Opening Young Minds to Africa’s Agriculture – How the 6th AASW connects the dots

Youth: the future of Africa’s agricultural development is in your hands!

“Africa now needs desperately to redesign its self-image, create an environment of peace and stability and plan a new science-led future appropriate to its culture, needs and aspirations. In essence, it must become Africa-centered.”

Thomas R.Odhiambo, 1993

The forthcoming 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) comes at an opportune time for Africa. The event poises the continent to surpass earlier generations in terms of transformation, innovation and leadership agenda. Great minds converging in Accra, Ghana will seek to refine ways and means to bring agricultural progress into our circles of influence. Hence, to connect science and agriculture at this high-level platform of thinkers and practitioners fits well as a way to capture young farmers’ realities and the opportunities for young agriculturalists in everyday life.

Connecting dots, starting from “the first African Agriculturalists”

The older generation recognizes the need to equip young minds with appropriate skills and knowledge to be tomorrow’s scientists and agricultural leaders. In fact, a large number of the challenges in agriculture and farming that will need to be resolved by 2050, will need to be met by today’s youth [i].

The same is echoed in a statement by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva [ii] at the “Innovative Ideas to Feed the World” recently organised by FAO interns. He noted that “the event brought together three important ideas: young professionals, innovative ideas and feeding the world. The three ideas that are not always connected. The biggest contribution young professionals can give, is to bring the three ideas together.”

Harvard-based professor, Calestous Juma in his McGrill Honorary Doctoral Address (“A Plea for Agricultural Innovation” [iii]) asserts that “addressing today’s challenges require a more balanced view that must be guided by evidence. But more importantly, it requires an optimistic outlook that recognizes the power of human creativity in responding to global challenges”. By pursuing careers in the field of gathering science-based evidence, youths can play a role in the science agenda.

The late eminent scientist, Thomas R. Odhiambo in his paper “The role of science in the development of Africa” [iv], noted “there is a need on opening young minds to new ideas and images, rather than on the accumulation of facts and information”.
It is not an underestimation that youth needs extensive knowledge and skills to be able to engage effectively in Africa’s agricultural transformation both with the public and the clientele.

The new generation

The first generation of African agriculturalists has by and large retired, and their successors -the second generation of researchers and their teachers- are often discouraged by poor conditions of service and the low return rate from overseas of many young academics [v].

It is refreshing then to note of efforts to halt the brain drain of Africa’s young scientists [vi]. A case in point of Ghana’s young scientist Michael Osei who is carrying out research to address Africa’s pressing needs. Michael Osei works in his home country albeit with a network of research associates from abroad. As Michael, youths should be compelled to pick their niche in their home country and draw from the abundant options that now exist offered by development institutions.

In a few weeks time, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) will showcase Ghana’s success on the Millennium Development Goal Number 1. More opportunities for engagement with youths are still abound. The global development era has become an all important choice to either: reform to engage youths or stand to be run over by the transformation wagon traversing the continent.

Young minds should take advantage of 6th AASW. I encourage youths to invest time studying Africa’s agricultural history, the constraints the continent faces, the advances made across agricultural disciplines, and its growing pool of expertise. Sweeping through Africa’s long agricultural trace, youths can connect the dots between the various players in the agricultural value chain.

A glimpse into Africa’s future hints that it is bright given a well-trained and disciplined young agricultural workforce.

My own experience

In order to keep the 6th AASW momentum going, here I trace my own agricultural footprints with the objective to motivate and inspire youths from across the globe: It is possible to thrive in agriculture!

I have five years of work and study experience from Zimbabwe, Taiwan, Kenya, Ghana and Mozambique. I hold a BSc degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources (2007) from Africa University of Zimbabwe with an Animal Science Major. My professional interests are ruminant nutrition (livestock), agricultural research for development (AR4D/Ag4Dev), extension and sustainable agriculture, with a focus on the African continent.

Soon after graduation, I started off my agricultural career in the province of Nampula, Mozambique. There, I acquired hands-on skills in integrated poultry production and feed mill operations working in several organizations: New Horizons, Gani Comercial Limitada and World Relief Mozambique.

I returned home to serve in the government of Zimbabwe as an agricultural extension worker in February 2008 in the Department of Agricultural and Technical Extension Services (Agritex). Thereafter, I worked at ward level (Buhera district), district level (Mutare and Buhera), provincial level (Mutare), and at national level (Harare) as a dairy livestock specialist.

Currently, I work as a dairy specialist in the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services under the Division of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development of Zimbabwe.

