Ensuring Sustainable Food Security in ACP Countries: Regional dimension

1. International Federation of Agricultural Producers Ensuring Sustainable Food Security in ACP Countries: Regional dimension Mahaman Bader M. Dioula RegionalCoordinator for Africa 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

2. What is IFAP? The International Federation of Agricultural Producers … • Represents 120 national farmers’ organisations from in 82 countries. • Is a global network in which farmers from all the world exchange concerns and set common priorities. • Has been advocating farmers’ interests at the international level since 1946 and has General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. 10 th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

3. IFAP’S OBJECTIVES & MISSION • Working to assure world food and nutrition security • Assuring reasonable livelihoods for farm families • IFAP’s mission is to develop farmers’ capacities to influence decisions that affect them at both the domestic and international levels. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

4. PECULIARITIES OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE • ~ 70% of African population live in rural areas, with agriculture as their core business. • In most countries, agriculture generates 20-30% of the GNP, therefore making it the means of subsistence for nearly 60% of the population. • Double challenge of ensuring food security and population growth 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

5. PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS • Very low average productivity due to small areas, • unsuitable and non sustainable agricultural practices that increase the erosion of the soil, therefore resulting in low yields. • In many countries, agricultural practices are still rudimentary and most of the agricultural work is carried out by manual labor or animal tracks 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

6. LAND • Lack of comprehensive land policy (e.g. many farmers have no rights to the land) • The real dilemma of land titling is that it makes land a commodity for speculation as opposed to a very dear commodity for food production. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

7. RURAL FINANCING • With the structural adjustment programs, public support for agriculture has reduced dramatically • Private sector considers farming in Africa as too risky to finance • Low output prices, high cost of inputs, and limited access to credit makes it difficult for smallholders to produce food sufficiently and efficiently. • For example, inputs such as fertilizers and chemicals are very expensive for smallholder farmers to acquire adequate quantities and realize high yields. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

8. ACCESS TO MARKETS • Smallholder farmers use to sell their product almost immediately after harvest, when prices are very low, thereby losing market share. • Poor roads, lack of electricity, and post harvest handling and storage facilities are limiting farmers to access markets to earn some added value • Lack of appropriate organization of the marketing systems 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

9. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS • The climate change-the most “hottest” issue. • Climate change and its related effects can jeopardise Africa’s prospects for agricultural development and destroy all the programmes and efforts undertaken to eradicate poverty. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

10. ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN • To ensure food security for consumers and secure livelihoods for producers, IFAP calls for new national and regional plans for agriculture. • Such plans are the only sustainable solution to food security in Africa and African farmers, who are the key players in this, need to play a central role. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

11. 1. Investments Investment in agriculture is key to economic growth for most developing countries, as was stressed in the World Bank’s WDR2008 • Without secure land tenure and modern equipment for farm production and processing, yields will continue to be low and post-harvest losses high. • Without roads and basic infrastructure, farmers cannot receive basic inputs or get their products to market. • And without a firm national, regional and international commitment to agricultural development and a conducive policy environment in which it can take place, investment will not come. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

12. 2. Commodity Supply Chains • Building commodity supply chains is fundamental in helping subsistence farmers, cooperatives and other economic organizations become small-scale agricultural entrepreneurs. • African farmers need the opportunity to go beyond producing food for their families, and generate income from their farming activities. • They therefore need capacity to work together to develop local and regional markets. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

13. 3. Risk Managements • Managing risks is essential for farmers to have the confidence to take innovative production decisions in the face of weather, disease and market risks. • Farmers also need to be able to cover risks related to loan repayments • Risk management tools that are adapted to the situation of small-holder farmers need to be developed. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

14. 4. Climate change • Climate change is leading to increasingly unstable weather patterns and water shortages. • Farmers must have the knowledge and means to adapt to climate changes, or see their production fall dramatically • Increased investment in agricultural research and extension is urgently needed to help deal with this situation. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

15. 5. Trade • Trade is a stimulus for the development of agriculture. • However, national governments need to establish a policy environment in which farmers can benefit from market growth. • WTO rules should give space for farmers to contribute to national food security and to be able to organize in the market. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

16. 6. Ecosystem Management • Today the dual challenge faced by farmers is how to achieve sustainable food security and ecosystem management. • IFAP advocates for increasing awareness of farming models where farmers are encouraged to adopt practices that would restore, maintain and enhance the ecosystem. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

17. Success Story • There are many examples worldwide to show that food needs can effectively be met by farmers if governments are ready to give priority to the development of their agricultural sector. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

18. Success Story (Cont’d) • In 2004, the government of Malawi introduced a farm input subsidy program-voucher programme • This program transformed a food deficit situation to a surplus in only 3 years and • In 2007/8 Malawi became a regional supplier of maize to other countries in Africa. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

19. Lessons learned • The voucher system provides farmers with additional purchasing power to acquire seeds and fertilizer. • Building agro-dealer networks makes it possible for farmers to obtain these inputs at their doorsteps. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

20. CONCLUSIONS As the focal point for the Farmers’ Major Group within the UN-CSD, IFAP has released its Farmers’ Priorities for Action, which was included in the final text of the last CSD meeting in New York, 4-15 May 2009. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

21. Conclusions The UN-CSD document: • recognizes that “agriculture lies at the center of sustainable development” • acknowledges the need for a sustainable “green revolution in Africa to help boost agricultural productivity, food production and national and regional food security in a way that supports ecosystem functions”. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

22. Conclusions (Cont’d) • The UN-CSD suggests integrating farmers and local entrepreneurs into agricultural supply chains through affordable credits, access to insurance, participation of farmers’ organizations in decision making and access to extension services. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

23. Conclusions of the 16th IFAP Africa Committee meeting“Harnessing farmers' efforts to realize food security in Africa” Nairobi, 22-25 April 2009 • Lobby and advocacy for the accelerated attainment of the 10% budgetary allocation to Agriculture in National budgets • Linking African farmers’ organizations to regional Economic communities • Establishing means of influencing continental initiatives (AU, NEPAD, CAADP) to strengthen regional integration • Lobby for the recognition of producer organizations as central actors in CAADP implementation 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

24. Conclusions of the 16th IFAP Africa Committee meeting“Harnessing farmers' efforts to realize food security in Africa” Nairobi, 22-25 April 2009 • Promote public private partnership for institutional strengthening • Active involvement of IFAP and affiliated members in the International Alliance against Hunger • Embrace market research to strengthen bargaining power of smallholder farmers and access to competitive credit and input sources • Promote risk management to face market competition and natural disasters • Promote farmers access to technical knowledge and agricultural innovations • Continue efforts in capacity building for men, women and young farmers • Encourage investments in climate change mitigation/adaptation approaches 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

25. Epilogue Public policy makers need to re-engage with African farmers and other stakeholders to build an integrated policy for food security which would be: • Farmers-driven and socially acceptable • Environmentally friendly and sustainable • Economically effective and affordable • Technically feasible and scalable CAN WE ACHIEVE THIS? YES WE CAN 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

26. Epilogue • IFAP looks forward to working with all stakeholders to exploit the full potential of agriculture for ensuring food security and sustainable development in Africa. 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

27. « Les destinées des nations dépendent de la manière dont elles se nourrissent  » (La Physiologie du Goût ou méditations de gastronomie transcendante, Brillât Savarin, 1826) 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009

28. MANY THANKS For more information www.ifap.org 10th RegionalSeminar of ACP-EU Economic and Social Interest Groups, Gaborone, 28 June – 1 July 2009