Challenges, Stakes and Approach of Agricultural Research for Food Sovereignty

and Poverty Alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Presentation at the ACP Farmer Organizations Networks Dialogue Meeting, Addis Ababa,

Ethiopia, 21st -24th May 2008

Lydia Kimenye, PhDASARECA

l.kimenye@asareca.orgwww.asareca.org

Outline of my presentation

• I: Very brief background on ASARECA• II: Challenges, Stakes and Approach for

Agricultural Research- Perspectives for the Sub-region– Challenges & stakes– Approach for agricultural research 4

development- highlight on ASARECA strategy and approach

I: Background on ASARECA

• Burundi• Democratic

Republic of Congo

• Ethiopia• Eritrea• Kenya• Madagascar• Rwanda• Sudan• Tanzania• Uganda

ASARECA has 10 MEMBER COUNTRIES

ASARECA: Approach aims to add value to the NARS through:

• Serving as a forum for promoting sub-regional AR & strengthening relations between NARS

• Identification of shared goals & promotion of economies of scale & scope through collaboration, specialization and sharing of results,

• Production, promotion & sharing of regional public goods that would otherwise be under-produced,

• Sharing of knowledge and experiences with institutional innovation for more effective AR4D.

II: Challenges, Stakes and Approach for Agricultural Research- Perspectives for the Sub-region

(a) Key challenges & stakes

1. Food Security and Livelihoods at risk

• Chronic hunger- 40% of people , even in normal years

• Child malnutrition : Only region of Africa where this has increased over past 2 decades

• Persistent low productivity of staple crops

Sub-Saharan Africa’s food supply

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

1980

19

82

1984

19

86

1988

19

90

1992

19

94

1996

19

98

2000

20

02

2004

20

06

2008

20

10

Production Commercial imports Food aid Consumption w/o food aid

Source: ERS/USDA Food Security Assessment project.

1,000 tons of grain and roots (grain equivalent)

Note: Nonfood uses such as feed, seed, and waste have not been subtracted here.Consumption projections are based on a nutritional target of 2,100 calories per capita per day. 3/21/01

- Food Security and Livelihoods at risk—cont

Forgotten (orphan) crops

• Sorghum, millets, indigenous African vegetables….

• Not attractive for scientists (little research support)

• Frequently low ranked in research priority setting Threat of loss in genetic diversity

Policy & Strategy challenges/dilemma of rising

food commodity prices

• High food commodity prices threatening livelihoods of farmers too- many small holder farmers in ECA are net food buyers..

• Challenges on efforts to raise productivity growth (even w/out the current crisis):– Eroded natural resource productivity based (biodiversity &

general NR degradation; low soil fertility; endemic & new pests & diseases, E,g. Cassava brown streak disease --),

– Low level of irrigated agriculture and low water productivity– Complex small holder farming systems-difficult for wholesome

scaling up of any success story – Loss in agricultural labor force (SSA has among countries

hardest hit by HIV and AIDS) – Ineffective or absent support service institutions (Eg. Marketing,

financial services, information & technology); Infrastructure

Policy dilemma ---contHow to catalyze & sustain supply response-• How to ensure proper access (physical access,

affordability, quality--) to production resources (land, water), vital inputs (fertilizer, chemicals, quality seeds, livestock breeds…) and to other support services (improved technologies, links to markets, financial services--);

• Broad-based policies and strategies (more of institutional, sect oral than just about subsidies on inputs: Institutions & infrastructure; regional harmonized trade policies..)� for regional shift in supply curve-towards the 6% growth in overall agricultural productivity.

• What do you (FO) take to policy makers to push for this or that policy direction?

2.The Value addition quest..Value chains development & opportunities for

entry & participation by small holders• Non-product transformation value addition e.g.,

sorting, storage….(Challenges?)• Product transformation (by farmers)? What are

the issues for research? Why doesn’t private sector invest in it?

• Regional harmonized standards and policy to catalyze & optimize potential regional market for the products

3. Bioenergy- the challenges & stakes-

• Bioenergy markets largely policy driven:– National government priorities (e.g., energy

security and sustainability were key concerns in the case of Brazil).

