ReSAKSS Quarterly Update 2011
ReSAKSS-AW – Here is a recount of what ReSAKSS has been up to across the continent from July – September 2011.
ReSAKSS Quarterly Report, July – SeptemberHighlights include:
- Progress on the 2011 ATOR feature topic on agricultural productivity.
- Technical Assistance to setting up CAADP Country SAKSS in Tanzania.
- Recap of Conference on “Increasing Agricultural Productivity & Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities.”
- Technical Assistance to setting up CAADP Country SAKSS and capacity building and enhancement in selected countries in the ECOWAS region.
- Web survey results for the future of ReSAKSS on the web.
Shaping the Future of Web Interaction
Web traffic to ReSAKSS.org has increased slightly during the 3rd quarter reporting period thanks to increased web efforts via social media sites such as the ReSAKSS blog, Facebook and Twitter. The ReSAKSS-AW team performed a web user survey to better understand the website’s audience and their preferences, information that will be used to improve the utility of the website.
The survey was sent to over 400 people based on their attendance at CAADP meetings, subscription to the ReSAKSS newsletter, as well as individuals in the networks of the regional nodes. 134 web users responded to the survey in both French and English. We found that CAADP events are the biggest driver to the ReSAKSS site and 43% of respondents discovered ReSAKSS at a CAADP event. When asked what they would like to see more of on ReSAKSS web, respondents cited “more data and charts for download” (54%), “CAADP News” (52%) and “publications” (45%), respectively. As expected, most (48%) of respondents visited ReSAKSS.org for information on CAADP implementation.
The survey was useful in describing the ReSAKSS audience with the majority representing visitors from the research, analytical and policy fields. An increased need for availability of data was expressed by most respondents. The diversity of the web audience was reflected in the increased demand for translation of ReSAKSS publications and materials. The survey is an important tool that will aid in the implementation of a ReSAKSS web update that is to occur in 2012.
For more information view the full results of our web-user survey in our ReSAKSS-AW Quarterly.
Story submitted by Heather Wyllie, Senior Research Assistant of ReSAKSS-AW. For more information, please contact Heather at H.Wyllie@cgiar.org.
Technical Assistance to Setup Tanzania SAKSS
Vice President Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal launching Tanzania Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plan (TAFSIP) on Nov 10, 2011. Photo Credit: in2eastafrica.net
ReSAKSS-ECA — Recently, ReSAKSS-ECA held a Tanzania agricultural trends and outlook report dissemination workshop which also platformed discussions on the establishment of the Tanzania Country Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support (SAKSS). Meetings were held with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and USAID-Tanzania on 14th July. The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders and participants, (including 22 percent women attendees), from various institutions including national and local government ministries and departments, private sector, universities, JICA, USAID, IFAD and various NGOs.
The ReSAKSS-ECA Coordinator, Joseph Karugia joined a two-week mission by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in July-August whose objective was to conduct an assessment of the current agricultural statistics system in Tanzania for the establishment of the Tanzania-SAKSS. During this mission, a country SAKSS node learned how it might improve collection and analysis of data related to agriculture and food security in Tanzania. Discussions on possibilities for funding of this node were also discussed with USAID. The Ministry of Agriculture has expressed interest in the SAKSS idea to enhance the capacity of Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) Monitoring and Evaluation Thematic Working Group. A concept note for the Tanzania SAKSS was shared with the Tanzania CAADP Team in October.
Other SAKSS Developments
During the reporting period, ReSAKSS-ECA continued to engage government officials on the establishment of country SAKSS in DRC and Burundi. Karugia and Stella Massawe visited Burundi on the first week of July for a follow up discussion on agriculture M&E in Burundi and joint organization of a dissemination workshop for Burundi’s trends report which was held on August 29th. ReSAKSS-ECA took the opportunity to further increase awareness about the Country SAKSS concept by discussing it with Burundi’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and made a presentation at the dissemination workshop. Good political will for country SAKSS nodes is evident in both countries.
Discussions on the formation of SAKSS have been well received. In order to establish and sustain national SAKSS there are various issues that require time, longer term technical backstopping and continuous follow up and negotiations. In order to see longevity in the SAKSS area, resource mobilization, formulation of country networks and awareness creation to stimulate demand and use of SAKSS products are necessary. The node has made great progress in introducing the SAKSS concept in the East African region.
