de la « révolution verte » à la « révolution doublement verte » (Tropical Africa : from the "green revolution" failure to the "doubly green revolution")

Abstract

Abstract. - Why did Tropical Africa reject the "Green Revolution" initiated at the end of the sixties, based on the introduction of high yield varieties of grain crops, when at least an important part of Asia adopted it ? This is not because this continent rejects modernization, but because this one did not fit with the strategies and the means of African producers. "Green Revolution" was a typical intensification program, when, at that very time, African farmers were in a process of extensification : manpower was proportionally scarce, due to population growth, and the main problem was to control as much land as possible to challenge the multiplication of rural households. There has been only one full experiment of the Green Revolution approach in Africa, the Zambian case. In this country, Kenneth Kaunda's government launched Operation Food Production, which aimed at a quick increase of maize production on the whole country through the use of improved varieties, fertilizers and pesticids, all modern inputs being subsidized ; maize production was bought by parastatals at subdisized prices and maize flour was sold much below costs. This worked well technically but it was a complete economic failure : when copper prices fell, the Zambian government was unable to go on. Anyway, the Zambian case shows that African peasants answer positively to economic incentives. The huge population growth in tropical Africa now compels to intensification at least in parts of the continent, but the Green Revolution approach is unrealistic, taking into account the technical, social and economic situation : irrigation infrastructures are generally lacking, trading systems are unefficient, inputs are too expensive. Moreover the revolving towards a liberal economic approach, as prescribed by IMF and World Bank is a major constraint A new strategy has to be found, which could be what is sometimes called "Doubly Green Revolution", founded on a sophisticated approach of ecosystems in a perspective of sustainable development. In a way, traditional agricultural strategies in Africa fit with this type of approach, but it implies a great effort in research and, moreover, greater autonomy given to rural communities, which is a political challenge.