Small/Medium Farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa & USAID Agricultural Strategy Michael Satin / AFR/SD USAID September 2004

Small/Medium Scale Farming 70% of African households income comes from Agriculture Agriculture represents 30% – 40% of Africa's GDP Accounts for almost 60 percent of Africa's export income Small-scale farms represent 90 percent of Africa's agricultural production IFAD 2003

Challenges Faced by the Small Scale Farmer Low land productivity, Inadequate rural infrastructure, Vulnerability to natural disasters, and; High levels of insecurity. Africa is plagued by a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS - significantly reduces Agriculture production.

Challenges High levels of poverty and malnutrition Declining food security in many countries Low crop yields; population growth rates have exceeded agricultural production growth Land degradation & deforestation Declining role for Africa in world trade (i.e. down to only 2% of world agricultural trade, only 1% of overall world trade)

Hunger in Africa is expected to rise Number of people undernourished (millions) 103 Increasing Share of Global Hunger (USDA, 2002):

Per Capita Food Production Across Subregions

Old Model Focus of past efforts – large scale, industrial agricultural production.

Old Model Development Theories Development is measured primarily by increased material consumption Efficiency measured by the “bottom line” Increasing farm size leads to increases in productivity through economies of scale

The New Model Focus efforts on increasing yields for small scale / subsistence farmers.

Characteristics of The New Model The average subsistence farm is half to one hectare in size May be simultaneously growing various crops such as: cassava, sorghum, millet, dairy, and vegetables Household size is 5-7 people with approx. 1-2 adults managing

USAID APPROACH For More Information see the USAID website at

Strategic USAID Themes Expanding Global, Regional, and Domestic Trade Opportunities and Improving Capacity Improving the Social, Economic, and Environmental Sustainability of Agriculture Mobilizing Science and Technology and Fostering a Capacity for Innovation Broadening Agricultural Training and Education, Outreach, and Adaptive Research

Expanding Trade Opportunities and Improving the Capacity of Farmers Expand access to credit Develop Farming Cooperatives Improve access to commodity storage and processing technologies

Science Policy, Strategies, and Governance Systems Technology Development and Application Public/Private Sector Partnerships and Networks National Innovation Capacity Mobilizing Science and Technology and Fostering Capacity for Innovation

Broadening Agricultural Training and Education Education and Training Information and Communication Technologies Problem-Based Site- Specific Learning

Food Security and Nutrition Health and HIV/AIDS Assets and Risk Management Gender Equality Good Economic and Political Governance Expanded Alliances Complimentary Themes

Initiative to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA) Overview Initiative was announced at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, implemented in 2003 in three countries & three regions

Initiative to End Hunger in Africa Goal: “To help significantly reduce hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa ” Objective: “To rapidly and sustainably increase agricultural growth and rural incomes in sub-Saharan Africa”

IEHA’s Distinguishing Features – I  A market-oriented and smallholder-based growth strategy to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa  A sub-Saharan Africa-wide strategy that focuses investments in those countries that will serve as models of success as well as growth poles  National development strategies will be complemented by regional ones to help generate regional growth dynamics

 IEHA recognizes that hunger and poverty will not be solved by agriculture alone – advances also needed in health, education, infrastructure, environment and public policy management  To ensure success, IEHA will focus on countries whose leaders are committed to growth and hunger reduction as a priority development concern.  IEHA will build alliances and constituencies with other development partners IEHA’s Distinguishing Features - II

Focal areas of a New Initiative for Africa 1.Technology systems and applications that support agricultural growth and economic transformation (TARGET). 2.Improving the efficiency and equity of agricultural market and trade systems. 3.Community-based farmer organizations, to deliver grower, business and environmental services.

Focal areas of a New Initiative for Africa Con’t. 4.Building the human capacity to shape and lead the policy, technical and service development efforts. 5.Ensure that vulnerable groups have access to services and markets (especially those in transition from crisis to development) 6.Ensure that economically important land use systems are developed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

IEHA Results on the Ground Uganda: Biotechnology Policy Development / Biosafety Commission / Biotechnology Research / Fisheries Research and Dissemination / Investing in the Development of Export Agriculture (IDEA) Project REDSO: Regional Agricultural Trade Expansion Support (RATES), Seed policy harmonization, Fine Coffee Association Mozambique: Formation of Farmer Associations / Export marketing and rice and cashew production projects has a crucial producer association support components RCSA: Dissemination of low-external-input technologies and farming methods to smallholder farmers; and (b) Development of strategies to mitigate HIV/AIDS and other impacts WARP: Support to Regional Market Information Networks Mali: The Mali Trade Promotion project has a crucial producer association support components.

Other USAID African AG Programs

The goal of STCP is to improve the economic and social well- being of smallholders and the environmental sustainability of tree crop farms  STCP Program Structure  regional program in 5 West African countries— Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria  7 national pilot projects, working directly with farmer organizations  works with the ILO/IPEC regional project on Child Labor and with organizations such as with SOCODEVI in Côte d’Ivoire Sustainable Tree Crops Program

Conclusion

Agriculture (especially smallholder agriculture) is the vehicle out of hunger and poverty About 80% of the African population derive their food and economic livelihood from rural Agriculture Over 70% of the African labor force is employed in Agriculture African Agriculture contributes over 30% to overall GDP 40% of Africa’s export earnings are from Agriculture In most countries, smallholder agriculture accounts for more than half of the total value of agricultural production, and up to 96% in some

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