In my free time, I enjoy science communication and volunteer work with the Zimbabwe Farmers Union / GiZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) Young Farmers Clubs. I am also the country representative for the Young Professionals in Agricultural Research for Development (YPARD).

References:

[i] Ajit Maru (2013). The Near Future of Agriculture: Opportunities for the Youth. Global Forum of Agricultural Research Secretariat, Rome Italy.

[ii] Food and Agriculture Organization (2013). A statement by FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva – 21 May 2013. Young Professionals Conference: Innovative Ideas to Feed the World Opening Speech.

[iii] Calestous Juma (2013). A Plea for Agricultural Innovation –Honorary Degree Acceptance Speech, McGrill University, Montreal Canada June 3, 2013.

[iv] Thomas R. Odhiambo (1993). The role of science in the development of Africa. Technical Center for Rural and Agricultural Cooperation (CTA) Special Paper. CTA Annual Report. Wageningen The Netherlands.

[v] InterAcademy Council. (2006). Realizing the promise and potential of African agriculture. The Netherlands.

[vi] CTA. (2013). Halting the brain drain of young researchers: Interview with Michael Osei of Ghana. Spore magazine. Technical Center for Rural and Agricultural Cooperation (CTA), the Netherlands.

On the picture:
Front row: Right to left – Raymond Erick Zvavanyange (with glasses), Ana Crespo (with neck scarf of Germany Agency for International Cooperation, GiZ) and youths involved in poultry and goat projects (names available on request).
Back row: Right to left – Agritex extension officer and mentor in ZFU/Cotton Training Center/GiZ Young Farmers Clubs project (with hat) and Mr. Machaka (3rd standing – Zimbabwe Farmers Union, ZFU) Picture courtesy Raymond Erick Zvavanyange

Blogpost by Raymond Erick Zvavanyange, uploaded by Robert Kibaya, two of the AASW social reporters.

www.aasw6.wordpress.com

Annoucement: e-mail conference from 4 June to 1 July 2012 on "Ensuring the full participation of family farmers in agricultural innovation systems

4 June to 1 July 2012. FAO is hosting a moderated e-mail conference  on "Ensuring the full participation of family farmers in agricultural innovation systems: Key issues and case studies".

The UN General Assembly has declared 2014 to be the International Year of Family Farming and has invited FAO to facilitate implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with its partners. Among its initiatives for the International Year, FAO is planning to publish a major study on family farming and Agricultural innovation systems (AIS) in 2014 in the State of Food and Agriculture series, which is FAO’s major annual flagship publication.

Agricultural innovation systems are systems of individuals, organizations and enterprises that bring new products, processes and forms of organization into social and economic use to achieve food security, economic development and sustainable natural resource management. AIS include a multitude of potential actors, such as producer organizations, research organizations, extension and advisory services, universities and educational bodies, governments and civil society organizations, co-coordinating bodies, individual farmers and farm laborers, and the private sector (including traders, processors, supermarkets etc.).

The e-mail conference is open to everyone, is free and will be moderated.

The Background Document to this FAO e-mail conference is available here.

Meeting the needs of smallholder farming families also provides the central theme of the GCARD RoadMap, which sets out the systematic changes required to transform and strengthen innovation systems to better meet the needs of resource-poor smallholders around the world.  Results from the FAO e-mail consultation will help inform discussion in The Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD 2): “Foresight and partnership for innovation and impact on small-holder livelihoods” on practical actions underway and that are required to implement these systematic changes. The GCARD 2 will be organized in Punta del Este, Uruguay, 29 October – 1 November 2012, more information is available on the GFAR website.  The Pre-Registration for the GCARD 2012 Conference is now open.

Outcomes from the email consultation and the GCARD Conference will inform preparation of the major FAO study in 2014, as well as help to build cooperation around key forward-looking agendas and facilitate planning of joint actions among all AIS stakeholders to deliver large scale development outcomes.

Second Annual Ministerial Dialogue on Integrating Research, Extension and Education in the CAADP Country Process for Increased Agricultural Productivity in Africa

18-19 April 2012. FARA Secretariat, Accra, Ghana.

The purpose of the dialogue was to provide a platform for Ministers of Agriculture; Science &; Technology; Education; and other agriculture-related Ministries to examine the topical issues relating to integrating research, extension and education into the CAADP country process for increased agricultural productivity in Africa.

