February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 2
I agree with the following statement “To empower smallholder farmers to participate in an African Green Revolution, improvements should be made in both: functioning and performance of agricultural input markets so that viable smallholders can access inputs at cost effective
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 2
It appears presumptuous to try to add to the value of the comprehensive discussions at the Salzburg Global Seminar, and the wide-ranging report of its deliberations and recommendations (‘Towards an African Green Revolution’). In looking for an African paradigm the
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 2
Science and Technology will only work for small-scale farmers if agricultural research is carried out differently than much of it has been in the past. Lessons from research that has successfully linked knowledge with action – changes in policies, practices,
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 2
The current discussion on 'Making science and technology work for small-scale farmers' is closely linked with the earlier debate on the appropriateness of farmers' voices in the African Green Revolution [AGR] initiative. Essentially, the thinking of agricultural scientists and technologists
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 2
The high contribution of small-scale farmers to Africa’s agriculture is not in doubt. This group produces the lion’s share of Africa’s agricultural productivity, and also contributes significantly to the GDP of several countries. In spite of this, small scale agriculture
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 3
African Green Revolution is geared towards making every African hunger free, following a balanced diet and with enough resources to take care of other needs. This objective is in line with AU/NEPAD CAADP objectives. The CAADP Round Table process initiative
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 3
During this last contribution we bear in mind the important recommendations emanating from the conference. Let us also be cognizant of the fact that to realize the green revolution actions on the recommendations can only take place at the national
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 3
What is meant by ‘coherence’? I take it to mean achieving a greater convergence between the following: policies affecting agriculture (including livestock production); crop and livestock producers’ livelihood goals; and supporting research and development efforts. Within this trinity, there is
February 2, 2010 / News
Despite their depth and breadth, established political and economic understandings tend to take a somewhat circumscribed view of innovation and development alike. Amidst the many rich subtleties, there tends to be an emphasis on what might be called the ‘scalar’
February 2, 2010 / Miscelleanous
By Hannington Odame and Oscar Okumu This study examined the innovation response capacity in relation to livestock related emergencies in Ethiopia. The main objective is to determine the capacity of the livestock sector to respond and adapt to drought and
February 2, 2010 / Miscelleanous
By Hannington Odame, Oscar Okumu, Elsie Kangai This report is a result of a scoping study commissioned by IDS/Sussex, UK as part of thelaunch of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) theme of the Future AgriculturesConsortium (FAC) and the proposal
February 2, 2010 / News
By Erik Arnold, Technopolis, UKMartin Bell, SPRU-ScienceTechnology Policy Research, UK This is a background paper, provided to the Commission on Development Related Research in Denmark. Its purpose is to inform the Commission about current thinking relevant to the funding of
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 3
I agree with all the points that Monica has raised. Additionally however, I would wish to make some generic points which in my opinion have great relevance for the process of partnerships and coherence building. Before we can adequately address
February 2, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 3
Multi-stakeholder group composed of knowledgeable as well as open minded individuals, able to objectively assess, give advice, as well as represent the views of stakeholder groups they represent. These representatives should be selected by their constituencies, and must be facilitated
February 1, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
The current discussion on 'Making science and technology work for small-scale farmers' is closely linked with the earlier debate on the appropriateness of farmers' voices in the African Green Revolution [AGR] initiative. Essentially, the thinking of agricultural scientists and technologists
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
The Millennium Villages Project (MVP) is a community-based approach to achieving the MDGs. Many rural development programs have hindered their potential for success because local stakeholders did not participate adequately in the development process. A community-based approach is therefore essential
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
Question: Which of the recommendations and actions set forth in the Conference Report best achieve the goal of amplifying farmers' voices in policy debates and decision-making processes? While most of the recommendations and actions set forth could promote farmers’ voices
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
Clearly, development is about people. All efforts geared towards realising the potential of human personality are, therefore, encapsulated in one word: Development. Not until knowledge producers/researchers begin to reflect upon what their intentions are, it might be difficult to achieve
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
Only the well organized, powerful farmers with good market linkages have thus far been able to make their voices heard to the extent that policies and programs are adapted to their needs. For the rest, intermediary individuals or organizations often
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
Here we are as scientists and others speaking on behalf of farmers – not an ideal situation. The range of these farmers includes fishers, rangers, foresters as well as full time to part time professionals who derive a proportion of
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
The subject of making farmers’ voices heard should be central in the green revolution that we intend to create. The green revolution for Africa can only happen if farmers in different communities are able to take ownership and make contributions
February 1, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
I am very pleased to make a contribution to this theme based on the experience of Future Agricultures work in Ethiopia over the last 2 years. It is well established that policy making in most African countries including Ethiopia has
January 29, 2010 / African Green Revolution - Theme 1
I am in full accord with the advocates for enhancing the farmer’s voice. But I have to ask the question “And then what?” There will be little point in giving the farmers voice if there is no one ready to
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
I’d like to challenge one of Prof. Collier’s key points: small farmers are failing to keep up with the pace of change. “Innovation is hard to generate through peasant farming”, he writes. “Their mode of production is ill-suited to modern
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
I am surprised to find this debate starting all over again, and would like to ask readers to look over the following essays I wrote during an earlier iteration of these debates. In them I challenge the conventional wisdom that
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
Professor Paul Collier’s thesis incriminating poor countries for lack of progress in food production, especially in the wake of the worsening global food crisis (and economic meltdown?) as hinging on the preponderance of small farms raises more questions than proffering
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
'Small farmers can be a driving force in cutting hunger and poverty worldwide' was a key message to G8 leaders from development specialists at The Future of Small Farms research workshop held in Wye in June 2005. Participants at the
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
To produce the food necessary to reduce high world food prices and meet the future demands of a growing and more affluent population, large-scale commercial farming needs to be encouraged. Any romantic illusions about small-scale farmers should be set aside.
