Growing Africa’s Future

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Prof. Monty P. Jones

Executive Director, FARA

Chair, GFAR

Growing Africa’s Future

Click to edit Master title style

11/30/2012 2Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Outline

• Context: Africa’s development vision and vision for agriculture (CAADP)

• CAADP achievements, lessons and refreshed strategy

• Some messages for AIFSC

• About FARA

% of population below $1.25 a

day in 2005 PPP

Prepared from World Bank Data

Africa today …1/2

1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 20080

25

50

75

100

East Asia and Pacific South AsiaSub-Saharan Africa

• Richly endowed but lowest human development indicators

• Evidence that transformation is possible. Agriculture is the initial driver (recent examples include China, India, Brazil)



Africa today …2/2

• Poverty reduction has stagnated despite robust economic growth (average of 5% GDP growth p.a. over last decade)

• Agriculture offers highest poverty reducing effect (2-4 times compared to other sectors)

Sources of growth in agricultural output

(1961-2007)

Source: De Janvry and Sadoulet, 2010

1

2

4

3

5

1960 19801970 1990 20082000

Year

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Asia

South East Asia

Rest of the World

East Asia

Cereal Grain Average Yield by Region (mT/Ha)

Africa’s development vision

Improving performance of agriculture (Africa's largest economic sector) is pivotal to realising this vision

“A prosperous continent free of conflict in which all our people can fulfil their potential; a continent that participates effectively

in the global economy on an equal footing”

7% annual GDP growth rate over 20 years

Poverty eradication, Food security, Sustainable Economic Development



Africa’s vision for its agriculture

Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Programme (CAADP). Launched in 2003

• 6% agricultural GDP growth rate attained & sustained

• Food security attained

• Dynamic agric. markets between nation & regions

• Smallholder farmers integrated in market economy

• Africa as next exporter of agric. products

• Equitable distribution of wealth

• Strategic player in agricultural science

• Environmentally sound methods practiced



CAADP

Is a continental framework for:

• Improving planning processes and quality of investment plans;

• Strengthening & aligning policies and policy design to support agricultural development;

• Strengthening & aligning institutional capacity to competitively deliver results and impact



CAADP Pillars

Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Example 1: Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP)

African vision: 6% annual growth in agricultural production

• Extending area for sustainable land mgt & water control systems

Land & Water

• Improving rural infrastructure and trade related capacities

Market Access

Increasing food supply

and reducing hunger

Agricultural Research

Technology Dissemination & Adoption, and Capacity Strengthening

1

2

34

16



CAADP Achievements 1. 40 countries have launched CAADP implementation; 30

have signed Compacts; 23 have formulated agric. investment plans; 11 have accessed GAFSP funding

2. Improved agricultural strategies inclusively developed & high quality investment plans based on rigorous analysis

3. Advocacy for public and private domestic investments in agriculture

4. Improved coordination & alignment within countries and with development partners



Lessons from CAADP• A continental policy framework can be effective

in advocating for transformation (e.g. in agric.) and in achieving alignment and coordination

• After 10 yrs, CAADP is ripe for reform. It needs a strategy for next 10 years (Sustaining CAADP Momentum)



Emerging issues

1. Increased population, younger, more affluent and more urbanised

2. Increased stresses on the production environment (nutrients, water, temperature) due to climate change

3. Financial and economic crisis: less demand for primary commodities, less ODA

4. The BRICs

5. Deepening globalisation (ICTs)

Changing African Food Systems

Rapid Urbanisation

Income Growth

Changing Food System• Urban market growth

• Shifting demand (processed foods, high value foods)

Shifting technical skill requirements• Private sector

• Public sectorFarming

Distribution

Packaging

Processing

Consumption

Past 40 years Public Sector

Next 40 yearsPrivate Sector

Clients for graduate training

Sustaining CAADP Momentum(Implementation, results and impact)

Wealth Creation

Job Opportunities and Food Security

Economic Growth ResilienceImpact

Outcomes

Strategic Thrust

Strengthening & aligning Institutions, Policies & Leadership

Knowledge & Knowledge

Support

Financing & Investments in

Agriculture

Land and Water

Research& Knowledge

Food & Nutrition Security

Markets, Private Sector

CAADP Pillars

Productivity Competitiveness Regional & Global Integration



CAADP’s Strategic Thrust on Knowledge & Knowledge Support

Knowledge and knowledge support

Knowledge, Information

and Skills (KIS)

Agriculture Science Agenda

Agriculture Education and

Training

ICT in Agricultural

Transformation



Messages for the AIFSC …1/3

African constituency welcomes moves by AIFSC to:

• Align to CAADP and involving African stakeholders in formulating its strategy

• Develop a long term financial plan

• Complement existing initiatives, focusing on gaps (e.g. post harvest and nutrition)




• FARA supports AIFSC’s focus on adoption of priority innovations

• Similarities between elements of the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSCN) and AIFSC

• Consider setting a target of what AIFSC will achieve in Africa after 10 years – Example of CARD and G8 NAFSCN




• Improving resilience is becoming increasingly important alongside improving productivity. AIFSC may want to revisit its position on this outcome

• Capacity strengthening should consider changing food systems and cut across the capacity pyramid

• Policy is a major factor of adoption. Often, the main challenge is getting the recommendations considered by policy makers


Apex organization for coordinating agricultural research & development (ARD) in Africa

Mandated by Africa Union Commission (AUC) to serve as its technical arm on ARD

Mission:Improvements in agric. productivity, competitiveness and markets by strengthening Africa’s AR&D systems

Networking Support Functions

1. Advocacy & Policy

2. Access to Knowledge and Technologies

3. Capacity Strengthening

4. Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

FARA integrates research, extension and education into a holistic system


Thank youwww.fara-africa.org

Africa Agricultural Science Week15-20 July 2013

Accra, Ghana Africa Feeding Africa through agricultural science

and innovation

http://www.fara-africa.org/