Slideshow transcript
Slide 1: “Advancing African Agriculture” Policy and knowledge strategies John A. Okidi Research Fellow - IFPRI INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Slide 2: Introduction Agric, the economic mainstay of Sub-Saharan Africans Faces enormous, especially supply-side, constraints Pessimist contend that nothing short of a Green Revolution kind of intervention is required No originally ag-based LDC developed w/o ag dev’mt Achieving the MDGs in Africa anchors on ag dev’mt EC support is, therefore, targeting the right sector INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 2
Slide 3: Rest of the presentation Pose a general question about the EC communication Highlight some missing links Discuss policy, role of the state & general strategy Reconsider the role of the EU Outline issues on research & knowledge utilization General closing remarks Remarks on the partnership role of IFPRI INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 3
Slide 4: The EU assistance package - Question After financing Formulation of ag development strategy Capacity building for good sector governance Research, knowledge systems & dissemination Systems for quality assurance and improvement Strengthening of animal disease control knowledge & systems Organizational strengthening for risk management Then what next? How do these translate to real improvements at the farm level? INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 4
Slide 5: Some of the missing links Indeed, the areas are consistent with the EC chosen focus on policy, regulatory & other enabling conditions Further, the level of intervention is regional & continental But why these choices? Why the presupposition of farmers’ readiness to respond? Reality: Most African farmers are severely constrained Resources to ward off weather fluctuations, e.g. irrigation Finances for improved inputs (seeds, fertilizer, pesticides) Finances for other improved ag technologies Finances for regular production, harvest, post-harvest and marketing requirements INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 5
Slide 6: Policy, the state and strategy Courageously redefine the role of the state, radically Continue promoting regulatory & enabling environments Incrementally re-engage in targeted farm subsidies Relax the strategy of “restrictive use of subsidies” If we can subsidize education & health, why not ag? When ag is basically a public sector in the West, why can’t African gov’ts also act within reasonable limits? At Africa’s dev’mt stage, public financing for real sector response to enabling conditions and opportunities is critical for broad-based growth INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 6
Slide 7: Role of the EU Minimize drawing lessons from EU experience Hence, de-emphasize EU-originated technical assistance Draw on continental, regional and national lessons from Africa’s past and present to the greatest extent possible Engage Africa-based experts to the fullest extent Emphasize budget support rather than project-like micro- involvement Hence, harness greater ownership of the process and outcome Encourage some deviation from current policy stance, e.g. expansionary fiscal policy, rationally-managed exchange rate regimes, less obsession with inflation targeting. INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 7
Slide 8: Socioeconomic Research and knowledge (1) So much has been done, oftentimes asking the same questions that have been asked and answered before Most research findings are “pretty much expected” Lots of facts and figures, and knowledge exist Lots of good policy documents, well-conceived implementation, and monitoring & evaluation strategies Implication Review what research components are really necessary Focus on baseline stocktaking of current state of affairs & knowledge, to inform intervention design refinement Provide for follow-ups for impact monitoring & evaluation INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 8
Slide 9: Socioeconomic Research and knowledge(2) Encourage research that experiment innovative ideas Then deploy the services of • International research organizations • Continental research organizations • Regional research organizations • National research institutes • Networks of national research institutes Minimize disparities in fee rates simply due to geography INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 9
Slide 10: Closing remarks (1) Recognizing ag as a sector in its own right is critical; not a transitory sector. Indeed, the communication recognizes the sector’s role in growth and poverty reduction Remember: Good policies, strong institutions, effective regulatory framework and enabling environment alone cannot deliver the MDGs – they do not directly enter the typical production function Note: The broad strategy in the communication, which is also the dominant strategy in development assistance sharply contrasts the state-driven, market-mediated and small-farmer based strategy that underpinned most Asian countries’ agricultural revolution. INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 10
Slide 11: Closing remarks (2) Whatever policy, institutional and knowledge strategies IFPRI’s role To partner on research and policy analysis To design credible and relevant research programs To undertake program monitoring and impact evaluation To experiment certain aspects of the intervention areas To mobilize resources to take forward auxiliary issues To partner with you on future programs INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Page 11






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