Participants at the 2nd Annual Dialogue included: representatives of the Governments of Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Also in attendance were the African Union/NEPAD, the ECOWAS Parliament, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), ECOBank, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP/EU (CTA), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Kuffuor Foundation, the First Bank International, the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Tertiary Education for Agriculture Mechanism (TEAM Africa) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

The specific objectives were to:

• Identify issues of strategic importance to integrating research, extension and education in the CAADP country process, stimulate dialogue on them. 
• Identify how to develop strategies for integrating research, extension and education in the CAADP country process. 
• Raise awareness among Ministers and parliamentarians of the need for increased investments in research, extension and education. 

See: ommuniqué

Presentations:

1. Enhancing agricultural development in Africa. Key note address by Pro. Monty P. Jones (FARA) 
2. Integrating research, extension and education in the CAADP country process for increased agricultural productivity. (Ms. Idowu Ejere- FARA)
3. Contribution of pillar IV to the CAADP country process. (Dr. Emmanuel Tambi- FARA)
4. CAADP country process. (Dr. Marcel Nwalozie- AU-NPCA) 
5. Innovation systems for enhancing the value of research, extension and education. (Dr. Adewale Adekunle- FARA) 
6. Funding of agricultural research, extension and education: private sector perspectives. (Mr. Dauda Lawal- First Bank International) 
7. Developing capacities for improving agricultural productivity. (Dr. Irene Annor-Frempong- FARA) Improving agricultural productivity through direct access to knowledge resources. (Dr. Stephen Rudgard- FAO)
8. CAADP Pillar IV strategy and operational plan. (Dr. Emmanuel Tambi - FARA) 
9. Agricultural Advisory Services (AAS) strategy and operational plan. (Dr. Silim Nahdy - AFAAS) Tertiary Agricultural Education (TAE) mechanism. (Prof. Hamidou Boly - TEAM Africa) 
10. Systems for knowledge management. (Mrs. Myra Wopereis - FARA) 
11. Emerging and cross-cutting issues affecting agriculture in Africa. (Dr. Ramadjita Tabo - FARA)

Upcoming forum 5-16 March 2012: ICT and agriculture in the context of "green growth"

Upcoming forum 5-16 March 2012. This year's Sustainable Development Network (SDN) Forum, titled Green Growth for All, was held at the World Bank headquarters in late February. Panel discussions and training sessions focused on operations centered on green growth. The sessions highlighted the profound threats and opportunities created by both climate change and increased environmental awareness, making a discussion on "green growth" in agriculture urgent and critical.

Information and communication technologies hold real promise to meet these threats and opportunities in two particular areas: 1) as tools for land use planning and management, and 2) as risk management tools for climate change adaptation.

Given the importance of green growth in the agriculture sector—and the potential for ICT to contribute—ARD is hosting the second e-forum on “ICT Innovation for Green Growth” in partnership with FAO and the e-agriculture community. This forum will explore how ICT is being used to reduce the climate effects that stem from agriculture. It also explores how ICT can increase climate-smart agricultural practices. Subject matter experts, who will respond to questions and provide insights on this topic, include:

• Bruce Campbell: Director of Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security Program (CGIAR)
• Marjory-Ann Bromhead: Adviser on Natural Resource Management (World Bank)
• Ademola Braimoh: Soil scientist and GIS Specialist (World Bank)
• Rodomiro Ortiz: Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding (Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences)
• Elizabeth Dodsworth: Global Director for Knowledge Management (CABI)
• Eric Seuret: Technology Consultant (Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture)
• Pierre C. Sibiry Traore: Remote Sensing Scientist & Head of GIS (ICRISAT)
• Pai-Yei Whung: Environmental Adviser (World Bank)

Please go to this website to participate in the forum from March 5-16:
http://www.e-agriculture.org/forums/current-forum

This forum will serve as a continuation of the on-going debates during SDN week and at the World Bank, and will be linked to the content of the "ICT in Agriculture" Sourcebook.

Jamal Saghir, Director of the Sustainable Development Department (Africa Region) at the World Bank, highlights the importance of climate-smart agriculture in addressing climate change in Africa specifically in the following video:

Commodity associations: a tool for supply chain development?

Commodity associations: a tool for supply chain development?
Les associations interprofessionnelles sont-elles un outil de développement des filières?
by
Andrew W. Shepherd
Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division (now value chain expert at CTA Wageningen)
Jean-Joseph Cadilhon
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
and
Eva Gálvez
Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2009, 53 pages

Commodity associations are organizations that bring together a wide spectrum of interest groups related to a particular commodity or sector (such as horticulture) in a particular country, whether the commodity is for export, for the domestic market or for both. Such associations can draw membership from individual farmers or their associations, from crop buyers, processors, distributors and exporters, as well as from suppliers of support services. Sometimes government agencies are also members.

