Statement By Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at 24th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council
Statement By Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at 24th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council
UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
24th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council
Statement By Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at
Your Excellency, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Chairperson of the Executive Council;
Your Excellency, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission;
Honourable Ministers;
Excellencies;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;
Let me first rejoice with the successful celebration of fifty years of African unity commemorated throughout the continent in 2012. The fact that the continent seems to have framed the moment in terms of renewing the Pan-African commitment of its independence heroes, while looking into the future, speaks volumes. Africa is on the threshold of a new beginning.
Your Excellencies,
Today in a village in Zambia, a woman will walk 5 kilometers to reach her one hectare maize or potato plot. Using a hoe or cutlass, she will carefully tend her crops, slashing away weeds and straightening potato tendrils, whilst praying for the rain which will be two weeks late. For without rain, she may not be able to harvest the usual 2.1 metric tons per hectare, part of which feeds her family, part of which she will sell in the local market. The money she makes will mostly go towards paying school fees or hospital bills and medication, should any of her children or herself get sick.
I speak of a woman in Zambia, but I must as well be speaking about the young cattle herder at the foot of the Kilimanjaro, who has to wake up each morning to graze cattle before rushing off to school; or a Ghorrane in the Sahelian Chad looking desperately for water in the desert; or the fishmonger on the shores of Shenge, who now has minimal fish sales due to the activities of pair trawlers off the coast of Sierra Leone; or even the Ethiopian coffee farmer whose annual harvest is reducing due to infestation of the coffee berry borer pest.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the average African farmer - mostly female, frail, with a small plot, and absolutely dependant on nature and the weather.
Given that approximately sixty-five percent of Africans rely on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood and despite the wide variety of crops, animals and farm practices across the continent, it is no surprise that Africa has the lowest levels of agricultural productivity in the world. While land productivity in India has grown from 0.95 tons per hectare to 2.53 tons per hectare over the past fifty years; Africa’s land productivity is stuck at 1.5! This is in spite of agricultural land being 3 to 6 times more available in Africa when compared to countries like China and India which, despite having a much lower per capita available agricultural land at 0.6 hectare for China or 0.3 hectare for India, successfully managed to secure food for their people.
You will agree with me that Africa, though with immense natural resources, is the world’s most food insecure region. Around 226 million people, or one out of every five people in Africa, are chronically food insecure. In fact, compared to the rest of the world, while Africa hosts around 15 per cent of the world’s populations, it is home to close to one-third of those affected by hunger in our planet.
In the midst of these challenges, however, there is no doubt that agriculture in Africa has also had some success stories.
The interventions of the government of Ghana to introduce mechanized farming system and make block farm a reality for small-scale farmers has successfully turned the country into an established food basket. In Uganda, the production of fish has dramatically increased by 35 percent over the last decade, resulting in aquaculture production rising from 285 metric tons in 1999 to over 100,000 metric tons nowadays. Egypt’s rice yield today stands at 9 metric tons per hectare, which makes it the best rice output performance in the world. Its rice production is expected to reach around 7.5 million tons in 2014 with earnings of about half a billion dollars. Water harvesting in Tanzania has been successfully scaled-up in the lowlands, where seasonal rainfall can be as much as 600 to 900 mm, improving the Majaluba rain fed rice farms. With the help of low cost individual Pump Schemes, Nigerian farmers have turned to small-scale irrigation using shallow groundwater recharged by the river and lifting it by shadouf or calabash in the dry season to grow vegetables for city dwellers.
These successes are, still, and sadly, not the average picture. We must admit we have to increase productivity. The majority of African farmers have not benefited from initiatives and programmes aimed at improving farming techniques, better farm equipment, seeds, fertiliser, post harvest technology, agricultural financing and so on.
The question to ask is why it is that minimal level of success has been attained so far?
The simple response is that agriculture, the sector which seems to hold one of the key solutions for the continent’s transformation, has been long neglected and ill guided. This is reflected by the fact that spending, either public expenditure or Official Development Assistance has largely been improperly allocated, not addressing fundamental agricultural needs. For example, in 2002, Africa received almost double the amount of ODA to agriculture at US $713.6million of what was given to the countries of Eastern and South- East Asia at US$ 479.8 million. This did not, however, translate into greater return for the extra dollar. African countries’ expenditure on agriculture has always been—with few exceptions—less than the CAADP estimated target of 10 per cent.
