The Pre-CAADP PP and main sessions on the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa organized by FARA in Durban on 18th March, 2014 gathered about 100 participants from the continent and beyond.
Participants emphasized that Africa needs to take advantage of advances in science and technology to increase the pace of achieving the required agricultural productivity and competitiveness that will ensure food and nutrition security, gender equality, increased incomes, reduced poverty and increased resilience to shocks. that the meeting exhibited the formidable AR4D coalition of actors; (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, CCARDESA, NASRO, RUFORUM, ANAFE, AFAAS, PANGOC, PanAAC, PAFO, AFAPP, NARS, CGIAR) committed to the implementation of the Science Agenda towards ensuring achievement of the CAADP goals at the country and regional levels within the current results framework of the “Sustaining the CAADP Momentum”.
The sessions on the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa were organized in plenary and working groups.
After discussions and deliberations, participants came up with the following short, medium and long term goals as well as the related actions and targets for the Science Agenda.
Short term goal: Increase domestic public and private sector spending and create the enabling environment for sustainable application of science for agriculture.
Medium term goal: Build basic science capacity at national and regional levels with special attention to the youth and women.
Long term goal: Double the current level of Agricultural Total Factor Productivity (ATFP) by 2025 through application of science for agriculture.
Actions and targets for short term goal:
Adopt the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa as the principal vehicle and framework for operationalizing the AR4D component of the Sustaining the CAADP Momentum- Develop and implement country specific strategies and operational plans for implementing the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa;
- Establish an African Science for Agriculture Transformation Fund (ASATF), in consultation with key African financial institutions (e.g. the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)), a funding mechanism for science, technology and innovation to mobilize additional resources for purposes of up-scaling successful agricultural innovations in Africa.
- Increase national budgetary allocations for science and innovation for agriculture
- Set up Chairs in universities as vehicles for attracting investment from the private sector
- Promote the adoption of IAR4D through the development of functional innovation platforms at country level;
Targets;
- Country specific strategies and operational plans for implementing the Science Agenda for Agriculture developed and implemented in 10 countries by 2016
- Establish an African Science for Agriculture Transformation Fund (ASATF), by 2016
- Double national budgetary allocations for science and innovation for agriculture by 2018
- Set up Chairs in universities as vehicles for attracting investment from the private sector by 2016
- Innovation platforms set up in 15 country level by 2016;
Actions and targets for medium term goal:
- Mobilize collective action to take advantage of science and technology in resolving common problems across member states and building the basic science capacities;
- Develop and mainstream a framework for human capital formation in science, technology and agri-prenuership in schools, colleges, vocational institutions and universities
- Support regional mobility programmes
Targets;
- Regional mobility programmes for research, extension and education established and functional by 2024.
- Identifying and prioritizing common regional and continental interventions for collective action by 2024.
- Develop and mainstream a framework for science, technology and agri-prenuership in schools, colleges, vocational institutions and universities by 2018
- Identifying and prioritizing common regional and continental interventions for collective action by 2024.
Actions and targets for long term goal:
Develop appropriate technologies, policies and institutional innovations for increasing total factor productivity- Promote access to and use of factors of production including new varieties and breeds, inputs by end users
- Promote access to more efficient local, national, regional and international markets for increasing total factor productivity
Targets:
- Appropriate technologies, policies and institutional innovations for all commodities available for use by 2024
- Factors of production including new varieties and breeds, inputs accessible to at least 50% of end users by 2024
- More efficient local, national, regional and international markets available to at least 50% of end users by 2024
The Science Agenda outcomes from the 10th CAADP PP provide the critical step towards preparations for the Ministerial meeting and the Heads of State Summit in June.