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
Paul Collier (November/December 2008 issue) sets out three priorities to overcome the world food crisis—moving to large-scale commercial farms to replace peasant or smallholder farming, promoting genetically modified organisms, and reducing distorting subsidies to biofuels in the US. We think
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
It is rather unfortunate that the terms of debate should be framed by a man like Paul Collier. From his dreaming spire in Oxford, he looks down on the world through the wrong end of a telescope. Like many unimaginative
January 25, 2010 / Small Farm / Big Farm
A very important topic and distinction. It is precisely the scale of production and the respective models that accompany either small or large farms, that determines the social and economic character of agriculture, its ecological sustainability (ie how it maintains
January 25, 2010 / News
Growth it seems is the current development mantra. With agriculture often the dominant sector in the economy, getting agriculture onto a growth path is increasingly the core theme of policy documents whether from donors or from national governments. Similarly in
January 25, 2010 / News
A Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) is usually defined as a process in which funding to a sector supports a single policy and expenditure programme, under government leadership and using common financial management procedures across the sector.
January 25, 2010 / News
Formalising property rights - and granting title in particular - is argued by some to be an essential part of the route to economic growth and the movement out of poverty. But will such moves really help in all circumstances,
January 25, 2010 / News
One of the 'quick wins' identified by the Millennium Project's assessment of how to halve hunger by 2015 was for a massive effort to replenish nutrient depleted soils in Africa through a combination of chemical fertilizers and agroforestry. Nigeria is
January 25, 2010 / News
Lessons from the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology In recent years, global assessments have become the focus of considerable international scientific interest and the mobilisation of vast institutional, technical, human and financial resources. These frequently attempt to combine
January 25, 2010 / News
Momentum for investments and action to promote an African Green Revolution are gaining ground, with African Governments (individually and through CAADP), with international and bilateral donors, with private donors, with farmer organisations, and with the private sector (see: http://www.agra-alliance.org/ and http://www.yara.com/).
January 25, 2010 / News
Ethiopia celebrated the start of its third millennium on 11th of September 2007. This seems an appropriate moment to take stock of the state of smallholder agriculture - the sector in which over 80% of the population derives their livelihood,
January 25, 2010 / News
There has been much hype about the prospects of ‘sustainable agriculture’, but little rigour on exactly what we mean by a sustainable agricultural system. Work by Jules Pretty and colleagues has attempted to assess the range of experiences, but the
January 25, 2010 / News
What is seasonality and why does it matter?Seasonality has long been recognised as a major determinant of poverty, food insecurity and hunger in tropical countries. Agricultural seasonality arises from the peculiar feature of farming in the tropics: that farmers harvest
January 25, 2010 / News
The Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC) recently published an in depth evaluation of the 2006-07 Malawian government subsidy programme for fertilisers. The evaluation, by Andrew Dorward (FAC and University of London) and Ephraim Chirwa (FAC and University of Malawi), assesses the
January 25, 2010 / News
FAC member John Thompson reflects on the 2008 World Food Summit, arguing that any solutions will require the international community to move beyond simple, short-term technical or market ‘fixes’ and address the political economy of food and agriculture. The UN
January 25, 2010 / News
Dercon and El Beyrouty make several important points in their note of Dec 4 about the role of agriculture in economic growth and the relationship between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors in the process of structural transformation. Where Dercon and El
January 25, 2010 / News
What is the role of agriculture in Africa's economic growth? An opinion article by Stefan Dercon and Kareen El Beyrouty critiques arguments for "agriculture first" programmes. Michigan State University Food Security Group provide comment and stress the importance of re-investing
January 25, 2010 / News
Agriculture is an urgent global priority and farmers find themselves in the front line of some of the world’s most pressing issues—climate change, globalization and food security. Twenty years ago, the Farmer First workshop held at the Institute of Development
January 25, 2010 / Researchers
{jcomments off} Blessings Chinsinga is a Senior Lecturer teaching Development Administration, Public Policy Analysis and Institutions and Development at the Department of Political and Administrative Studies,Chancellor College, University of Malawi. He holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University
January 25, 2010 / Researchers
Gem Argwings-Kodhek is a Senior Research Fellow at Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University.
January 25, 2010 / Researchers
John Omiti is a Senior Policy Analyst and Head of Productive Sector Division at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). He holds a PhD in agricultural economics from the University of New England.
January 25, 2010 / Organisations
http://www.soas.ac.uk/ {jathumbnail off}The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is a college of the University of London and the only Higher Education institution in the UK specialising in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East.SOAS
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