History tell us that nations that have succeeded in taking their people out of poverty have done it on the back of an agricultural revolution that involved systematic improvements in production, storage, processing and use. Increase in agricultural productivity, has, from the time of the European industrial revolution contributed immensely to fast tracking the structural transformation of economies. The effect of the agricultural revolution on the economies of Brazil, India and China give an illustration of how the surplus from increased agricultural productivity can fuel industrial growth.
Africa’s agriculture has yet to be used as a true tool for transformation. Africa has within its reach, the capacity, the people, resources and opportunities to lead the way on sustainable development. A truly transformational agricultural sector requires several prerequisites for a coherent policy drive. Let me propose a ‘6 R’ strategy
First we need to re-emphasize strategies and policies for structural agricultural transformation. Taking into account the integrated approach to the economic, social and environmental dimensions we need to focus on food, land, water, forest security, bio energy resources, urban-rural as well as forward and backward linkages between agriculture and other evolving sectors of the African economies. This is how we will make agribusiness a major goal.
Second, we must reduce the vulnerability of millions of African small-scale farmers and consumers to high, volatile prices while increasing the resilience to shocks. The misconception of food security as a replacement for poverty reduction must be debunked. Food security should be approached economically and not as a poverty reduction programme.
Third, while recognizing Africa’s industrialization must be commodity-based we need to make the case that this is the way to redirect the planet’s climate change concerns. Value addition should take place close to where the resources are, thereby reducing large carbon footprints that come with transporting commodities over wide distances for processing. African producers must become price makers and not price takers. We have a controlling size, and can set commodity trends. The proposed deal between cocoa processors Cargill and Archer Daniels Midlands, if it goes through, will see the two companies controlling up to 60% of total world trade in cocoa, when it is Africa that produces it!
Fourth, we have to redefine industrial policy to avoid a blueprint approach, where it is a set of predefined interventions. It must instead be embedded in the private sector and must generate processes and procedures that can understand and address to the ever-changing needs of industry. This is how we do not copy but rather learn from import substitution of Latin America and export-driven in parts of Asia. Ours should be an industrialization that looks into our assets, commodities and African growing market, and maximize the links with the agricultural sector.
Fifth, retain the opportunities presented to Africa for green growth. These offer an array of investment opportunities. Africa must see itself as a key player for solving climate change issues, rather than a victim. With the largest reservoir of unused arable land, it is the natural leader in a food insufficient world. Not being locked to any technology preferences also allows the leapfrogging to a green and clean energy, boosted by the best potential in this area in the world.
And finally, Africa must remain firm against unfair trade policies and protocols. For example, agricultural subsidies in developed countries continue to distort international commodity markets and lead to dumping, depressing prices and therefore making it unprofitable for African small holder farmers. This “Year of Agriculture and Food Security” provides an opportunity for Africa to take the lead in multilateral negotiations on agriculture, with key focus on access to international markets, export competition such as the use of export subsidies and removing domestic support and subsidies in developed countries. The recent Bali WTO agreement demonstrated the strength displayed by India, with a smaller economy than Africa. The lesson is obvious.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The possibilities for growth are endless and Africa is now ready take the next step- we need to keep the growth up and make it transformative. Africa’s agricultural transformation model must capitalize on our strengths and resources whilst taking advantage of new advances in science and leapfrogging obsolete technology. We are near the threshold of what is required to push poverty down. Predictions of 6% growth this year means we need one extra percent to attain the famous 7% that will turn our fortunes around.
Your Excellencies, the Ghanaians have a saying, ‘the drummer plays better on a full stomach’. Recent estimates by ECA and its partners show that African countries stand to lose between 2 to 16 per cent of GDP due to stunting of children as a result of malnutrition. We can address this in a convincing way. Over US 15 billion have been spent in agricultural aid in Africa over the last two decades and we still have not been able to deal with basic malnutrition. We do not need to say more to finally realize we need to change tack and speed. We need an African agricultural revolution.
To the cattle young herder living at the hills of the Kilimanjaro or the Sahel, improved pastures will mean that he will be able to spend more time in school; to the fishmonger, an improvement in fish catch through policies that ban pair trawling on the high seas mean more income for her family; to the Ethiopian coffee farmer, pest resistant varieties of coffee seedlings will improve the size and quality of harvest: and to the Tanzania maize woman farmer, an improvement in her yield from 2.1 metric tonnes per hectare to 10 metric tones per hectare means she has enough money to keep her children in school and to start a small business.
