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Natural resource management, food security, biofuels and sustainable agriculture. Raise some questions
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1. Natural resource management, food security, biofuels and sustainable agriculture Olanrewaju Smith
International Trypanotolerance Centre, Banjul The Gambia
2. Natural resource management, food security, biofuels and sustainable agriculture Raise some questions & discussion points
Are there lessons to be learnt with regards to their current situation in Africa
Can these be used to improve their impact on sustainable development or green economy
3. Food security Is Africa food secure?
No access at all times to the food needed for a healthy and productive life
Not protected from the risks of malnutrition, chronic or acute hunger and starvation, and famine.
4. Food security 800 million people (including 200 million children) considered malnourished
190 million i.e. about 35% live in SSA.
27 % of children under 5 were reported underweight in 1990
22% in 2009. A minimal progress
Rise in prevalence in some countries
5. Food security Hunger and malnutrition are consequences and indicators of poverty
These statistics are reflected in the slow progress towards meeting Millennium Development Goal number 1
Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.
6. Food security Target number 1A
Reduce by half, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1.25 a day
Proportion decreased slightly from 58% in 1990 to 52.5% in 2008,
A number of countries may not reach the target of 29% by 2015
7. Food security Trend is not more encouraging with regards to target number 1C
Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
A slight decline from 25.3 in 1990 to 21.7% in 2010 (Global Hunger index)
Based on this trend, it is projected some countries will miss the target Progress made in other regions: Southeast Asia or the Middle East and North Africa over the same time frame, are much higher, and more countries in the regions are likely to meet the target.
Progress made in other regions: Southeast Asia or the Middle East and North Africa over the same time frame, are much higher, and more countries in the regions are likely to meet the target.
8. Food security Question: Do we have a clue as to what to do to rectify this situation?
Yes we do.
2 illustrative examples for lesson learning.
What needs to be done to improve the performance of the sector and consequently the food security status in Africa
9. Food security The fire fighter approach
A 2-year EU funded project in Burundi
Implemented by FAO & the Government
Goal: Boost production and improve food security of at least 7,000 rice-growing households in 2 provinces following the 2008 food price crisis.
10. Food security The fire fighter approach
Priority Intervention Areas
a) Improve water resources infrastructure and water use efficiency for agriculture
Activity: Rehabilitate drainage and canal networks in the project sites.
Outputs: 3,500 ha of land were irrigated
11. Food security The fire fighter approach
Outcome:
Increased rice production and income for 10,000 vulnerable local people particularly during the dry season when money-making opportunities are usually limited.
12. Food security The fire fighter approach
b) Improve farmers’ access to quality inputs
Activities:
Fertilizer and certified quality rice, vegetables, ground nuts and soya beans were provided for diversification.
Cattle provided for tillage
Storage facilities built
13. Food security The fire fighter approach
Outputs: Diversified and increased food production
Outcome: More variety of foods produced including protein source to improve nutrition
Reduced product spoilage, increased income
14. Food security The fire fighter approach
c) Strengthen the production capacity of farmers’ groups
Activity: Training of farmers groups in improved farming techniques
Outputs and outcomes Enhanced farmers competence and productivity. Training of farmers groups in improved farming techniques, including proper management of irrigation systems and storage facilities, as well a sound nutritional and hygiene practices
Training of farmers groups in improved farming techniques, including proper management of irrigation systems and storage facilities, as well a sound nutritional and hygiene practices
15. Food security The longer term project based approach.
AGRA INITIAITVE
Goal:
Transform African agriculture from a subsistence to a business venture
Produces efficiently, generates income and wealth for producers.
Training of farmers groups in improved farming techniques, including proper management of irrigation systems and storage facilities, as well a sound nutritional and hygiene practices
Training of farmers groups in improved farming techniques, including proper management of irrigation systems and storage facilities, as well a sound nutritional and hygiene practices
16. Food security The longer term project based approach.
AGRA INITIAITVE
Goal:
Transform African agriculture from a subsistence to a business venture
Produces efficiently, generates income and wealth for producers.
