HIGH VALUE CROPS HIGH VALUE CROPS RESEARCH,RESEARCH,

A PERSPECTIVE FROM A PERSPECTIVE FROM AFRICAAFRICA

Dr. Peter SSERUWAGIDr. Peter SSERUWAGINational Crops Resources Research Institute National Crops Resources Research Institute

(NaCRRI)(NaCRRI)P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, UgandaP. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda

Dr. Dennis KYETEREDr. Dennis KYETERENational Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)

P. O. Box 295, Entebbe, UgandaP. O. Box 295, Entebbe, Uganda

Forum for Agricultural Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)Research in Africa (FARA)

FARA - facilitating and information FARA - facilitating and information exchange forum among the sub-regional exchange forum among the sub-regional organizations (SROs) and as an apex body organizations (SROs) and as an apex body to represent Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).to represent Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The manner in which FARA adds value to The manner in which FARA adds value to the SROs is set out in the Framework for the SROs is set out in the Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP). African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP). These interrelationships are depicted in These interrelationships are depicted in Figure 1.Figure 1.

FARA 2007 - 2016 Strategic PlanFARA 2007 - 2016 Strategic PlanEnhancing African Agricultural Innovation Enhancing African Agricultural Innovation

CapacityCapacity

The Plan leads to FARA’s The Plan leads to FARA’s Super Objective, Super Objective, which is which is to contribute to the sustainable reduction of to contribute to the sustainable reduction of food insecurity and poverty in Africa while food insecurity and poverty in Africa while enhancing the environmentenhancing the environment. .

The The General Objective General Objective to which it will contribute is to which it will contribute is to establish sustainable high broad-based to establish sustainable high broad-based agricultural growth in Africaagricultural growth in Africa..

It will do this by achieving its It will do this by achieving its Specific Objective Specific Objective of of sustainable improvements to broad-based sustainable improvements to broad-based agricultural productivity, competitiveness and agricultural productivity, competitiveness and marketsmarkets..

FARA’s Net working Support FARA’s Net working Support FunctionsFunctions

FARA’s general and specific objectives are FARA’s general and specific objectives are achieved through 5 networking support achieved through 5 networking support functionsfunctions

The support functions include: The support functions include: i) advocacy and resource mobilisationi) advocacy and resource mobilisation ii) access to knowledge and technologiesii) access to knowledge and technologies iii) regional policies and marketsiii) regional policies and markets iv) capacity strengtheningiv) capacity strengthening v) partnership and strategic alliances v) partnership and strategic alliances The needs and requirements of Africa’s The needs and requirements of Africa’s

farmers are at the centre of all FARA’s farmers are at the centre of all FARA’s workwork. .

Figure 2. Inter-relationship of networking support functions and stakeholders

ASARECA’s prioritiesASARECA’s priorities ASARECA has undertaken extensive, ASARECA has undertaken extensive,

thorough and participatory priority setting thorough and participatory priority setting and has concluded that the most important and has concluded that the most important objectives and advantages for collaborative objectives and advantages for collaborative regional research programmes are:regional research programmes are:1. To address common constraints that cut across 1. To address common constraints that cut across

several countriesseveral countries2. To enhance complementarity and reduce 2. To enhance complementarity and reduce

duplicationduplication3. To increase the efficiency of agricultural 3. To increase the efficiency of agricultural

research through the optimum use of human, research through the optimum use of human, financial and other research resourcesfinancial and other research resources

4. To facilitate the spill over and transfer of 4. To facilitate the spill over and transfer of technology among cooperating countriestechnology among cooperating countries

ASARECA prioritiesASARECA priorities Commodities accorded priority by Commodities accorded priority by

ASARECA are congruent with the priorities ASARECA are congruent with the priorities of member countries (11) and the mandates of member countries (11) and the mandates of the IARCs operating in its sub region. of the IARCs operating in its sub region.