– Strategies at various levels: 1. National approach (critical)- E.g., policies and actions

to support bioenergy sector & links to other sectors;2. Sub-regional/regional approach- Harmonized policies

and technical standards will be necessary for bioenergy market growth in the region;

3. Global approach-position on international standards & technical requirements in e.g., a global bioenergy market)-

Bioenergy- the challenges & stakes-

Social challenge- Ability of modern bioenergy markets to extend into and contribute to rural development-– Employment creation-Can local production & use of

bionergy be done in contexts favorable to job creation or pro-poor?

– Access to food especially for the food insecure (biofuel production from edible crops pushing up food prices)

– Access to land & water to grow new crops– Economies of scale (plantations)? How can FO

support smallholders enter bioenergy market?

II: Challenges, Stakes and Approach for Agricultural Research- Perspectives for

the Sub-region

(b) Approach for agricultural research --highlight on ASARECA strategy and

approach

Strategic investment options for agricultural research for ECA

Representing enabling conditions…Population density Production potential Market access

LGP (days)accessibilitypersons/sq.km

Three key outcomes for Strategy & approach

1. Agricultural development domains(defined by population, potential & market access) –A way to target investments to promote productivity growth

2. Investments that promote productivity growth for export commodities are important but do not have major impacts on overall growth or poverty without growth in major staples

3. Investments that promote marketing and productivity growth in non-agricultural sectorsare crucial to realizing potential in agriculture

Strategic Commodity Priorities

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Pulses

Hot Bevs

Oilseeds

Fruits & Veg

Livestock

Staples

Regional GDP Gains to 2015 from Growth Regional GDP Gains to 2015 from Growth in Selected Commodity Groups (US$ million)in Selected Commodity Groups (US$ million)

Contribution to the CAADP/FAAP Agenda

CAADP PillarsCAADP Pillars

Four PillarsFour Pillars

Pillar 1Pillar 1land & water mgtland & water mgt

Pillar 3Pillar 3Increasing food Increasing food

supply & reducing supply & reducing hungerhunger

Pillar 4Pillar 4Agricultural research, technology dissemination & a doptionAgricultural research, technology dissemination & a doption

•Integrated natural resource management•Adoptive management of appropriate germplasm

•Development of sustainable market chains•Policies for sustainable agriculture

Pillar 2Pillar 2Rural infrastructure & Rural infrastructure &

tradetrade--related capacities related capacities for market accessfor market access

Consequence of Pillar IV: = Expanded mandate in agricultural research, policy, advocacy and

capacity strengthening--

– Extension and service provision – Agricultural education and training– Empowerment of farmers’ organizations and

“other appropriate bodies”

• Approach:– Addressed in all ASARECA Programmes but more in

programme 7– Broad-based partnerships and collaboration with

agencies with similar mandates/interest

Program Approach to Sub-region Research

1. Staple Crops (strategy & priorities developed)2. Non-staple Priority Crops 3. Livestock and Fisheries4. Agro-biodiversity and Biotechnology (strategy

&priorities developed)5. Natural Resource Management and Forestry 6. Policy and Advocacy (strategy & priorities dev)7. Up-scaling and Knowledge Management

– Scaling up technologies & innovations– Extension and advisory service provision – Agricultural education and training– Empowerment of farmers’ organizations and“other appropriate bodies”

Startup activities on empowerment of farmers’ organizations

• TUUSI (technology up & upscaling support initiative) identified farmer empowerment & organizational strengthening as a priority project area to work on for next five years

• Scoping study underway in 6 countries to: – Profile FO on functional attributes, identify gaps– Identify common priority empowerment and

organizational strengthening needs

• Regional workshop (August-08): Strategy & action plans to address the needs & gaps

Farmer Organisations :-Membership; -Governance-Sustainability;-Equity (Gender, youth)

Roles, Functions:-Advocacy-Service delivery-Capacity Building..

Clientele-Small scale; Medium-Large scale

Outcomes- Better Market access- Conducive Policy environment- Improved Service delivery; Skills development…..

Policy

Infrastructure Social, Economic & Political Factors

Partners:(NGOs, Donors, Government…)

-Identify gaps, needs; Assess effectiveness

Analytical Framework on Farmer Organizations

Environment:

Action Domain :

THANK YOU