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7 July: China and Brazil in African agriculture – news roundup
July 7, 2014 / FAC blog Brazil seeks greater agro-business ties with Angola The Brazilian ambassador to Angola recently stressed the need for stronger ties between the two countries, during which she stressed the potential role of agro-business. She also spoke of a biofuel project in
CAADP: how can Africa’s agricultural development be sustained?
July 7, 2014 / Policy Processes An event in the UK Houses of Parliament on ‘The future of African Agriculture and CAADP’ will be held on 15 July. Colin Poulton, convenor of the Policy Processes theme of Future Agricultures, will be discussing new research on the
Why the Green Economy matters for Africa
July 4, 2014 / Green Economy in the South On 8 July, the Green Economy in the South international conference begins in Tanzania. PLAAS/Future Agricultures researcher Emmanuel Sulle blogs on why critical perspectives on this issue and its impacts - from ecotourism and energy, to 'green grabbing' and displacement
Contested Margins, Complex Pathways: The Afar Triangle in the Horn of Africa
July 2, 2014 / Working Papers Future Agricultures Working Paper 94 Alan Nicol and Mosope Otulana June 2014 The ‘Afar Triangle’ straddles Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Historically it has been at the centre of state building and contestation between state and
Grazing rights in Namibia’s communal areas: A case study of a local land grabbing dispute…
July 2, 2014 / Working Papers Full title: Grazing rights in Namibia’s communal areas: A case study of a local land grabbing dispute in Western Kavango region Future Agricultures Working Paper 93 Theodor Muduva June 2014 While conflict and competition over land is a major trend
Pastoralism, politics and violence
July 2, 2014 / Pastoralism Two new working papers present studies of conflict among pastoralists and other groups in two regions of the Horn of Africa and an area of Northern Namibia. Pastoralists are responding to social and economic changes in different ways. Understanding the
Conference Programme – Green Economy in the South
July 1, 2014 / Papers and documents - Green Economy in the South Conference Programme for the Green Economy in the South conference in July 2014.
Abstract book – Green Economy in the South
July 1, 2014 / Papers and documents - Green Economy in the South A complete listing of abstracts for the papers to be presented at the Green Economy in the South conference in July 2014.
Background – Agricultural Investment and the Land Rush
July 1, 2014 / Agricultural investment and the land rush In August 2014, the Southern Africa event Making Agricultural Investment Work for Africa: A parliamentarian response to the land rush is the last in a series of events organised by the Pan African Parliament. African countries and institutions, such as
Strengthening African seed systems
June 25, 2014 / Science, Technology and Innovation A regional dialogue on “Strengthening African Seed Systems: Technical, Economic and Policy Challenges” took place in Nairobi on 14-15 July, hosted by Future Agricultures and the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development. Video and presentations from the event are
25 June: China and Brazil in African agriculture – news roundup
June 25, 2014 / FAC blog ‘No to ProSAVANA’ campaign video The ‘No to ProSAVANA’ campaign has made a video about their protest aimed at recruiting more farmers and supporters to their cause. It accuses the ProSAVANA project of neo-colonialism and portrays the situation as a
Neo-traditionalism, chieftaincy and land grabs in Ghana
June 24, 2014 / Policy Briefs Policy Brief 74 Joseph Yaro and Dzodzi Tsikata The achievement of the Ghanaian state’s objective of modernising agriculture by encouraging transnational capital necessarily requires the regulation of the activities of chiefs in land transactions to prevent the misuse of neo-traditional
Kenya’s Land Reform Agenda: Pastoralism within the Current Land Debate
June 24, 2014 / Policy Briefs Policy Brief 73 John Letai Kenya’s Community Land Bill could herald a new and improved approach to securing the rights of pastoralists to land, grazing and water. Devolving the governance of these resources to the local level could provide pastoralists
Beyond the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP)? The Political Economy of CAADP Processes in Malawi
June 24, 2014 / Working Papers Full title: Beyond the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP)? The Political Economy of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Processes in Malawi Future Agricultures Working Paper 92 Blessings Chinsinga May 2014 This paper examines the political economy of the
IFAMA 2014: Is Africa’s future ‘upstream’ and ‘post-farm’?
June 24, 2014 / FAC blog Sessions at the forum had a strong focus on the so-called ‘talent factor’, those bright young students who are being groomed to become the next generation of scientists, technology developers, supply-chain specialists and CEO’s of multi-national companies. The future, it
Sustainable intensification: don’t forget the politics
June 19, 2014 / Land The idea of 'sustainable intensification' has gained traction in recent years. But what does it mean for Africa? In a new blog post, Ian Scoones argues that advocates of SI should pay more attention to social contexts and political choices
Sustainable intensification: a new buzzword to feed the world?