ASARECA Strategic Plan: 2005-2015 ASARECA Strategic Plan: 2005-2015 identified commodity priorities as follows:identified commodity priorities as follows:

1. Staples: maize, sorghum, cassava1. Staples: maize, sorghum, cassava

2. Livestock products2. Livestock products

3. Fruits and vegetables3. Fruits and vegetables

4. Oilseeds4. Oilseeds

ASARECA prioritiesASARECA priorities Recommendations from the priority setting exercise Recommendations from the priority setting exercise

relevant to the SSA CP were that:relevant to the SSA CP were that:1.1. ASARECA stimulates the NARSs to give higher priority to:ASARECA stimulates the NARSs to give higher priority to: a) post-production issues, b) private sector involvement, c) a) post-production issues, b) private sector involvement, c) natural resource management and d) technology transfernatural resource management and d) technology transfer

2. Developing technology options that have high potential2. Developing technology options that have high potentialpayoff in a wide range of agro-ecological systems, including payoff in a wide range of agro-ecological systems, including arid and semi-arid lands, irrigated agriculture and peri-urban arid and semi-arid lands, irrigated agriculture and peri-urban

farming.farming.

3. Production must be profitable for farmers to be interested in how 3. Production must be profitable for farmers to be interested in how newnew

technology can be applied.technology can be applied.

4. Through the NARSs, ASARECA could be the regional meeting point 4. Through the NARSs, ASARECA could be the regional meeting point forfor

extension services, farmer organisations, co-operative movements, extension services, farmer organisations, co-operative movements, privateprivate

research, agribusiness services and NGOsresearch, agribusiness services and NGOs

ASARECA prioritiesASARECA priorities ASARECA should strive to develop ASARECA should strive to develop

and foster links between agricultural and foster links between agricultural research institutions and the research institutions and the technology transfer institutions such technology transfer institutions such as public sector extension as public sector extension departments, private sector, farmer departments, private sector, farmer organisations, co-operative societies organisations, co-operative societies and NGOs.and NGOs.

Figure 3. Priority research for development themes identified by the CGIAR Centres and ASARECA

ASARECA’s themesASARECA’s themes Eight specific themes for programmes have been Eight specific themes for programmes have been

agreed between the CGIAR centres and agreed between the CGIAR centres and ASARECA (Figure 3).ASARECA (Figure 3).1. 1. Adaptation to climate changeAdaptation to climate change2. Support to policy reform2. Support to policy reform3. Agriculture, health and nutrition3. Agriculture, health and nutrition4. Management of agrobiodiversity4. Management of agrobiodiversity5. Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM)5. Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM)6. Analysis of problems, priorities and impacts6. Analysis of problems, priorities and impacts7. Market chains7. Market chains8. Improving learning mechanisms, capacities and 8. Improving learning mechanisms, capacities and

spread of knowledge, spread of knowledge, ASARECA expects the SSA CP to contribute to ASARECA expects the SSA CP to contribute to

these themes.these themes.

CORAF/WECARD’s CORAF/WECARD’s PrioritiesPriorities

In common with the other SROs and the priorities of the In common with the other SROs and the priorities of the SSA CP, CORAF/ WECARD recognises that:SSA CP, CORAF/ WECARD recognises that: Sustainable natural resource management is the most critical Sustainable natural resource management is the most critical

factor in agricultural food production in West and Central Africa. factor in agricultural food production in West and Central Africa. The relationships between soil, water, genetic resources The relationships between soil, water, genetic resources

and human communities are therefore the central issues.and human communities are therefore the central issues. This challenge is heightened by the fragile nature of the This challenge is heightened by the fragile nature of the

ecosystems, characteristic of much of West and Central ecosystems, characteristic of much of West and Central Africa. Africa.

CORAF/WECARD is looking to science to boost CORAF/WECARD is looking to science to boost agricultural factors of production and enable the people agricultural factors of production and enable the people of the region to meet the challenge of intensifying of the region to meet the challenge of intensifying agriculture in a sustainable manner.agriculture in a sustainable manner.