ReSAKSS-ECA continued to engage with the teams assembled for the preparation of the country trends reports as they are expected to be key players in the SAKSS nodes in their respective countries. ReSAKSS-ECA continued to provide technical assistance to the process of reviewing, validating, disseminating, and preparing the country agricultural trends reports in the different countries as appropriate.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Agriculture Sector Performance, Growth and Poverty Trends in Southern Africa
Pretoria, South Africa — ReSAKSS-SA led a regional survey as part of its strategic monitoring to track implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) and SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (SADC-RISDP). This survey is consistent with the CAADP M&E framework which provides guidelines on the indicators to be tracked and type of data that needs to be collected under each key performance indicator. It also tracks the progress individual countries have made toward achieving the CAADP targets.
Consultants learning data management at a training from the monitoring and evaluation framework designed by ReSAKSS-SA.
The information collected will be used to assess progress in resource allocation and the achievement of stated targets for agricultural growth, poverty reduction and investment in agriculture. This activity will help answer questions related to relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the CAADP process, policies and programs. Changes are assessed against key targets: spending 10% of national budget on agriculture; agricultural sector growth of 6% per year; and progress toward halving of poverty and hunger by 2015
The survey covers the 12 SADC Member States (Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). It was launched by IWMI and ReSAKSS-SA on July 01, 2011 and is presently being carried out by 12 National Consultants. The survey is aimed at monitoring agricultural sector performance (crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry) in order to measure how the different countries in the region are progressing towards achieving their agricultural growth and performance targets, as well as, related impacts on poverty reduction. The review will also characterize and diagnose the constraints limiting accelerated agricultural growth in each country.
Data collection is covering five main performance categories:
- CAADP implementation process
- Public spending and investment indicators
- Output indicators (Agricultural technology, diffusion, and human capital indicators)
- Agricultural sector performance indicators (Agricultural production and trade indicators)
- Macro- and socio-economic indicators (Welfare indicators)
The key output will be a 2011 Annual Regional Agricultural Trends and Outlook Report that integrates all data from the survey countries. This report will provide evidence-based policy implications and recommendations that will serve as a major tool for supporting policy dialogue and debate, as well as, informing agricultural sector planning and investment decisions in the region. The report will be presented at key policy dialogue and public sector investment planning events and processes in order to inform decision making. Each of the surveyed countries will also produce individual country Agricultural Trends and Outlook Report, (a total of 12 reports), based on the data collected in the survey. The country reports will complement the regional report and will be used to inform policy dialogues at National level.
For continuing coverage of this process contact Emmanuel Musaba, Coordinator of ReSAKSS-SA at E.Musaba@cgiar.org.
Tracking Intra-Regional Trade of Agricultural Inputs in Eastern and Southern Africa
ReSAKSS-ECA Methodology Workshop held on 16th November, 2011 at Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
ReSAKSS-ECA Methodology Workshop held on 16th November, 2011 at Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
The Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Eastern and Central Africa (ReSAKSS-ECA) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a number of national and regional partners have a methodology for tracking changes in the volume and value of intra-regional trade in food staples in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). The indicator for 2009 and 2010 has been computed and reported with 2008 as the baseline. In recognition of efforts to promote intra-regional trade in agricultural inputs in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Eastern African Community (EAC) region, it is proposed that a similar indicator be developed for tracking trade in these Agricultural inputs. Understanding the dynamics of trade in agricultural inputs is important because of their crucial role in increased agricultural productivity and production and sustained regional food security
While reasonable data exist to allow for computation of indicators of intra-regional trade in food staples, especially the officially recorded trade, the same cannot be said of agricultural inputs. It may well be that trade is taking place at an informal level or that little trade in agricultural inputs is occurring in the region. Thus the proposed methodology will need to take account of the inputs that are significantly traded, both formally and informally.
During the workshop, a list of agricultural inputs that are currently traded was developed from the various presentations. However, a consensus on which input to track was not finalized due to complexity involved with available agricultural input data.
