Your average American farmer has hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in capital equipment, spends a sizable portion of output revenue on inputs (fertilizers, pest control, seeds, insurance, etc.) and is supported by university extension programs, government subsidies and minimum price supports, and on and on and on. The lack of industry to produce inputs and equipment comparable to what is available here will take decades to even close.

Sure you could get _an_ African farmer to American level yields, but that's different than what essentially is economic reorganization for the _majority_ of workers in African economies.

Also, remember this isn't an agile software project that can go through an iteration a day. You plant once a year, you harvest once a year; an entire continent doubling yields in only 15 iterations is pretty good.

Property rights play a big part here. Why work to improve something when there is not much guarantee it will be yours once improved?

Many areas of the world where yields are low suffer not only form lack of money and technology but property rights are likely as significant.

Property rights are key. One stat I read (that I can't remember where) said that about 70% of the people in the world don't have a formal title to the land they live on.

A buddy of mine actually has a start-up that focuses on that called Suyo: http://suyo.co/

I heard the Gates foundation is still giving out Monsanto seed to African farmers. They can plant one season--then they can't afford to replant. Maybe things have changed? I know Warren Buffet tried to reason with Gates, but unsure if Monsanto is still involved? On another note, I hope someone developes a better condom--not just for use in Africa, but for use everywhere. We have enough people?

the best condom is higher education for the ladies.

the west is facing a population crunch, as ladies are spending their more fertile years studying.

We have got enough people. Just because the west has a population crunch (and the current economic paradigm doesn't support that) does not mean that the population problem goes away. The pollution doesn't dry up, and the seas don't replenish their fish because of this.

Is it really necessary to refer to the women as ladies in this context?

Sorry, not up to speed on PC english.