CORAF/WECARD’s CORAF/WECARD’s PrioritiesPriorities

The approach to be adopted by the SSA CP, The approach to be adopted by the SSA CP, CORAF/ WECARD believes:CORAF/ WECARD believes:a. That future research should focus on an holistic a. That future research should focus on an holistic

approach to integrated natural resource approach to integrated natural resource management. management.

b. Must involve all sections of stakeholdersb. Must involve all sections of stakeholders

c. Examine competitiveness of the agriculture of the c. Examine competitiveness of the agriculture of the sub-region. sub-region.

d. It should focus on reducing poverty, and increasing d. It should focus on reducing poverty, and increasing food and income security. food and income security.

e. Should address the following four themes: e. Should address the following four themes: production; markets; policy issues; and capacity production; markets; policy issues; and capacity development and retention.development and retention.

CORAF/WECARD’s CORAF/WECARD’s PrioritiesPriorities

• Research is needed to improved key Research is needed to improved key productivity constraints and productivity constraints and opportunitiesopportunities that include: that include:

1. Lack of improved germplasm1. Lack of improved germplasm2. Low efficiency of input use2. Low efficiency of input use3. Low labour productivity3. Low labour productivity4. Little market orientation4. Little market orientation5. Weak productivity of the farming system5. Weak productivity of the farming system6. Poor integration of the production systems6. Poor integration of the production systems7. Land tenure constraints7. Land tenure constraints8. Weak access to credit.8. Weak access to credit.

CORAF/WECARD’s CORAF/WECARD’s PrioritiesPriorities

Research is particularly needed to improve Research is particularly needed to improve national, regional and international level national, regional and international level input and output marketsinput and output markets. The constraints . The constraints include:include:

1. Poor access, including infrastructural issues 1. Poor access, including infrastructural issues and limited competitionand limited competition

2. Quality of products prejudiced by poor 2. Quality of products prejudiced by poor harvest, produce processing, conservation harvest, produce processing, conservation and conditioning technologies and proceduresand conditioning technologies and procedures

3. Poor market information3. Poor market information4. Poorly organised producer organisations4. Poorly organised producer organisations

CORAF/WECARD’s CORAF/WECARD’s PrioritiesPriorities

Research to address policy issues and produce Research to address policy issues and produce options to guide the formulation of appropriate options to guide the formulation of appropriate policies that will provide economic incentives bro policies that will provide economic incentives bro producers to improve:producers to improve: technology adoption, and increase output and productivity. technology adoption, and increase output and productivity.

Capacity building is required to develop the ability to Capacity building is required to develop the ability to analyse policy and make informed policy decisions on: analyse policy and make informed policy decisions on: 1. Facilitating/guaranteeing access to inputs, subsidies, 1. Facilitating/guaranteeing access to inputs, subsidies,

decentralisation and liberalisationdecentralisation and liberalisation2. Strengthening research and extension links and partnerships 2. Strengthening research and extension links and partnerships

with farmers and extension agentswith farmers and extension agents3. Systematising market control/information supported by 3. Systematising market control/information supported by

training in international markets and policies that promote training in international markets and policies that promote access to regional and international marketsaccess to regional and international markets

4. Promoting and institutionally strengthening producer 4. Promoting and institutionally strengthening producer organisations and facilitating stakeholder involvement organisations and facilitating stakeholder involvement

CORAF/WECARD’s CORAF/WECARD’s PrioritiesPriorities

5. Promoting agro-industries5. Promoting agro-industries

6. Facilitating access to credit6. Facilitating access to credit

7. Providing land tenure security7. Providing land tenure security

8. Addressing quality control issues.8. Addressing quality control issues.

SADC/FANR’s PrioritiesSADC/FANR’s Priorities The SSA CP is also consistent with SADC/FANR’s The SSA CP is also consistent with SADC/FANR’s

recognition that increased food insecurity and recognition that increased food insecurity and poverty, in many parts of Africa, relate directly to poverty, in many parts of Africa, relate directly to the declining productivity of the soils.the declining productivity of the soils.