There are also numerous agricultural inputs, (e.g. seeds), but the main challenge is finding out which seeds to collect data on with differentiated country priorities. Also, it is important to find out which insecticides or herbicides to collect data on with the regionally or nationally differentiated priorities. It was agreed in the workshop to harmonize the proposed inputs, and to track seeds, insecticides and herbicides based on country priority, in addition to also tracking the livestock related inputs. The complexity with tracking agricultural inputs was appreciated with brainstorming and discussions continuing among the agencies with available input trade data.
Overall, the workshop was very instrumental in providing a platform for data collection and tracking the progress of agricultural inputs in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. There is optimism that this workshop and continued interaction with the parties involved will help us to further understand the elements of trade and agricultural inputs in the region in to continue to improve agricultural productivity and production, and sustainable food security in the region.
This story was compiled by Jonesmus Wambua (j.wambua@cgiar.org) of ReSAKSS-ECA. For more information contact ReSAKSS-ECA Coordinator Joseph Karugia, (j.karugia@cgiar.org).
ECOWAS Receives Technical Assistance in Agricultural Sector
Technical Assistance to setting up CAADP Country SAKSS in selected countries in the ECOWAS region
Technical assistance was provided by ReSAKSS-WA for the establishment of a CAADP Country Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support (SAKSS) node in Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo, all countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. ReSAKSS-WA also assisted with the design of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) review framework for the agricultural sector of Nigeria, with support from IFPRI-Nigeria.
Nigeria-SAKSS, IFPRI-Nigeria, and USAID-Nigeria assisted with working out modalities to engage M&E experts to carry out this activity for the CAADP Country Team and SAKSS node. In addition, concept notes for a Nigeria Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) methodology workshop and a SAKSS orientation workshop were also drawn-up.
In addition to the review framework, concept notes for a Nigeria Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) methodology workshop and a SAKSS orientation workshop were also drawn-up. The orientation workshop is in the works to prepare key agriculture ministry staff regarding their roles in the SAKSS program. These activities are expected to take place prior to 2012. ReSAKSS-WA also assisted in identifying a SAKSS coordinator for Nigeria. Discussions are still ongoing to assess the way forward.
ReSAKSS-WA has also recently participated in a NEPAD/AUC meeting on strengthening SAKSS and mutual accountability frameworks (MAF). The meeting examined ongoing SAKSS and MAF activities and made detailed plans for strengthening them in selected West African countries for pilot programs.
Support was given to the agricultural statistics unit of Togo to conduct the baseline study for the implementation of Togo National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP). This support has focused on the amendment of the questionnaires for the inclusion of indicators for M&E CAADP and Togo NAIP.
West Africa Capacity Building and Agricultural Sector Enhancemen
The proposed aims of Togo’s NAIP support ECOWAS in the implementation of the CAADP and ECOWAS Agricultural Policy M&E framework. This was all discussed at the recent West Africa regional M&E meeting in Lomé, Togo. After the regional conference on the transmission of increasing world food prices on West African Markets held from 4 to 6 April in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ReSAKSS-WA, together with Michigan State University and Promisam, the Syngenta Foundation, and CILSS, finalized the regional synthesis of the study on food consumption dynamics in selected countries.
Discussions with FAO on the implementation of the “Analysis of Evolving Consumption Patterns and Income Growth” component mentioned in the last quarterly report have advanced and a contract between ReSAKSS-WA and FAO will soon be signed pending agreement on the Intellectual Property. ReSAKSS-WA hopes the contract will be signed soon for work to commence.
Mozambique Signs CAADP Compact
Mozambique’s CAADP Compact was signed as planned on Friday, December 9th, 2011. They are the 28th country to sign the CAADP compact. Representatives of the Mozambican Government, development agencies, ambassadors of USA and Canada, the World Bank (representing the bulk of other donors), IFAD, FAO, farmers’ organizations, civil society organizations, NEPAD/African Union and SADC each signed the Compact. The official signing ceremony was led by the Prime Minister of Mozambique.
The original draft Compact entitled “Compact for the Development of Agricultural Sector in Mozambique in the Context of CAADP,” was created on November 24, 2011. The Portuguese version is available here. The finalized signed compact will be available in coming weeks.
For more information please contact Rafael N. Uaiene, the Mozambique-SAKSS leader and IFPRI country representative, at R.Uaiene@cgiar.org.