17. Food security The longer term project based approach.
Beneficiaries: Small scale producers
Premise: Access to a variety of inputs must be guaranteed, to successfully transform them to business oriented producers.
Access to affordable finance (credit)
But banks have hitherto avoided lending to smallholders, considering them too risky. As a result, less than 1% of the available domestic private sector financing typically goes into agricultureBut banks have hitherto avoided lending to smallholders, considering them too risky. As a result, less than 1% of the available domestic private sector financing typically goes into agriculture
18. Food security The longer term project based approach.
In association with partners, it provides loan guarantees to reduce risks of lending by banks
Banks then gives low-interest loans to smallholder farmers
To agro-dealers, to small- and medium-sized agricultural businesses that support small-scale agriculture.
19. Food security The longer term project based approach.
Tanzania (2008)
US$2.1 million loan guarantee fund established by AGRA/ Financial Sector Deepening Trust
Secured a US$10 million line of credit from the National Microfinance Bank (NMB)
NMB then lends to agro-dealers at interest rates of 18% (46% typical)
More than US$1.5 million in loans to agro-dealers by 2009.
20. Food security The longer term project based approach.
Kenya (2008).
AGRA/IFAD provided US$2.5 million each as a loan guarantee
Leveraged US$50 million from Equity Bank.
By May 2009, the program had loaned US$9.8 million to 20,408 beneficiaries.
Of which 19,931 were small-scale farmers; 337 are large-scale; and 140 were agribusinesses.
21. Food security The longer term project based approach.
For the future:
AGRA intends to mobilize US$4 billion in affordable loans for Africa’s smallholder farmers and the businesses that serve them.
22. Lesson learning Improve low soil fertility (75% of African soils are depleted)
Intractable land issues: access and/or ownership especially for women must be addressed (Land grab phenomenon)
Limited access to good quality seeds of local staple crops
Replace anachronistic rain-fed with year round agriculture
23. Lesson learning Support to farmers in various forms.
Infrastructural : feeder roads to move products to markets
Access to available and appropriate technology through a vibrant and competent extension
Or to new ones via well-funded research institutions.
24. Lesson learning Access to credit, fertilizers and other inputs
Direct policy support and in particular, subsidies (smart ones if you wish)
And affirmative action for women farmers.
25. Lesson learning Not new ideas
Currently being carried out in a stop and go project or crisis management manner
Need to become “business as usual affairs, the normal way
26. Lesson learning Implemented in a sustained and sustainable manner
For the long haul
With or without projects and funding from outside
27. Lesson learning The good news:
Through CAADP African countries are gearing up to support the agriculture sector
They have to stay the course
Burrow, beg or steal the resources required for the implementation of the various compacts
They are too important to leave their implementation to the funds and good will of partners.
28. Sustainable Agriculture What is sustainable Agriculture (SA)
As many opinions as there are commentators
Brundtland Panel
SA system manages essential resources so as to satisfy the needs of all people presently dependent on it, without compromising the needs of future generations.
29. Sustainable Agriculture ICSU reviewed several publications and concluded
“it is unhelpful to propose any particular production systems as sustainable in all ecologies, locations and societies. No specific system is suitable and sustainable in all circumstances”
30. Sustainable Agriculture SA is not low input agriculture in which no chemical inputs are used.
This approach cannot restore or maintain level of soil fertility required to feed an ever increasing African population.
31. Sustainable Agriculture Agriculture cannot be considered sustainable if the quantity and quality of its products are inadequate to sustain the healthy survival of all who are dependent on it. (Hulse 2007)
SA is a dynamic process that evolves to meet present needs.
Fallow/shifting cultivation
32. Sustainable Agriculture The need to conserve biodiversity, arable land and water resources is undeniable, but no known crop or livestock production system is sustainable in all places and for all people (Hulse 2007)
No one size fits all
33. Sustainable Agriculture
Africa therefore needs to continue to develop and use appropriate agricultural systems whose production and productivity levels consistently meet the needs of a growing and diversified population.