Drawing on a literature review and case studies of relevant associations in Africa, Asia and Latin America, the paper explores the role of commodity associations in improving supply chain performance. There have been significant donor efforts to promote commodity associations recently, although some have encountered problems. Thus donor organizations may find the paper to be of use.

Missing Food: The Case of Postharvest Grain Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa

Maize crib used as a sack store for dried grain by rendering the sides rainproof and fitting rat guards to the legs, Nigeria. 31 May 2011, Rome/Accra - Investing in post-harvest technologies to reduce food losses could significantly increase the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new FAO/World Bank report released today as technical experts from around the region meet to discuss the issue. The report (April 2011, 95 pages), Missing Food: The Case of Postharvest Grain Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa, produced in collaboration with the UK's Natural Resources Institute, estimates the value of post-harvest grain losses in sub-Saharan Africa at around $4 billion a year. The World Bank undertook this policy-oriented research of the current state of knowledge and technology related to post harvest losses (PHL) reduction. It did so in collaboration with FAO, with the expertise of the U.K. Natural Resources Institute, and with contributions of key PHL stakeholders and institutions, capturing lessons from past interventions that could provide insights for the implementation of effective PHL strategies. This analysis looks at the evolution of public and private sector responses over the last two decades to reduce losses along the various stages of the supply chains and supports and to build on the African Development Bank’s current Post Harvest Loss Initiative for SSA. It also highlights critical factors that determine technology uptake and sustainable use, with a focus on gender dimensions of technology adoption for reducing PHL. While the profile of PHL has been raised for a number of commodities in SSA, this report focuses on grains, which still constitute the basis for food security for the majority of the population in the region and are a vital component in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. According to estimates provided by the African Postharvest Losses Information System (APHLIS), physical grain losses (prior to processing) can range from 10 to 20 percent.  The Postharvest Losses Information System was created within the framework of the project “Postharvest Losses Database for Food Balance Sheet Operations.” This was fi nanced by the European Commission within the work program of its Joint Research Centre (Italy) and implemented by a consortium led by the Natural Resources Institute (United Kingdom) and including ISICAD/BLE (Germany), ASARECA, and SADC/FANR; national experts contributed through the PHL network. Interview with FAO expert Divine Divine Njie In this interview, FAO expert Divine Njie discusses the report's findings.

Announcement: Second Global Share related to agriculture, food security, price volatility, climate change, etc.

26 – 29 September 2011. Rome, IFAD Headquarters. The Second Global Share Fair will provide a forum for participants to learn and share their knowledge, experience and innovations on emerging trends relating to agriculture, food security, price volatility, climate change, changing demographics, and other rural development related issues.

Building on the success of the first global knowledge Share Fair, Bioversity International, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with CGIAR, CTA, and SDC are jointly organizing the Second Global Share Fair. Download the Concept Note.

First Stakeholder Consultation Meeting of the FAO Programme in support of the implementation of the FAO strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa

NEPAD Agency Senior Fisheries Advisor,
Dr. Sloans Chimatiro

10-12 May 2011. Midrand, South Africa. Organised by FAO and NEPAD, the engagement brought together participants from Regional Fisheries Organisations, Regional Fisheries Bodies, Regional Economic Commissions, donors as well as civil society.

The objectives of the meeting were:

1. To participate and contribute to fisheries and programmes and closely link to existing and emerging regional and sub-regional fisheries organisations;
2. To identify a new programme to support the implementation of the FAO strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa;
3. To support the development and implementation of a Comprehensive African Fisheries Reform Strategy promoted by the Partnership for African Fishereis (PAF) under the NEPAD Action Plan for the Development of African Fisheries and Aquaculture -- as was recommended by the recent Conference of African Ministers of Fishereis & Aquaculture (CAMFA).

According to the outcome discussions, priority should be given to the review of existing information on initiatives, programmes and relevant actors through an information sharing system. In this context, it was agreed to adequately define ways to formally identify and integrate actors and also to share these information. The outcome of the review will also define and prioritise appropriate action plans as well as key partners. Such an information sharing system will help to strengthen effective communication channels for fisheries and aquaculture policies and strategic dialogue in Africa.

The participants stressed the importance of integrating climate change considerations into fishery management plans. NEPAD’s participation and contribution in this regard at the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa, in December 2011, was therefore highly recommended.