June 19, 2014 / FAC blog To answer this, we have to probe a bit further and ask what analytical frameworks underpin the concept and its definition, and what policy narratives flow from it? The Science article, and the Oxford Martin School report which preceded it,
16 June: China and Brazil in African agriculture – news roundup
June 16, 2014 / FAC blog Chinese agricultural engagements in Mozambique The Chinese news agency Xinhua has published a series of articles on Chinese engagements in Mozambican agriculture. They all report successes of Chinese projects in the region and two of the articles cite Sergio Chichava,
GM crops: continuing controversy
June 16, 2014 / FAC blog Most sensible scientists would not go so far. Indeed these days much of the advocacy of GM crops is presented in terms of seemingly balanced positions on technology choices. The same lead author of the recent advisers’ report also led
Into the fold: what pastoral responses to crisis tell us about the future of pastoralism in the Horn
June 4, 2014 / Working Papers Future Agricultures Working Paper 91 Jeremy Lind and Lina Rivera Barrero May 2014 This paper is concerned with how pastoral livelihoods are likely to evolve in areas of the Horn of Africa where processes of incorporation are intensifying. More than
Pastoralism in Ethiopia: new briefings and paper
June 4, 2014 / Pastoralism The pastoral areas of the Horn of Africa are some of the most dynamic economically on the continent, with a combined export and domestic livestock trade surpassing $1 billion per annum. Livestock marketing is driving urban and small town growth,
Pastoral Livestock Trade and Growth in Ethiopia
June 4, 2014 / Policy Briefs Policy Brief 72 Yacob Aklilu and Andy Catley In Ethiopia, government support to the export of livestock and livestock products started soon after the eradication of rinderpest. This was generic multi-sector support from which the livestock sector benefited, and pre-dated
Investment in drylands: widening the benefits for food security and development
June 4, 2014 / Policy Briefs Policy Brief 71 Izzy Birch and Jeremy Lind After decades of comparative neglect, the drylands of the Horn of Africa are experiencing an unprecedented surge of investment. Largescale infrastructure projects now dominate national development plans. They represent a welcome renewal
Social protection in pastoral areas: promoting inclusive growth at the margins
June 4, 2014 / Policy Briefs Policy Brief 70 Jeremy Lind and Izzy Birch Vulnerability and poverty levels remain stubbornly high and arguably are deepening in many pastoral areas of the Horn of Africa. This is in spite of galloping livestock commercialisation in these areas and
4 June: China and Brazil in African Agriculture – news roundup
June 4, 2014 / FAC blog China’s investments in Zimbabwe up 5000% in 5 years According to the Chinese embassy in Harare, Chinese investments have risen from $11.2mil to $602mil in just 5 years. Zimbabwe’s proportion of Chinese investments into Africa went up from 0.8% of
Accepted papers and panels: Green Economy in the South
June 2, 2014 / Papers and documents - Green Economy in the South A list (updated 20 May 2014) of accepted papers and panels for the Green Economy in the South conference.
Green Economy in the South conference: background
June 2, 2014 / Green Economy in the South The growing idea and practice of the Green Economy is coinciding with financial instability and continued economic woe in the North, but generally happier circumstances in the Global South. Economies are growing and ‘green economic initiatives’ are part of these
Are livestock destroying the planet?
June 2, 2014 / FAC blog The debate is actually hopelessly confused, and confusing. The data in the PNAS article is clear. Inefficient feed systems result in more greenhouse gases being produced during production than more intensive systems (essentially more belching and farting). And white meat
Climate adaptation in West Africa: reviewing policies & evidence
May 29, 2014 / Climate Change Africa’s agriculture sector is commonly regarded as vulnerable to particular impacts of climate change. Adapting to climate change is an important area for research and policy development. A series of three working papers reviews research and policy on climate change
29 May: China and Brazil in African Agriculture – news roundup
May 29, 2014 / FAC blog Lula’s Agricultural pledges in West Africa May 8: In a meeting with Ghanaian and Beninois Presidents Mahama and Yayi, former Brazilian President Lula has pledged support for Ghana’s development infrastructure, including a focus on Agriculture. These meetings were conducted during
Savannah fires and local resistance to transnational land deals: the case of organic mango farming..
May 29, 2014 / Journal articles Full title: Savannah fires and local resistance to transnational land deals: the case of organic mango farming in Dipale, northern Ghana Joseph A. Yaro and Dzodzi TsikataAfrican Geographical Review, Volume 32, Issue 1, 2013 Recent interest in investments in land
Land, Gender, and Food Security
May 29, 2014 / Journal articles Cheryl Doss, Gale Summerfield and Dzodzi TsikataFeminist Economics, volume 20, issue 1, 2014 Since 2008, a surge in large-scale land acquisitions, or land grabs, has been taking place in low- and middle-income countries around the globe. This contribution examines the
Policy processes and agriculture – what difference does CAADP make?
May 29, 2014 / Policy Briefs CAADP Policy Brief 14 It is just over ten years since African Union (AU) Heads of State made their declaration in support of Africa’s agricultural sector in Maputo. Through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), they committed to a
Agriculture and climate change – politics behind the policies
May 29, 2014 / Policy Briefs CAADP Policy Brief 13 Policy-makers are increasingly focusing on the linkages between agriculture and climate change. Since 2009 African Union members have committed to embracing climate change mitigation and adaptation as integral components of agricultural development. While a number of
Review of research and policies for climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector in W Africa
May 28, 2014 / Working Papers Future Agricultures Working Paper 90 Edward R. Rhodes, Abdulai Jalloh and Aliou Diouf May 2014 The agricultural sector in Africa is very vulnerable to climate change and there is need for strong support to research on adaptation to climate change.