Price Policy Responses to High Food Prices in Eastern & Southern Africa
On August 24th, ReSAKSS-ECA presented the poster, “Price policy responses to high food prices: Which way forward?”. The poster presents past examples of food price policies in the eastern and southern Africa region, pros and cons of various price policy options, and recommendations on how to proceed in the future. The poster was revealed during the National Agricultural Policy Research Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement Forum held at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of the forum was on ‘Achieving Food Security in the Era of High and Rising Food Prices’.
The forum was organized by ReSAKSS, ILRI, Ministry of Livestock Development and COMESA.
Agricultural Productivity & Food Security in Africa Conference Update
The ReSAKSS team recently participated–along with policymakers, researchers, academics, and representatives from private companies and farmer and trader organizations–in an international conference, “Agricultural Productivity & Food Security in Africa,” facilitated by IFPRI in conjunction with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The conference, which aimed to create a broad new policy framework for improving agricultural productivity in Africa, served as a reminder that agricultural yields do not necessarily indicate increased food and nutrition. Employing technology, developing rural areas for better access, arranging markets and value chains for agricultural products, ensuring high nutritional outputs, and incorporating an awareness of climate change, support for capacity building and training, must also be incorporated.
This conference served as a reminder that agricultural yields do not necessarily indicate increased food and nutrition resilience. The nature of fine tuning the definitions and parameters of how to perform productivity initiatives successfully was widely discussed and debated. Holistic dimensions of improving agricultural productivity are not merely by producing more yield, it also involves employing technology, developing rural areas for better access, arranging markets and value chains for agricultural products, ensuring high nutritional outputs, awareness of climate change, capacity building and training support, and other such necessary items of concern to plan into the methods of improvement overall.
IFPRI Director General Shenggen Fan remarked, “increasing agricultural productivity is not a panacea to all problems, but it can make a significant positive contribution to resolve issues of food insecurity in Africa.” Abebe Haile Gabriel, Director of the AUC’s Rural Economy and Agriculture Division, continued by stating that broad solutions are necessary. “Improving rural infrastructure to facilitate trade of goods–both at the country level, and across borders–would serve as an opportunity to improve food security in Africa,” Gabriel said.
ReSAKSS Addresses Productivity and Sustainability
ReSAKSS shared with the audience an overview of its purpose and background and a snapshot of the agricultural productivity situation in Sub-Saharan Africa, and presented a framework of tools and analysis designed to help sequentially monitor and evaluate the productivity and sustainability of programs over time.
- The opportunities and challenges of a regional spacial characterization of agricultural productivity, (via Geographic Information System mapping),
- Key typologies for focusing country efforts through the geographic location to find opportunities through farming systems,
- Representative farm analysis of productivity to give specific details of productivity results, and
- Case study analyses from Eastern Africa of factors affecting the scale and sustainability of productivity growth.
Presenters: Zhe Guo, Bingxin Yu, Alejandro Nin Pratt, Stella Massawe. Chair: Samuel Benin.
As the conference concluded, Mafa Chipeta, FAO Coordinator for Eastern Africa, reinvigorated the audience to reach the numerous goals of food security each country faces, telling the audience, “We are comfortably numb with our discomfort.” We need to treat it as a war situation.” He said. “We need to solve this problem using every necessary measure.”
Josué Dioné, Director of UNECA’s Food Security and Sustainable Development Division, offered another call to action, saying “increasing agricultural productivity in Africa calls for broader policy and strategic frameworks that encompass the whole agriculture value chain, including agribusiness and agro-industrial sectors as well as farming.”
ReSAKSS members and participants left the conference reawakened to taking the next steps with new information, tools, and networks to work with.
Visit the Official Conference Website for more information.
View thoughts, continued coverage and news on the conference via Twitter. Conference news can be found with tag #Addis2011.
Mozambique National Policy Dialogue
Using Evidence as a Basis for Policy and Investment Decisions in Mozambique’s Agriculture Sector
The recent Mozambique National Policy Dialogue: Using Evidence as a Basis for Policy and Investment Decisions in Mozambique’s Agriculture Sector dialogue brought together high-ranking policy makers in the Government of Mozambique to discuss the findings and recommendations of the 2010 Annual Agricultural Sector trends and outlook report. It was facilitated by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD), Mr. Salim Valá and was officially opened and chaired by the Honorable Minister of Agriculture for Mozambique – Eng. José Pacheco. Mr. Victorino Xavier, the Director for MINAG/DE welcomed the participants and Dr. Pius Chilonda, the Head of IWMI-Southern Africa gave a keynote address.
