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A Model for Good Prison Farm Management in Africa

Author: Penal Reform International
Date: 2002
Size: 12 pages (61 KB)

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Summary

How can prison services in Africa improve productivity in their prison farms? In what ways can these initiatives be cost-effective, sustainable and rights- based? Prisons are not a priority spending concern for the treasury and farms appear low down the list of prison priorities. This framework, produced by Penal Reform International (PRI) is drawn from farming and management practices in eastern and southern Africa and takes the case of Malawi as its primary focus to analyse how profitability can be maximized with scarce resources.

In most prison services in Africa, the main expense aside from staff salaries is food for the prison ration, usually purchased from outside contractors. The funds are only sufficient for one meal per day, inadequate in terms of quantity and quality. Most prison services have access to substantial, often under-producing areas of land.

Food produced on prison farms is not free food, however, if they are well run, food can be produced for considerably less than the cost of outside purchasing. Hence, farming to a high standard is crucial. The benefits of good prison farming:

• For prisoners; engagement in useful productive outside work, a more nutritious diet, experience of good farming practice and financial compensation for their work.
• For prison staff; improved morale and security in the prison stemming from a better working environment. Additionally, a better diet, training in farm practices and an economic dividend.
• For the prison service; improved morale, security, openness and management as well as budget relief from the overall cost of rations.
• For the government; an enhanced human rights profile as well as budget relief.Also, financial security allowing, for instance, for funds for depreciation of equipment, forward planning and effective management.
• Work provided for prisoners that is in line with UN standards.

Breaking the pattern of under-production should maximize the use of resources available through good management, proper training and financial autonomy. This involves firstly increasing food production by reorganising the planning and execution of farm work, secondly ensuring there is a financial structure to provide autonomy for the farms’ management, and thirdly to ensure that the food produced reaches the intended recipients. Policy pointers from the case of Malawi suggest:

• The need for a good manager, trained staff, transparent incentive schemes for both prisoners and staff as well as regular meetings for all those involved to foster a sense of participation and ownership.
• The need to grow what is best for the land, not just what is known and the emphasis to rest on good husbandry rather than extensive cultivation. The project should be gradually extended rather than given sudden changes.
• Modern but low capital cost farming methods should be considered and over-reliance on mechanisation is best avoided as is over-extending cultivation.
• Corrupt practices should be outlawed, for instance giving gifts to senior staff.
• Mechanisation should be used effectively to ease heavier field tasks such as land preparation and harvesting, allowing prisoners to work on more labour intensive tasks such a vegetable growing.
• Improvements in husbandry of crops and livestock come from the use of modern techniques of operation, new seed and fertiliser varieties and crop protection techniques.

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Source: Penal Reform International, 2002, 'A Model for Good Prison Farm Management in Africa', Siber Ink, South Africa
Author: Penal Reform International (PRI), http://www.penalreform.org