Market Trends of Africa Agricultural Film Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Africa Agricultural Films Market according to our research experts:
Increased Food Demand and Need for Increased Agricultural Food Productivity
According to FAO, the African population is expected to grow between 2009 and 2050. At the same time, per capita income is also projected to grow across Africa. With the increasing per capita income and growing population, the demand for food is also estimated to grow. As per FAO, the food demand in Africa is expected to increase by 20 to 60% by 2050. Many factors such as climate change, the outbreak of pests, and the lack of investments make it challenging to produce enough food.
Due to the increasing population, African food production needs to increase by more than 15% by 2050 to cater to the growing food demand. This suggests a need for a significant increase in the production of certain food commodities. For instance, the production of cereals must reach around 0.5 billion ton by 2050, an increase from nearly 0.2 billion ton in 2018. There is also a decline in arable land all across Africa. According to a report by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), in Africa, arable land decreased from 387.9 million hectares in 2014 to 319.2 million hectares in 2018, and it is estimated to decrease further in the near future. The primary vegetable area harvested in 2020 increased to 10,218.3 thousand hectares, with productivity reaching 83,331 hg per hectare compared to the harvested area of 10,022.3 thousand hectares with 82,785 hg per hectare of yield in 2019.
Hence, to meet the increasing food demand in the country, the production of crops, such as cereals and pulses, needs to increase despite the limited availability of arable land. Farmers are focusing on increasing production by growing the crops in various advanced techniques, including greenhouses. This has boosted the demand for agriculture film usage in Africa. The agricultural film market is gaining a competitive advantage due to the above factors.
Greenhouse Applications Dominating the Market
The growing rise of sustainable farming due to rising urbanization is among the important factors that might help the greenhouse film segment grow during the forecast period in Africa. Mulch films are used to protect the crop from the proliferation of weeds. They also prevent moisture loss and improve crop yield. These factors can be advantageous in the dry parts of Africa and are offering growth opportunities to players in the mulch film market.
There is a constant decline in arable land and a growing need to improve crop productivity. Moreover, the world's expanding population and the subsequent increase in food demand are driving sustainable growth in the global agriculture industry. These factors can help increase the demand for mulch films in the market as they improve crop quality and aid water retention.
The film protects the crops and the soil from adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the growing environmental concerns are projected to increase the usage of biodegradable mulch films in Africa. Mulching is a part of conservation agriculture, which improves food production in smallholder farming systems in Africa. Tomatoes and onions, the most common vegetables, grow in large quantities along the coast of North Africa, where mulching can be practiced. These advantages are anticipated to boost the usage of mulch films in Africa.