Dr. Chilonda thanked MINAG/DE for the support and collaboration leading to the successful finalization of the 2010 Annual Trends and Outlook Report that was being launched at the dialogue and pointed out that this would be an annual flagship report produced by MINAG/DE as part of an on-going monitoring and evaluation (M&E) process for the agriculture sector in Mozambique. This report would be used to inform policy and investment decisions in the sector. Dr. Chilonda also thanked the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) for providing the funding for both phase 1 and 2 of the Mozambique Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (MozSAKSS).
From left to right: Dr Pius Chilonda (Head-IWMI-SA), Hon Eng José Pacheco (Minister of Agriculture in Mozambique), and (Facilitator), Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Planning and Development)
The report presented key agricultural sector performance trends in Mozambique over the last decade (2000-2010). The performance trends tracked included: the macroeconomic environment in Mozambique, the current level of public investment in the agricultural sector, the current agricultural growth rates, the current agricultural trade performance, the current poverty and hunger outcomes, and the current progress made by Mozambique towards the attainment of the African Union’s (AU) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) annual agricultural growth rate of 6%, the allocation of 10% of the national budget to agriculture annually (Maputo Declaration), and the halving of poverty and hunger by 2015 (MDG1).
Key Messages of National Dialogue:
1. Macroeconomic environment
In the period 2000-2010, there were huge fluctuations ranging from a minimum of 1% to a maximum of about 30% in values of year-to-year total and food inflation. The average total inflation was 11% and the average food inflation was 13%. The observed peaks in inflation reflect the effects of drought and floods on food availability and consequently high food prices. The troughs correspond to administrative controls in form of price subsidies. The total inflation in Mozambique is being mostly driven by food inflation which is closely linked to climatic conditions (i.e. floods and droughts) and external shocks. As such there is need to focus on strategies that will increase and stabilize agricultural output such as investing in technologies (e.g. irrigation) that will break the dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Reduced inflation will create a stable macroeconomic environment that is suitable for investment in agriculture and other sectors of the economy.
Overall, during the last decade there was no significant transformation in the structure of the economy in Mozambique. The average share in GDP for the service sector was 43%, followed by agriculture with 25% and manufacturing with 15%. This suggests that there is urgent need to diversify the structure of the economy by developing value chains as emphasized in Mozambique’s agriculture strategy (PEDSA) and CAADP to make the contribution of agriculture to other sectors more effective.
National Policy Dialogue participants with the FAO representative (first in front row from the right)
One of the 5 presenters: Eng. Adriano Chamusso (MINAG/DE)
2. Public agricultural spending
Over the last decade, Mozambique managed to attain the CAADP 10% allocation of the budget to agriculture in three years, namely 2003, 2004 and 2008. The average share of the budget allocated to agriculture was 7.3% a value which is about 3% below the CAADP target. This indicates that meeting the CAADP 10% allocation of the national budget to the agricultural sector still remains a challenge for Mozambique. In order to achieve the goals of improving agricultural growth, food security and attaining of the MDG1 there is need to accelerate CAADP implementation in Mozambique.
3. Agricultural productivity and growth
The agricultural data collection systems (TIA and EWS) currently present conflicting data an example is the case of cassava. Over the period 2005-2008, TIA data showed a declining trend and yet EWS data showed an upward trend. Hence there is need to harmonize these data sources for accurate evidence-based investment decision making in the agricultural sector.
Agricultural output (GDP) is dominated by crop production (78%), followed by forestry (9%), livestock (7%) and fisheries (6%), in that order as of 2009. The performance of agricultural subsector output in terms of attaining the CAADP 6 percent growth target, indicate that the crops subsector reached this target from 2005 to 2009, livestock only in 2005, fisheries in 2003 and from 2006 to 2008. Forestry, however, never attained 6 percent growth in the period under analysis. In general the average annual growth by agricultural subsector between 2001 and 2009 was 3.7 percent for crops subsector, 2 percent for livestock and about 1.7 percent for forestry and fisheries subsectors. In summary, in the last decade, none of the agricultural subsectors as well as the agricultural sector as a whole in Mozambique attained average annual growth target of 6 percent for agricultural GDP. Thus, more agricultural investment is needed in Mozambique in order to raise the agricultural growth rates of the various subsectors to the target of 6 percent, which is necessary for improved food security, and reduction of poverty and hunger in the country. The investments should aim at alleviating the constraints affecting productivity in each of the subsectors.
