Emmanuel Tambi Director, Regional Policies and Markets Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) UTILIZING AGRICULTURE RESEARCH FOR POVERTY REDUCTION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 1 Presentation at the IFPRI ReSAKSS Conference on Agric Dev, Planning and Policy in Africa, Addis Ababa

Outline 1.Introduction 2.Agricultural research, productivity and poverty reduction 3.Utilizing agricultural research for poverty reduction and economic growth 4.FARA’s role 5.Conclusions

Introduction Importance of agriculture Agricultural productivity, poverty reduction and economic growth –Increasing agricultural productivity associated with declining levels of poverty South Asia – increasing cereal yields are associated with declining levels of poverty SSA – cereal yields and poverty have remained largely unchanged. Agricultural research is essential for the productivity increase required for poverty reduction and economic growth

Agricultural research, productivity and poverty reduction 1.Effect of a new technology on productivity e.g. NERICA (New Rice for Africa) Yield: From 1.0 to 2.5 tons per ha. Grains per head: From to 400 2% more protein Pest and drought resistant

Agricultural research, productivity and poverty reduction 2.Investments in agricultural research yield highest returns to growth and poverty reduction e.g. Doubling (US$4.6 – 9.3 billion) investments in public agricultural research (von Braun et al. 2008) Output growth: 0.53% to 1.55% Poverty reduction (people on US$-a-day): 282 million International food price reduction: –Maize – 67% –Wheat – 56% –Rice – 45%

Agricultural research, productivity and poverty reduction 3. Other leverage effects of agricultural research on growth and poverty reduction: Food and nutrition security Access to markets Savings for poor farmers Reduces natural resource degradation and enhanced environment

Agricultural research, productivity and poverty reduction 4. Recognition of the importance of research in Africa’s Agriculture Agenda Agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption as one of four inter-related CAADP pillars:

Agricultural research for poverty reduction and economic growth: What needs to be done Generating the appropriate technologies suitable for numerous farming systems Facilitating dissemination – developing and validating best practices

Agricultural research for poverty reduction and economic growth: What needs to be done Developing and providing the evidence required to support advocacy, especially for ARD investment, policies and institutional reform Enhancing adoption – facilitating exchange of information and connecting the various actors in the agricultural system

Agricultural research for poverty reduction and economic growth: How is it to be done 2. Reform of ARD to embrace innovation systems principles:- –all relevant actors in the production-to- consumption system actively participate in all stages of R-E-D (institutional innovation) –strengthening of institutions (research, advisory service, civil society) –improving the efficiency of agricultural markets (policies, institutions and infrastructure) 1.Improved coordination of research, education & development (R-E-D) at national, sub-regional and continental levels (NARS, SROs, FARA, ANAFE, AFAAS, CGIAR collective action, continental platforms, etc)

Agricultural research for poverty reduction and economic growth: How is it to be done 3. More effective partnerships with domestic and foreign public and private sector investors –Advocacy for increased investment –Harmonisation of support aligned to locally determined priorities 4. Support for new initiatives that build on past successes –AGRA, CARD, DONATA, RAILS, AFFM etc 5.Strengthening of agricultural R&D institutions and building their capacity to involve all actors in agricultural value chains 6.Strengthening of CAADP inter-pillar linkages

Agricultural research for poverty reduction and economic growth: How is it to be done CAADP inter-pillar linkages Increasing food supply and reducing hunger agricultural research technology dissemination & adoption

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction FARA: Technical arm of the African Union on Agricultural Research and Development Mandated by AU-NEPAD to lead the formulation and implementation of CAADP Pillar IV Implementation of Pillar IV underpinned by the Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP)

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction 5 networking support functions Advocacy and resource mobilization Access to knowledge and technology (RAILS, DONATA) Regional policies and markets (SABIMA) Capacity strengthening (SCARDA, Uni-BRAIN) Partnerships and Strategic Alliances (SSA CP) NASRO ASARECA CORAF/ WECARD CARDESA

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction Advocacy and resource mobilization (FAAP as a guiding tool) FAAP puts farmers at the centre of agricultural R&D It aims to make ARD institutions relevant and responsive to the needs of farmers and agri-business

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction FARA portal visitors = 3,500/month E-bulletin subscription = 900 FARA blog has 162 entries FARA has 6 dgroups E-rails launched as a platform to communicate agricultural innovations from communities AfricaAdapt portal subscription at 10,000/qtr Promoting Access to Knowledge and Technology

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction Support to policy-making processes –Regional policy dialogues Building political awareness –FARA Ministerial Policy Briefs Series African Biotechnology and Bio-safety Policy Platform (ABBPP) –Platform or medium for engagement on emerging issues of biotechnology Facilitating the creation of an enabling policy and institutional environment

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction A knowledge centre on African agricultural capacity strengthening Strengthening Institutions: (SCARDA - funded by UK DfID ) Strengthening capacity to build capacity: BASIC (UniBRAIN) – funded by DANIDA Making rural communities more knowledge-able Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural innovation

How FARA catalyzes agricultural innovation for poverty reduction Building multi-stakeholder Partnerships and alliances to promote innovation IAR4D: Multi-stakeholder orientation to ARD (SSA-CP) –Mobilization of research, extension, farmers, policymakers, private sector, NGOs, financial institutions –Links research to pressing needs of users –Ensures sustainability –Rapidly improves incomes –Promotes adoption: scaling up and scaling out of technologies –Helps to harness inputs

Conclusions Agricultural development is the most effective lever for poverty reduction and economic growth in Africa Growth in African agriculture has stagnated, requiring productivity enhancing investments Agricultural research and technology dissemination is critical for poverty reduction and growth and should be promoted through: –increased investment in research  advocacy  evidence

Conclusions –Promoting access to knowledge and technology –Creating enabling policy environment and promoting access to markets –Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural innovation –Building multi-stakeholder Partnerships and alliances to promote innovation

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