1. Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development,
Agriculture Research Policy: Governance and Support for Agriculture Research
Dr. Miltone W. Ayieko,
Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development,
Egerton University
Conference on:
Priority Setting in Agriculture Research: Closing the Gaps Towards Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security
13th - 14th September 2018

2. Outline of Presentation
Contextualizing agricultural transformation
The Policy – research nexus
Interaction between policy and research
Enabling environment for agricultural research
Constraints to agriculture research
Support for agriculture research

3. Contextualizing agricultural Transformation
Kenya economy is heavily dependent on agriculture
Transformation is key to overall economic growth
Shift from subsistence to commercial production
Shift from diversification to specialization
Increasing agricultural productivity
Value addition
Food & nutrition security
Income diversification
Research critical to achieving ag transformation

4. Contextualizing agricultural Transformation
Role of research in agricultural transformation
Develop appropriate technologies, innovations and knowledge
Scale up adoption & commercialization of these technologies
Promote efficiency of ag production especially for smallholders
Cost (cost of production, time, profit margins)
Environmental adaptation (disease, pest, soils, rainfall, temps)
Provide evidence on transformation and opportunities for further investments
Policy makers
Private sector

5. The Policy – Research Nexus: How Policy influences Research
Direct engagement with policy makers (demand-driven)
Engage with policy makers to learn priority policy challenges (gaps)
Undertake demand-driven research to address gaps
Research findings fed into policy engagement
Policy impact
Mostly reactive
Supply-driven
Researchers generate impactful ideas and knowledge that then influences the policy making process
Proactive
Useful in discovery of new innovations and overcoming known barriers

6. Evidence-based vs evidence-informed Policy making
Coherent, self-evident research evidence that can be translated into policy measures
Evidence-informed:
Shift towards process-based rather than outcome-based understanding of evidence use
Policy should be made in light of available evidence, but also permit the recognition of political nature of decision-making

7. Interaction between policy and research
Consultation
Dissemination
Policy influences the research agenda
Policy
Research
Research need to respond to policy gaps to be relevant
Policy needs evidence based for effectiveness and impact
Research provides evidence to influence policy

8. Enabling environment for agricultural research
Policies to transform agriculture already developed:
Vision 2030; ASDS/ASGTS
Specific policies
Regulation - AFA, KEPHIS
Production – Inputs e.g. seed, fertilizer, mechanization,
Knowledge – NARs, STI, University charters
Information – National Agricultural Sector Extension Policy (NASEP)
A key challenge has been implementation and learning
Hence failure to achieve food security

9. Enabling environment for Ag research
Enabling environment requires:
Consultation and dialogue
Agenda setting
Intellectual property
Incentive researchers
Adequate funding for research
Utilization of findings – Knowledge, information and communication
Effective dissemination
Demand by policy makers
Access and Benefit Sharing

10. Constraints to Agricultural Research
Policy Constraints:
Inadequate policies
Few NAIPs have allocated sufficient resources to agricultural research
Inadequate resourcing
Human, Financial, Physical
Weak coordination and collaboration between:
national and international research organizations
research and extension
researchers and users

11. Constraints to Agricultural Research
Long run effects vs Short run effects
Returns in Ag R&D take time to manifest, therefore its overlooked for ‘quick win’ programs
Farmers’ lack of political bargaining power
Donor vs Government priorities
Although donors support R&D, key focus is on areas of interest.
Govt funding barely focuses on long term research priorities & needs
In the devolution era, funding for research and extension have significantly declined

12. Research underfunded

13. Support for agriculture research
Funding for agriculture research inadequate, declining

14. Ag Researchers (FTE) per population (mn)

15. R&D spending as a share of Ag GDP (%)

16. Trends in Ag TFP growth in Kenya
Factors affecting Total Factor Productivity (TFP):
National agricultural research
Economic policy reforms (e.g., amount of funding to agriculture)
Agricultural extension

17. Strengthening research for Agricultural transformation
Adequate funding for agricultural research
Efficiency of public expenditures
Support training and capacity development for research & innovations
Support devolved public extension systems
Human and financial resources
Build effective models of extension
Design of extension systems suited to local environment & needs
Responsive to local demands
Enhance role of the private sector in Ag R&D
Financing models
Uptake of innovations
Supporting environment to support Ag R&D
IPR
Demand for evidence & research
Promote learning

18. ______________________
Thank you
______________________
Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University
Provider of credible evidence and knowledge for accountability and learning to catalyze agriculture and rural transformation