For the crop subsector, crop productivity has remained low because of the low uptake of modern technologies (5-10% of farmers use improved seed, 5% use fertiliser, average fertiliser use in 2008 was 5.3Kg/ha and 10% use animal traction) due to limited access to financial incentives, and poor access to output markets and value chains. As long as value chains, especially for food crops, remain underdeveloped, farmers will continue to use rudimentary production practices.
In fishing, crustaceans now lag behind sea fish in terms of economic importance. Harvesting of prawns has declined due to closure of fishing at a time when sea fish harvests have increased. The fisheries resource is potentially in need of improved management methods to sustain production.
As for livestock, the population of cattle has grown consistently throughout the period under review but the herd size of small ruminants, chickens and pigs declined. Livestock restocking programmes only benefitted cattle herders. Restocking of small ruminants did not attract the same response as that seen in cattle restocking. Beef and poultry provide more than 80 percent of the meat supply to formal outlets. Pork and meat from small ruminants play a minor role. More investment in animal health (vaccinations), improved management practices, improved breeds and livestock feeds and development of livestock value chains is needed to overcome the challenges affecting livestock production in Mozambique.
4. Poverty and hunger outcomes
Regarding progress made by Mozambique towards attaining the MDG1 targets of halving hunger and poverty by 2015, there was tremendous decline in poverty rates from 69 percent in 1997 to 54 percent in 2003 but from 2003 to 2009 poverty rates remained almost unchanged. However, if the current overall economic growth rates (above 7%) and agriculture growth rates (above 6%) are sustained, the country still has a chance of meeting the target of reducing the poverty rate to 40% by 2015 as targeted under MDG1. Progress towards halving of hunger by 2015, using prevalence of child malnutrition as an indicator of hunger showed a slight declining trend from 2003 to 2008. Mozambique stands a chance of meeting the target of reducing the 2008 chronic malnutrition rate of 44% at national level to 30% by 2015. The attainment of these MDG1 targets however can be derailed by greater vulnerability of smallholder farmers to adverse climatic conditions such as floods and droughts. In this regard, the government should take measures to provide social protection to the affected households.
The trend and outlook report was launched as an annual flagship report to be produced every year in order to inform policy and investment decisions in the Mozambican agricultural sector.
Key Outcomes of the National Dialogue:
1) The government of Mozambique and the key stakeholders in the Agriculture sector appreciated the current level of performance of the sector, the key challenges and the key opportunities for accelerating growth is the sector in order to ensure food security and poverty reduction
2) Evidence-based recommendations and strategic options for increasing investment in the agriculture emerged – for consideration by government, private sector, development partners and all key stakeholders
3) The key stakeholders in the agricultural sector exchanged knowledge and experiences on the future of agriculture in Mozambique.
The Trends and Outlook Report was launched as an annual flagship report to be produced every year in order to inform policy and investment decisions in the Mozambican agricultural sector.
View presentations from the National Dialogue:
- Budget and expenditure, “Despesas Públicas na Agricultura,” (Portuguese) – Adriano Chamusso
- Agricultural Sector Development, The Macroeconomic Environment” - Precious Zikhali
- Avaliaçao do Desempenho do Sector Agrario (2000-2009) - Helder Gemo
- Trends of Agricultural Production, Technology Adoption and Trade – Jones Govereh
- Agricultural trends in Southern Africa – Dr. Emmanuel Musaba.
For more information please contact Emmanual Musaba of ReSAKSS-Southern Africa at E.Musaba@cgiar.org.
Food Price experts get together in West Africa to prescribe solutions high and volatile food commodity prices.
FAO, ECOWAS and other experts plan the way forward
Dakar, Senegal – The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted a consultative meeting earlier this month to address the problem of volatile and soaring food prices in West Africa. The FAO reports that commodities in West African countries, (along with the rest of the global economy), are witnessing seasonal price increases for staple foods, including but not limited to livestock products, cooking oils and sugar. ECOWAS Member States have also experienced several floods which have led to a drop in production in certain areas, thereby affecting local food security. Added to problems with flooding, the post-election crisis in Cote d’Ivoire has resulted in significant displacement of populations in the border regions, thereby contributing to hikes and increased volatility in many markets. West Africa hopes to take measures to address the emerging food price crisis should be initiated immediately, taking into consideration the experiences and lessons learned from the previous crisis.