SADC/FANR note that research that seeks to SADC/FANR note that research that seeks to recapture the ability of the soil to remain in recapture the ability of the soil to remain in sustainable production -such as conservation sustainable production -such as conservation farming, represents an opportunity for dealing with farming, represents an opportunity for dealing with recurrent food insecurity situations in sub-Saharan recurrent food insecurity situations in sub-Saharan Africa.Africa.

Development and promotion of conservation Development and promotion of conservation farming is now a priority, which needs financial, farming is now a priority, which needs financial, human, and material support to make further human, and material support to make further progress on improving livelihoods. progress on improving livelihoods.

SADC/FANR’s prioritiesSADC/FANR’s priorities The objectives of SADC/FANR’s regional component of ‘land The objectives of SADC/FANR’s regional component of ‘land

management and conservation farming’ are: to develop management and conservation farming’ are: to develop strategies to develop, test and disseminate conservation strategies to develop, test and disseminate conservation farming practices. farming practices.

The programme activities will focus on:The programme activities will focus on:1. Development of technological options1. Development of technological options2. Farmer-centred research action approaches2. Farmer-centred research action approaches3. Local institutional capacity building3. Local institutional capacity building4. Involvement of the private sector.4. Involvement of the private sector.

Taking into account local climatic and socio-economic Taking into account local climatic and socio-economic circumstances and prevailing cropping systems, a range of circumstances and prevailing cropping systems, a range of conservation farming options is slated to be tested using conservation farming options is slated to be tested using participatory technology development approaches. participatory technology development approaches.

These options are essentially based on minimum or no soil These options are essentially based on minimum or no soil disturbance,disturbance,

maintenance of soil cover and crop rotations.maintenance of soil cover and crop rotations. SADC/FANR state that emphasis will be placed on SADC/FANR state that emphasis will be placed on

understanding the basic principles of conservation farming understanding the basic principles of conservation farming practices. practices.

SADC/FANR’s prioritiesSADC/FANR’s priorities Farmers will be encouraged to experiment, integrating external Farmers will be encouraged to experiment, integrating external

and local knowledge, and to direct their own learning experiences.and local knowledge, and to direct their own learning experiences. The SSA CP’s focus on participatory methods is echoed in The SSA CP’s focus on participatory methods is echoed in

SADC/FANR’s objective of strengthening farmer group SADC/FANR’s objective of strengthening farmer group organisations to facilitate mutual learning and the sharing of organisations to facilitate mutual learning and the sharing of information/experiences.information/experiences.

Farmer groups are expected to be more competitive in the local Farmer groups are expected to be more competitive in the local and regional markets than individual farmers. and regional markets than individual farmers.

Support to farmer groups will take into account and build on Support to farmer groups will take into account and build on existing groupings, locally existing civic and traditional leadership existing groupings, locally existing civic and traditional leadership and social modes of interaction.and social modes of interaction.

Deliberate private sector interest and participation is desired, Deliberate private sector interest and participation is desired, especially in fields such as marketing, farm inputs/outputs, credit especially in fields such as marketing, farm inputs/outputs, credit support and mutually rewarding strategies. support and mutually rewarding strategies.

SADC/FANR believes that the SSA CP will provide opportunities to:SADC/FANR believes that the SSA CP will provide opportunities to:a)a) Continue the process of technology development - finding practical Continue the process of technology development - finding practical

solutions for direct planting, soil fertility management and weed solutions for direct planting, soil fertility management and weed control. control.

b)b) Allow the promotion, on a more massive scale, of the technologies that Allow the promotion, on a more massive scale, of the technologies that have been proven at individual farm level. have been proven at individual farm level.

Thank you for listeningThank you for listening