Policy context: the case of eastern and central Africa Michael Waithaka ASARECA Entebbe, Uganda Briefing session on Key challenges for rural development in the ACP countries, Brussels, 4th July 2007

Some features of the region high variability over space and time no dominant food crops and farming systems complicates targeting of innovations low productivity and fragile resource base small and fragmented informal markets weak links along R4D chains research and extension donor, public and private sector

high variability over space and time

no dominant food crops and farming systems

complicates targeting of innovations

low productivity and fragile resource base

small and fragmented informal markets

weak links along R4D chains

research and extension

donor, public and private sector

Commodity yields - 2003 2,197 496 427 Kg/anim/yr cow milk 1.72 1.17 0.92 kg/anim chicken 200 148 127 kg/anim beef 65.29 56.75 4.11 mt/ha sugar cane 13.49 4.32 4.29 mt/ha s potato 1.75 0.69 0.51 mt/ha oilseeds 1.33 1.96 1.85 mt/ha tea 15.25 6.59 4.69 mt/ha banana 0.70 0.62 0.60 mt/ha beans 10.76 8.83 8.18 mt/ha cassava 4.47 1.61 1.39 mt/ha maize Global Africa ECA units

Regional dimensions Common Market for Eastern and Central Africa 400 million people annual trade US$160, exports US$82 80% of trade in eastern and central Africa is domestic and informal - food staples intra regional trade hampered by informal markets – low volumes, quality and safety poor rationalization and harmonization of policies, regulations and laws non tariff barriers

Common Market for Eastern and Central Africa

400 million people

annual trade US$160, exports US$82

80% of trade in eastern and central Africa is domestic and informal - food staples

intra regional trade hampered by

informal markets – low volumes, quality and safety

poor rationalization and harmonization of policies, regulations and laws

non tariff barriers

Examples of policy changes Seed companies producing and selling in different countries Regional training curricula for informal milk traders supported by regional dairy regulators Pilot countries developing quality standards and policy guidelines for cassava products COMESA spearheading biosafety regulation in the region Improving capacity to effecting policy changes

Seed companies producing and selling in different countries

Regional training curricula for informal milk traders supported by regional dairy regulators

Pilot countries developing quality standards and policy guidelines for cassava products

COMESA spearheading biosafety regulation in the region

Improving capacity to effecting policy changes

Framework for African Agricultural Productivity farmer 1. Evolution & reform of agricultural institutions & services 3. Aligned & coordinated financial support 2. Increasing the scale of Africa’s investment Extension, research, training & education African countries, private sector Development agencies, int’l financing institutions

Conclusion rural development – integrated affair markets, infrastructure, education, finance, health development of high value crop chains value addition, grades and standards, partnerships coordination of public private institutions flexible and effective cooperation including resource mobilization CAADP and regional coordination public goods and spillovers innovation systems and capacity building contribution to EPAs

rural development – integrated affair

markets, infrastructure, education, finance, health

development of high value crop chains

value addition, grades and standards, partnerships

coordination of public private institutions

flexible and effective cooperation including resource mobilization

CAADP and regional coordination

public goods and spillovers

innovation systems and capacity building

contribution to EPAs