The FAO Strategy for Fisheries & Aquaculture in Africa is funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

SAVE FOOD 2011: Food packaging solutions in developing countries

16 and 17 May 2011. Düsseldorf, Germany. SAVE FOOD 2011. The focus of this international congress is about food, packaging and sustainability: SAVE FOOD highlights the extent of, and reasons for, global food losses and intends to show among other things the contribution that the type of packaging can make towards safeguarding foods. In addition, Save Food! brings to the attention of the international packaging industry the constraints faced by the small- and medium-scale food processing industries in developing countries to obtain access to adequate packaging materials which are economically feasible.

One-third of the food produced for human consumption in the world each year is lost or wasted, amonting to 1.3 billion metric tonnes, according to new research commissioned by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. For this report, FAO hired the services of the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology to carry out two studies on the extent and effects, causes and prevention of food losses and food waste - one for high and medium-income countries, and one for low-income countries.

One study "Global food losses and food waste" is on the causes and prevention of food losses, for high/medium-income countries on the one hand and for low-income countries on the other hand. This study aims at producing a uniform and complete overview of food losses, causes, possible remedies and for low-income countries their effect on food securiy, for strategy and programme development of FAO member countries. The study highlights the food losses occuring from farm to table, taking into account the qualitative aspects (loss of nutritional value, detoriation in food quality and safety), and where reliable information is available, the magnitude of these losses. Further the study identifies the causes of food losses and possible solutions, including the (potential) role of packaging in preventing these losses.

The second study "Food packaging solutions in developing countries" explores how low-income countries can make better use of locally available packaging materials, either imported or manufactured from indigenous materials, for containing and preserving food products that are safe and maintain their nutritional value. The study analyses the investment potential for the food packaging industry and highlight appropriate packaging solutions for less developd countries. The study elaborates on key areas how to improve the competitiveness of the small and medium scale food processing industry in low-income countries through the use of improved, cost-effective packaging and packaging technologies.

Sustainability in food chains from production to consumption

Fisseha Tessema (Project Manager, UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP))

Related PAEPARD blog post 14/03

TASTE THE WASTE: A documentary about the worldwide destruction of food

"Taste The Waste" debuted at the Berlinale 2011 and is scheduled to start after the summer 2011 break in German cinemas.

Mobilizing the potential of rural and agricultural extension

This paper presents an overview of current opportunities and challenges facing efforts to increase the impact of rural and agricultural extension. The starting point for this analysis is in recognition that the days when agricultural extension was synonymous with the work of public sector agencies are over.

The ‘extension services’ described here may just as likely consist of an input vendor advising a farmer about what seed to plant, a television station broadcasting a weather forecast, a supermarket advising traders about what standards are required for the vegetables they purchase or a farmer organization lobbying for research that reflects the demands of its members for new technologies.

Mobilizing the potential of extension is about enhancing this broad and complex flow of information and advice in the agrifood sector.

The paper presents the position of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) on where agricultural extension stands today and where it needs to go in the future.



Source: IAALD 10/01/2011

The crop calendar covers 43 African countries and contains information on more than 130 crops, located in 283 agro-ecological zones

Agriculture starts with seeds. Hence the choice of good adapted varieties and quality seeds or planting material is imperative for increasing crop production and addressing the challenges of food insecurity and climate change. It is equally important that seeds and planting materials are available and accessible at the right place and at the right time.

The Crop Calendar provides information about sowing and planting seasons and agronomic practices of the crops grown by farmers in a particular agro-ecological zone. 

It is a tool developed to assist farmers, extension workers, civil society and the private sector to be able to access and make available quality seeds of specific crop varieties for a particular agro-ecological zone at the appropriate sowing/planting season. It can be used by development-aid workers in the planning and implementation of seed relief and rehabilitation activities following natural or human-led disasters. Furthermore, the Crop Calendar can serve as a quick reference tool in selecting crop varieties to adapt to changing weather patterns accelerated by climate change.

The Crop Calendar database is being maintained at a regional level and is based on inputs from member countries. The Crop Calendar database currently covers 43 African countries and contains information on more than 130 crops, located in 283 agro-ecological zones.

The Fifth International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS-V)

12-15 October 2010 in Kampala, Uganda. Hosted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics and sponsored by the African Development Bank, Eurostat, FAO, ISI, the Islamic Development Bank, UNSD, United States Department of Agriculture and the World Bank, the Fifth International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS-V) was the fifth in the series of ICAS conferences conducted under the auspices of the ISI Committee on Agricultural Statistics. 


Theme of this year’s conference was “Integrating Agriculture into the National Statistical System”. The theme is the primary pillar of a recent initiative by the international community to assess and improve the quality of agricultural statistics.