Participants of the meeting developed measures to address food price volatility on a sustainable basis, taking into account the current global financial crisis, coming up with several ideas, both macro-economic as well as institutional and process related issues and propose ideas for the way forward. Various presentations have been made available by ReSAKSS-West Africa participant, Mbaye Yade.
Presentations Available in English
- FAO regional/subregional policy consultations on volatile prices – West Africa consultation on policy response to food price volatility. Presenter: David Phiri, Chief, FAO Policy Assistance Support Service
- High Food Prices, Food Security, Growth and Poverty Reduction, Presenter: Ousmane Badiane, Director for Africa, IFPRI
- Trade and Supply Management, Policies to Stabilize Domestic Food Prices. Presenter: Mbaye Yade, Director, ReSAKSS-West Africa
- ECOWAS/FAO Consultative Meeting in Response to Volatile and High Food Prices in West Africa – Policy responses/impact, lessons learned, and gaps. Presenter: Mahamadou Maïga
- Overview of the Global Situation and Recent Trends in Food Prices. Presenter: Jean Senahoun, FAO Economist
- ECOWAP: Overview of the Regional Investment Plan to Implement Mobilizing Programs.
- Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA), The Gambia.
Papers and Presentations Available in French
- Intervention du Resimao – Réunion conjointe CEDEAO/FAO de consultation sur la volatilité et la flambée des prix des denrées alimentaires en Afrique de l’Ouestesimao. Présentation: Noël Kouable, Vice-Coordonnateur du RESIMAO
- Positions d’Oxfam – 37ème Session du Comité de la Sécurité Alimentaire Mondiale
- WFP – Hausse des Prix des Produits Alimentaires au Senegal: La Response du Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM).
- Dispositif d’atténuation des effets de la flambée des prix des denrées alimentaires de première nécessité: cas du Mali. Présentation: Manda Sadio KEITA, AFAOR/MALI; Adama KOUYATE, Conseiller Technique Chargé de la Production au Ministère de l’Agriculture; Tagalifi Bazo MAIGA, Conseiller au Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire
- Oxfam: Pour des réponses ambitieuses à la volatilité des prix des denrées alimentaires.
- Reunion Conjointe Cedeao/FAO de Consultation sur la Volatilite et la Flambee des Prix des Dentrees Alimentaires en Afrique de L’Ouest. Présentation: Agricultural Ministry of Togo.
Among the discussions were lessons learned from the 2007-2008 food crises, during which millions of people in West Africa were unable to meet their minimum food requirement needs, as well as trade-related measures in favor of consumers or producers. Senior government officials from ECOWAS-FAO Member States, including those from the Ministries of Agriculture attended the meeting. Those present at the meeting came from agencies responsible for agricultural and market information, trade or financial planning, national food ministries, economic security and those representing civil society.
Conference Updates: Increasing Agricultural Productivity & Enhancing Food Security in Africa
2011 Annual Conference: Increasing Agricultural Productivity & Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities, 1-3 November 2011, Addis Ababa.
Conference Program Snapshot
Full Conference Program
ReSAKSS has partnered with IFPRI’s Eastern and Southern Africa Office (ESAO) host a the conference on Increasing Agricultural Productivity & Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities on 1-3 November 2011 in Addis Ababa. The conference is also in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
Registration for the Conference has ended. Please contact IFPRI-addisababa@cgiar.org to register.
For a greater background and conceptual insights into the conference please view the Concept Note for the International Conference.
The sub-themes are as follows:
- Science, technology, and innovation in agriculture
- Rural service provision and access to factors and inputs for production
- Food reserves, markets, trade, and regional integration
- Investments, institutions, and policies for supporting agriculture
- Agriculture, nutrition, and health linkages
- Agriculture and climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Capacity development for agriculture through education and training
- Role of agriculture and the rural nonfarm sector in economic growth and national poverty reduction
- Regional value chains development as a pathway for increased agricultural productivity
