Opening access to information and knowledge in African agricultural S&T

Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Monty JonesMonty JonesExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

Opening access to information and Opening access to information and knowledge in African agricultural S&Tknowledge in African agricultural S&T


OutlineOutline

• Background• Political declarations• Key Actors contributing to agricultural development • Opportunities and role of information and knowledge • Key elements in opening access • What FARA can offer• Conclusions


How does agriculture contribute? How does agriculture contribute? • 40% export• 30% GDP

• 30% foreign exchange earning• 70-80% employment

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Agriculture is important to transform an Agriculture is important to transform an agriculture-based economyagriculture-based economy

Source, WDR, 2008

In the 1980’s the emerging economies, In the 1980’s the emerging economies, e.ge.g. India and Brazil. India and Brazil, , • Agriculture share in GDP was 25% Agriculture share in GDP was 25% • Public spending in agriculture was Public spending in agriculture was

14% of the total public spending 14% of the total public spending

Resulting to increased livelihood, food Resulting to increased livelihood, food security and expanded economysecurity and expanded economy

In Africa, In Africa, • Agriculture share in GDP is 30% Agriculture share in GDP is 30% • Public spending in agriculture is only 4% of total Public spending in agriculture is only 4% of total

public spending public spending


Political declarationsPolitical declarations

• AU support for CAADP

“Local ownership must begin with the national political will to develop and implement comprehensive food security strategies, based on sound scientific evidence, inclusive consultation, domestic investment and clear directions.”

• G8 ‘l'Aquila' Joint Statement on Global Food Security, July 2009

African vision: 6% annual growth in agricultural productionAfrican vision: 6% annual growth in agricultural production


Key actors contributing to agricultural Key actors contributing to agricultural developmentdevelopment

• Policy makersPolicy makers• Farmer agricultural Farmer agricultural

advisory servicesadvisory services• Farmers and their Farmers and their

associationsassociations• Market Market

intermediariesintermediaries• Processors Processors • Consumers and Consumers and

associationsassociations


Opportunities and role of information and Opportunities and role of information and knowledgeknowledge

• Establishment of info systems for monitoring market performance and Establishment of info systems for monitoring market performance and measuring market failuresmeasuring market failures

• Development of info systems to address food security issues Development of info systems to address food security issues – Agricultural productionAgricultural production– Government subsidies for food security Government subsidies for food security – Monitoring of water and land resourcesMonitoring of water and land resources– Disease problems Disease problems – Food transportation and storageFood transportation and storage

• Efficient marketing of agricultural products through info and telecom Efficient marketing of agricultural products through info and telecom networksnetworks

• Provision of equitable access to new techniques for improving agricultural Provision of equitable access to new techniques for improving agricultural productionproduction

• Reduced food storage losses through more efficient distribution using ICTReduced food storage losses through more efficient distribution using ICT

Source: African Information Society Initiative (AISI)Source: African Information Society Initiative (AISI)


Conclusions from 2009 Science Forum discussion on ICT transformation of agricultural science, research and technology generation;– To promote more participatory, collaborative, creative To promote more participatory, collaborative, creative

and impact oriented agricultural science and innovation and impact oriented agricultural science and innovation by investing in ICTsby investing in ICTs

– ICT is not just for the scientists but also for actors along ICT is not just for the scientists but also for actors along the value chain eg. producers, traders and consumersthe value chain eg. producers, traders and consumers

Opportunities and role of information and Opportunities and role of information and knowledgeknowledge


Key questions in attaining opening accessKey questions in attaining opening access

• Are we advocating for its use to the right institutions? Are we advocating for its use to the right institutions? • Do we have the right systems that can be easily accessed by Do we have the right systems that can be easily accessed by

intended users? intended users? • Do the users have the skills and infrastructure to access? Do the users have the skills and infrastructure to access? • Do we have institutional policies in place to implement? Do we have institutional policies in place to implement? • Do we have available platforms for practitioners to share Do we have available platforms for practitioners to share

their challenges and lessons learnt? their challenges and lessons learnt?


What FARA can offerWhat FARA can offer


What can FARA offerWhat can FARA offerCohesive and complementary strategies on Cohesive and complementary strategies on

agricultural productivity agricultural productivity

To achieve;

1.1. Evolution & reform of Evolution & reform of agricultural institutions & agricultural institutions & servicesservices

2.2. Increasing the scale of Increasing the scale of Africa’s investment Africa’s investment

3.3. Aligned and coordinated Aligned and coordinated supportsupport

While working with;

Extension, research, training Extension, research, training & education& education

African governments, private African governments, private sector sector

Development agencies, int’l Development agencies, int’l financing institutionsfinancing institutions

The Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP)The Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP)


Civil Civil societsociet

yy

Evolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesEvolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesinnovation systems approachinnovation systems approach

Research Research and and

educationeducationPrivate SectorPrivate SectorHuman CapitalHuman CapitalDevelopment AgenciesDevelopment AgenciesPublic SectorPublic SectorInnovation Innovation Systems Systems

Approach Approach


Evolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesEvolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesinformation and learning systemsinformation and learning systems

Market vendors communicate required products to farmers

Policy makers access policy

briefs and data to facilitate policy

formulation

Creating a market place for Creating a market place for information and learninginformation and learning

Farmers’ organizations empowered

to share opinions and

needs

Scientists share information with

potential partners or users


Evolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesEvolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesinnovation platform for technology adoptioninnovation platform for technology adoption

agricultural value chains in communitiesagricultural value chains in communities

Mutual learning & experience sharing

Building trust & confidence

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Evolution and reform of agricultural institutions and servicesEvolution and reform of agricultural institutions and services

integrated capacity strengtheningintegrated capacity strengthening

University agenda has to be more development oriented

Students are taught Students are taught

in systemic thinking i.e. integration of disciplines and in systemic thinking i.e. integration of disciplines and knowledge systemknowledge system

to build skills for facilitating interactive learningto build skills for facilitating interactive learning

Professors are encouraged;Professors are encouraged;

to change mindsets and build values that support the to change mindsets and build values that support the new ways of thinking and learningnew ways of thinking and learning


Conclusions Conclusions

Open access contributes to the transformation of African agricultural development, if it can; • Catalyze agricultural innovationsCatalyze agricultural innovations• Improve African knowledge management Improve African knowledge management • Strengthen Africa’s capacity to build capacityStrengthen Africa’s capacity to build capacity• Promote enabling policies Promote enabling policies • Facilitate access to marketFacilitate access to market


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Opening access to information and knowledge in African agricultural S&T