The Conference focused on the report by the United Nations Statistical Commission “Global Strategy for Improving Agricultural and Rural Statistics” which was developed during the previous International Conference on Agricultural Statistics in 2007.

ICAS-V brought together statisticians from national statistical offices, ministries of agriculture, academia and researchers, and international organizations. The focus was on:

• Agriculture Conceptual Framework; 
• Scope and coverage of agriculture; 
• Economic and social statistics; Environment statistics; 
• Use of new technologies and tools in Agriculture Statistics; 
• Remote sensing and early warning; 
• Data collection and dissemination; 
• Global Strategy Components; 
• Agricultural statistics at country level; 
• Training; Research; 
• Technical assistance; 
• National and International Governance; 
• Rural and social statistics; 
• Population and agriculture censuses; 
• Household and agricultural surveys.

Links to Documents 

Conference Brochure : EN - FR - SP

Conference Programme : EN - FR

Detailed Conference Programme : EN

Pre-Conference Seminar on Methodology for Agricultural Censuses and SurveysSide-event Programe: Integrating Agricultural and Food Security Statistics in the National Statistical Systems

List of session organisersGlobal Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics

Related:

EAC and FAO Partner to Improve Agricultural Statistics. East African Community. 08 November 2010.

The East African Community and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are conducting a five-day regional training on agricultural statistics in Arusha, Tanzania. The training runs from 8-12 November. The Regional CountrySTAT Training workshop is designed to help countries better understand international standards and to meet the comparability requirements of consistent, updated and high quality data. Reliable food and agricultural statistics are crucial for designing policies to ensure food security. Participants from nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including representatives from four of the five EAC Partner States, will discuss ways of improving the quality of data of the CountrySTAT system, become familiar with new tools developed by the CountrySTAT team at FAO headquarters, and understand processes and share best practices.

Relationship between HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and general consumption of foods prone to contamination with fumonisins or other fungus-produced toxins?

A new study raises the question of whether corn contaminated with a fungus-derived toxin is helping to facilitate the transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. (reported by Reuters Health on 9 June 2010).

The toxins, called fumonisins, are produced by a particular type of fungus that can grow in corn after the plant is damaged by pests such as the cornstalk borer.

Fumonisins may be harmful to human health, with some studies linking consumption of the toxins to an increased rate of cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.

In the new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition researchers looked at whether there may be a relationship between HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and general consumption of foods prone to contamination with fumonisins or other fungus- produced toxins (known as mycotoxins).

Using data from the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, the researchers found that as sub-Saharan countries' per-person corn consumption rose, so did HIV transmission rates.

The researchers also found that higher per-capita corn consumption correlated with a higher rate of esophageal cancer. Since fumonisin toxins have been linked to that cancer, the finding serves as an indicator that populations with high corn consumption were exposed to higher levels of the toxin.

Collaboration @ Rural

The Food and Agriculture Organization of thee United Nations (FAO) is one of the 33 partners in a European Union funded project called Collaboration @ Rural (C@R) (1) led by TRAGSA in Spain. The aim of the C@R project is to develop and test a Living Labs collaborative platform in rural areas to stimulate rural development through open, people-driven innovation, utilizing Living Labs (2) as collaborative working environments.


The Living Labs programme is an initiative supported by the European Commission Framework 7 Programme based on open innovation to empower citizens and civil society to influence the development of innovative services & products that eventually can benefit the whole of society.

The C@R consortium consists of 33 partners working in the development of six different Rural Living Labs in Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Spain and South Africa. Local needs were accessed and innovative processes are being developed in each one of them. Living Lab pilots are being carried out in fisheries, agriculture, food grocers, tourism, health, public administration (e-governance), commerce, and business incubation.

­One of the goals of the C@R project is to make an impact on rural development policy based on tangible results such as new business creation or participative public services offered to rural citizens, are emerging. Policy makers have been involved throughout the duration of the project and have helped in developing a methodological approach for exploring ways to assess the impact on rural development policies.

Besides the publications of scientific papers and the C@R book, the scaling-up activities of the C@R project include the use of the methodological framework in other EU funded projects on Territorial Innovation such as the Med Lab project (3), the establishment of new partnerships to support the Rural Development programmes, which will be featured in an international conference in Rome in January 2011.

References:
(1) C@R Website http://www.c-rural.eu/

(2) EC Living Labs http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/livinglabs/index_en.htm
(3) MedLab Website http://www.medlivinglab.eu/

Strategy for Improving Agriculture Statistics in Africa.

