The document outlines agricultural research priorities for development in Southern Africa, emphasizing needs driven by food security, socio-economic value, and regional strategies. It details a two-year process (2010-2012) for identifying research and development priorities through expert studies and consultations, yielding prioritized lists of commodities such as maize, cassava, and fisheries. Key focus areas for R&D include crop variety development, soil management, livestock health, and sustainable fisheries practices.

1. Priorities for Agricultural Research for
Development in Southern Africa
Monica Murata
APPSA Coordinator
1st CCARDESA General Assembly, Gaborone, Botswana
CCARDESA Secretariat

2. Background
• Regional research needs are many & are
determined by several factors:
- Food security
- Commercial value
- Socio-economic value
- Response to regional strategies
• Regional priorities broad & representative
of common national priorities

3. The significance of regional
priorities
• Basis for regional research strategy &
areas of focus
• Guide resource mobilisation efforts
- Determine the technical areas of resource
mobilisation

4. The significance of regional
priorities
• Provide clarity on:
- Status and pertinent issues
- challenges
- opportunities
• Basis for regional research strategy & areas
of focus
• Guide resource mobilisation efforts
- Guide the depth and width of resource allocation
- Determine the technical areas of resource
mobilisation

5. Process of identification of priorities
• Carried out by SADC Secretariat & CCARDESA
Interim Secretariat => 2yr period (2010 - 2012)
• Partnership with other regional organisations
(especially IFPRI & ReSAKSS-Southern Africa)
• Two expert studies carried out
• Used the SADC MAPP documents which:
- identified broad R&D thematic areas
- cross-cutting issues
• Involved wide consultations within the region

6. Study 1
• Carried out by IFPRI/Regional Strategic
Analysis & Knowledge Management
System (ReSAKSS)-Southern Africa (2011)
• Objectives:
- identify priorities for investment in
agricultural R&D among agricultural
commodities
- identify interventions necessary for
contributing to increased productivity

7. Results of Study 1
• Study generated a prioritized list of the most
attractive opportunities to generate
technology spillovers in the SADC region
• Findings confirmed the Region offers
attractive opportunities for regional research
efforts
- there is potential for finding shared solutions to
common problems.
• Although technology spillover is already
occurring, significant potential remains for
expanding spillovers.

8. R&D priorities based on potential
contribution to agricultural growth
RANK COMMODITY
1 Maize
2 Cassava
3 Fruit and Veg.
4 Rice
5 Fisheries
6 Cattle
7 Wheat
8 Potato
9 Beans
10 Sorghum

9. R&D priorities based on regional spillover
potential
RANK COMMODITY
1 Maize
2 Rice
3 Cattle
4 Cassava
5 Sorghum
6 Beans
7 Potato
8 Wheat
9 Fruits and Vegetables
9 Fisheries

10. Study 2 (2012)
• Objective:
To identify priority areas and activities for
R&D investment along the entire value chain
within individual priority commodities.
• Study organised in four key areas:
- Crops
- Livestock
- Forestry
- Fisheries

11. Key Priorities - Crops
1. Priority Breeding/crop variety development
- developing high yielding varieties
- tolerance to pests and diseases
- Resilience to climatic stress
- Improving nutritional value
- heat & low soil fertility
2. Soil fertility and plant nutrient management
3. Improving seed supply and quality
4. Promotion of water harvesting technologies
5. Linking farmers to markets

12. Key priorities – Crops (cont.)
Post harvest management of crops
- Agro-processing, food safety and value
addition
- Appropriate storage structures (rodent-
proof and insect-proof storage
structures.
Mitigating the impact of climate change

13. Key priorities – Livestock
1. Enhancing rangeland quality & H2O
resource management.
2. Characterization of indigenous stock, with
the view to promoting the use of local
stock in selective breeding.
3. Upgrading of the indigenous
stocks, through coordinated
crossbreeding
4. Control & eradication of Transboundary
Animal Diseases (TAD)

14. Key priorities - Fisheries
1. Sustainable harvesting & management of
marine fisheries;
2. Sustainable harvesting & management of
inland fisheries;
3. Enhancing productivity of aquaculture, fish
processing, food safety, value addition;
4. Marketing & trade of fish & fish products;
5. Biotechnology & conservation of fish genetic
resources;
6. Policy research on aquaculture & fisheries

15. Key priorities - Forestry
1. Production & sustainable use of natural forests
and woodlands for multiple benefits
2. Plantation development with commercial tree
species
3. Value-added processing & marketing of wood
& non-wood forest products
4. Managing multipurpose trees in cultivated / farmed
landscapes for multiple products, including soil
fertility improvement.
5. Forests for Ecosystem Services
(water, biodiversity, genetic resources & climate
change)
6. Policies to support sustainable forest management