Review of research and policies for climate change adaptation in urban areas of West Africa
May 28, 2014 / Working Papers Future Agricultures Working Paper 89 Maruf Sanni, Abdulai Jalloh and Aliou Diouf April 2014 There has been an unprecedented increase in human population and urban development in recent times. The West African sub-region is no exception. The sub-region’s population is
Review of research and policies for climate change adaptation in the health sector in West Africa
May 28, 2014 / Working Papers Future Agricultures Working Paper 88 Seydou Doumbia, Abdulai Jalloh, Aliou Diouf April 2014 The African continent is the most vulnerable region in the world to the impacts of climate change. While there is undisputed evidence that the climate is changing,
Malawi’s agriculture subsidies: book launch, London, 29 May
May 27, 2014 / FAC blog Background: Agricultural input subsidies have been adopted on a large scale across different African countries in the last few years. However global experience with input subsidies has been mixed, and there are concerns that current input subsidies are expensive political
Enhancing the Productive Capacity of Extremely Poor People in Rwanda
May 27, 2014 / Working Papers Working Paper 87 Ricardo Sabates, Stephen Devereux and Pamela Abbott Concern Worldwide launched a programme called ‘Enhancing the Productive Capacity of Extremely Poor People’ – known as the ‘Graduation Programme’ in this report – in two districts of southern Rwanda
Rice, cows and envy: agriculture and change among young rice producers in Guinea-Bissau
May 24, 2014 / Working Papers Working Paper 86 Manuel Bivar and Marina Padrão Temudo In Guinea-Bissau, a country on the West African coast between Senegal, the Republic of Guinea and the Atlantic, rice is the staple food. During the past three decades, agriculture in Guinea-
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Process in Burkina Faso…
May 23, 2014 / Working Papers Full title: The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Process in Burkina Faso: From False Start to Restart Towards Rural Development? Working Paper 85 Augustin Loada This report is about the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
Gender and farming in Ethiopia: an exploration of discourses and implications for policy & research
May 23, 2014 / Working Papers Working Paper 84 Asrat Ayalew Gella and Getnet Tadele There is growing realisation that gender matters in African agriculture. However, a comprehensive and properly contextualised analysis of the nature of gender and gender relations as well as the way it
Becoming a young farmer in Ethiopia: Processes and challenges
May 23, 2014 / Working Papers Working Paper 83 Getnet Tadele and Asrat Ayalew Gella The Ethiopian government’s Agricultural Development Led Industrialization strategy emphasises the instrumental role that rural youth could play in transforming the agricultural sector. However, there exists a significant body of literature documenting
Cautious commercialisation. Findings from village studies in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and…
May 23, 2014 / Working Papers Full title: Cautious commercialisation. Findings from village studies in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi & Tanzania Working Paper 82 Steve Wiggins, Gem Argwings-Kodhek, Samuel Gebreselassie, Samuel Asuming-Brempong, Ephraim Chirwa, Mirriam Muhome Matita, Ntengua Mode & Khamaldin Mutabazi Commercialisation can be central
Changing elderly & changing youth: Knowledge exchange & labour allocation in southern Guinea-Bissau
May 23, 2014 / Working Papers Full title: Changing elderly and changing youth: Knowledge exchange and labour allocation in a village of southern Guinea-Bissau Working Paper 81 Joana Sousa, Ansomane Dabo and Ana Luisa Luz The Nalu people in Cablola, a small village in southern Guinea-Bissau,
Graduation from the Food Security Programme in Ethiopia: FAC Ethiopia Final Report
May 23, 2014 / Working Papers Working Paper 80 Stephen Devereux, Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, Mulugeta Tefera Taye, Ricardo Sabates and Feyera Sima The Government of Ethiopia launched the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in 2005. The overarching objective of the FSP was to break Ethiopia’s chronic dependence
Women’s economic empowerment and collective action in agriculture: new evidence and measurement…
May 23, 2014 / Policy Briefs Full title: Women’s economic empowerment and collective action in agriculture: new evidence and measurement challenges Policy Brief 68 Sally Baden Development actors increasingly claim that their interventions are contributing to women’s economic empowerment, and donors require that monitoring and evaluation
Women’s collective action: new briefings
May 23, 2014 / Gender & Social Difference Two new policy briefs look at how collective action might help women to be more included in agricultural markets. The first (pdf) examines the potential benefits of collective action, how these vary across contexts, and the challenges for policy. The
Mourning the death of Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere
May 21, 2014 / FAC blog Prof Asenso-Okyere was appointed to FAC’s International Advisory Council in 2013, and together with other members of the Advisory Council, launched the three regional hubs of FAC-Africa. He participated in the first Advisory Council meeting in Pretoria, South Africa and