3rd – 4th February, 2010. Hammamet, Tunisia. Conference on implementing the Strategy for Improving Agriculture Statistics in Africa. This conference was organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The meeting was attended by 47 participants composed of key Development partners, Training Institutions, sub-regional and regional institutions, National Statistics Offices and Agricultural Statistical Services within and outside Africa.

The key objectives of the conference were to:

1.  finalize the guidelines for developing a capacity building proposal for improving agricultural statistics in African countries. The proposal will be presented for discussion with donors at the Fifth International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS-V) to be held in Kampala, Uganda in October 2010;
2. build a donor coalition for raising subsequent funding for the action plan, and

Six preliminary elements of a technical assistance programme for Africa were proposed.

1. design of national integrated agricultural statistics projects,
2. design of Sector Strategic Plans for Agricultural Statistics,
3. development of institutional and organizational capacities,
4. development and/or adaption of methodologies,
5. preparation and distribution of technical manuals and guides, and
6. data harmonization and management

It was proposed that FAO should coordinate, in cooperation with other closely involved institutions and countries, in the preparation of the proposal for the research component. The possible participants may include: the friends of the Chair (Ethiopia, Uganda, Morocco), AfDB, UNECA, FARA, RCMRD, JRC, Agronomical research centers, CGiAR centers (selective).

Access to Data and Information on Biodiversity, Forest Carbon and Other Global Issues

17-18 November. Washington. The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) held its annual Plenary meeting. Some 80 nations, the European Commission and 56 international organizations are coordinating their Earth observation assets and strategies through GEO. They are sharing and interlinking their systems for tracking global trends in carbon levels, climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, water resources, ocean temperatures and other critical indicators of planetary health and human well-being. GEO is co-chaired by China, the European Commission (EC), South Africa and the United States.

Many of the information systems and services under review at the Plenary analyze Earth observation data gathered by satellites and by in-situ instruments, such as ocean buoys, carbon flux towers, rain and discharge gauges, cameras and sonar. Two of the examples being presented at the Plenary and exhibition are:

• Forest Carbon Tracking - By integrating field observations with radar and optical images provided by space agencies (including NASA, USGS, JAXA, CSA, ESA, DLR, ASI, INPE, GISTDA and CRESDA), the GEO Forest Carbon Tracking task is estimating trends in the spatial extent and carbon content of the world's forests. Participants in the task can share images, photos, in-situ data, models as well as results via an on-line platform contributed by Google Earth Outreach (visit portal.geo-ftc.org after 10h30 a.m.).
• The GEO Biodiversity Observation Network - Some 100 organizations are collaborating through GEO BON to bring together their biodiversity data, information and forecasts and make them more readily accessible to policymakers, managers, experts and other users.

The "GEO Portal" for searching integrated data sets and presenting targeted information products to decision makers will also feature in Washington. Two leading information technology companies, ESRI and Compusult, and two international agencies, the European Space Agency and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, are contributing to this effort.

Reference:

CEO presse release 19 October 2009 Comprehensive new global monitoring system to track deforestation and forest carbon
PR Newswire Group on Earth Observations Meets in Washington to Strengthen Access to Data and Information on Biodiversity, Forest Carbon and Other Global Issues

Testimonials on national statistical information systems for food and agriculture

CountrySTAT is a national statistical information system for food and agriculture. The system harmonizes and integrates data on food and agriculture coming from different sources. Through a core database, policy makers and researchers can group data across thematic areas - such as production, trade and consumption - in order to study relationships and processes. FAO cooperates with national statistical offices and ministries of agriculture in order to help them to use the system, know methodologies, organize and disseminate data.

With CountrySTAT, a statistical information system dealing with food and agriculture and a strategic tool in development planning towards food security, FAO is committed to build national capacities. At country-level, experts are learning, experiencing and implementing CountrySTAT.

CountrySTAT is gradually being rolled out in many countries. Food and agriculture data from several countries can already be accessed on line. Click on the African country names hereafter: Burkina Faso ; Togo ; Mali ; UEMOA ; Niger

Watch the technical clip on CountrySTAT to understand its main features and the possibilities offered to its administrators and users! Here are a few testimonials as collected in Rome, during a hands-on Training Workshop (October 2009):

1. Abner K. Ingosi, Head, National Coordinator of CountrySTAT, Food Security and Early Warning Servicies - Ministry of Agriculture (Kenya). “CountrySTAT helps to collect and analyze data that are fundamental for decision-makers, even though there are some constraints such as the lack of personnel and money and the slowness of internet connection”. Duration: 2min.19sec. Format: mp3
   
2. Mr Francis Dzah, Agriculture Statistics, Ghana CountrySTAT Coordinator - Ghana Statistical Service (Ghana). “CountrySTAT allows both producers and users - government officials, members of Parliament, researchers and students - to think about agriculture statistics by using a unique integrate system”. Duration: 2min.35sec. Format: mp3
   
3. Mr Benjamin Bisa Banda, Statistician of National Statistical Office (Malawi). “CountrySTAT users have a better approach to statistic information because data coming from different institutions have been put together and they are easily accessible through the use of internet. It helps to understand market direction and trends”. Duration: 1min.26sec. Format: mp3

World Summit on Food Security

16 November 2009. The third World Summit on Food Security opened at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy. Following the inaugural ceremony, Heads of Delegations adopted the World Summit on Food Security Declaration.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that if more land is not used for food production now, 370 million people could be facing famine by 2050.

FAO head Jacques Diouf told the summit that developing countries had made some progress in reversing the decline in investment in agriculture since prices hit record highs at the end of 2007. But he said much of the money had not yet materialised and that amounts promised were not at the level needed.

Mr Diouf said the $44bn (£26.4bn) required for developing countries was far less that the $365bn (£219bn) that developed countries spend each year on subsidising their farmers.
He recommended that developing countries dedicate 10% of their expenditure to agriculture.

References:

BBC 16/10 UN chief urges unity over hunger

FAO resources: Meeting website ; Provisional programme ; Documents ; Pre-Summit events ; Connected events ; Round tables

IISD RS will be providing daily reports from this meeting.

Related:

Elisabeth Atangana, President of the Sub-Regional Platform of Peasant Organizations of Central Africa (PROPAC), discusses the urgent need for good collaboration and effective involvement of farmer organizations in the process of poverty reduction. PROPAC, is an organization representing small-holders, rural entrepreneurs and the vulnerable rural population (women and youth). See video

Related

Barcelona climate change talks 2-6 November, 2009
FAO supported the last round of Climate Change Talks before the final meeting of the Convention of the Parties (COP15), in Copenhagen, Denmark. This took place in Barcelona to guarantee that food security adaptation and mitigation are taken into account in view of a new climate change deal. Report: Food Security and Agricultural Mitigation in Developing Countries: Options for Capturing Synergies

Did food production in Sub-Saharan Africa grew in 2008 beause of increased research?

12–13 October. Rome. Food production in Sub-Saharan Africa grew in 2008 for the first time in decades, according to a new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The 3.5 per cent increase — higher than the two per cent rise in population — was driven in part by increased use of technology, says the report, which was written for a forum of senior experts on food production meeting in ) ahead of November's World Summit on Food Security. Other factors behind the increase include positive changes in national policies for agriculture and higher food prices which have the effect of stimulating growth, the report says.

"Increased research in agriculture has led to improved crop varieties more suited to specific African regions, and this has had a direct impact on yields," says Hilary Clarke, spokesperson for the FAO.

Reference: SciDev 12/10 African food production on the rise

The support of the FAO to CAADP

Rome, 15 October 2009 — The support and partnership of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations to our work on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is crucial to our implementation of CAADP said the head of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki during a meeting between NEPAD and FAO.

Speaking at the start of the high-level NEPAD-FAO bilateral discussions, Dr. Mayaki the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEPAD noted that FAO had a critical role to play in supporting regional and country level CAADP implementation, particularly with regard to the development of investment programmes of those countries that have signed up to the CAADP Compact. The discussions between the two development organizations were focused on defining real concrete avenues and action points for joint cooperation in supporting CAADP implementation.

Dr. Mayaki, led the NEPAD delegation which included Mr. Martin Bwalya, Lead Specialist – Sustainable Land and Water Management / Team Leader – CAADP Implementation Support and Ms. Bibi Giyose, Senior Adviser (Nutrition). The NEPAD delegation held meetings with FAO Director General, Dr. Jacques Diouf and several senior staff led by Mr. J. M. Sumpsi, ADG/TC.

During the meeting, the FAO Director General informed the NEPAD delegation that FAO had secured USD 2.8 Million from the Italian Government to fund its support to CAADP implementation. Under this programme, FAO will support:

• strengthening of African Union Commission and NEPAD in providing policy guidance to CAADP implementation and
• selected African countries who have signed the CAADP Compact in formulation of quality investment programmes and alignment of their policies for effective CAADP implementation.

Reference: CAADP Press release 18/10 ‘FAO support is crucial to CAADP implementation’, says Mayaki