ECA is already closely working with the governments of Bostwana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Mauritius to put in place such measures, through ECA’s proposed commodity based industrialization plans.
Ladies and gentlemen, within this context, the 2014 year of “Agriculture and Food Security in Africa” will take its relevance and agriculture will become a true rallying point for change on the continent and beyond as we seek to achieve, in the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘an Africa where there would be work, bread, water and salt for all’.
I thank you for your kind attention.
Topic Resources
2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, Marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP
Theme:
“Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development ”
Concept Note
1. Introduction
The African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, during its 19th Ordinary Session, held from 15-16 July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, declared the year 2014 to be the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, marking 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
Over the last decade, through the instrumentality of CAADP, African agriculture and food security concerns remain high on the policy agenda at national, regional, continental and global levels. Thanks to such concerted actions, the performance of African agriculture has been encouraging – with annual agricultural GDP growth having averaged nearly 4 per cent since 2003 – well above the agricultural GDP growth rates for the previous several decades. It is absolutely necessary to sustain the momentum of such a positive change and development taking place in Africa well into the next decade. The AU Decision declaring 2014 to be the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, and marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP, is an important milestone and an opportunity that should be seized in the resolve to continue to uphold agriculture and food security as priority for policy and practical actions to generate concrete results and impacts.
True to its name, the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security will be commemorated across Africa, in Member States, Regional Economic Communities, Continental organisations, and of course at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It will be a year that gives opportunities to communities, state and non-state actors in Africa to interact, express their voices on what works and chart the focus and targets for the next decade. The process will facilitate for this voices to contribute towards setting the agenda for sustaining the CAADP momentum which forms the basis for African leaders to recommit themselves towards realizing the vision set out in 2003.
It is also remarkable that the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security is to be commemorated in 2014 following, and overlapping with at least for the first half of the year, the continued celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU, particularly at a time when the thrust of the African Union Agenda 2063: “A Shared Strategic Framework for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development” is being deliberated. Truly, the agenda of agricultural transformation is strategically positioned to provide enormous opportunities for an inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.
This concept note is intended to provide general information on how 2014 the Year of Agriculture and Food Security, marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP, is envisaged to be commemorated. It briefly presents the proposed theme and sub-themes around which the various events are going to be organized, which will be followed by an outline of the actions and events that will guide the activities outlined. Finally, the different structures and mechanisms that are proposed to steer and manage the process to fruition are defined.
2. Background and rationale
Africa has recognised that enhanced agricultural performance is key to growth and poverty reduction through its direct impact on job creation and increasing opportunities, especially for women and for the youth; on food security and improved nutrition; and on building resilience. This is due to both the heavy weight of agriculture in African economies and livelihoods, and the strong linkages that agriculture forges with other sectors.
In 2003, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted the Maputo Declaration on CAADP setting broad targets of 6% annual growth in agricultural GDP, and allocation of at least 10% of public expenditures to the agricultural sector. The leaders signalled their intentions to achieve these targets through collective actions across the continent focused on improving agricultural planning and policies, scaling up investment to implement these plans and policies, and harmonising external support around African-owned plans.
A decade of CAADP experience has demonstrated that Africa as a region has a well-crafted, home-grown framework guiding policies, strategies and actions for agricultural development and transformation; which has been instrumental in raising the profile of agriculture at the centre of development agenda at national, regional and global levels; which has also facilitated mobilization and alignment of multi-stakeholders partnerships and investments around national agriculture and food security investment plans that have been developed through the CAADP process.
CAADP has also encouraged and facilitated for evidence based planning, and commitment to institutional and policy reforms with a sense of mutual accountability for actions and results, as well as for demonstrated African ownership, and for active engagement of partnerships of multi-stakeholders. Mechanisms such as agricultural sector reviews at country level, and annual CAADP Partnership Platforms are increasingly being used as review and dialogue platforms in fostering accountability for results on agriculture performance.
It is significant to note that to date 34 AU Member States have signed CAADP compacts; 30 among them have developed formal national agriculture and food security investment plans – and these have become their medium term expenditure frameworks for agriculture, thus resulting in improved agricultural planning. At regional level, four (4) out of eight RECs have also signed Regional compacts out of which three have developed fully costed investment plans. On average public agricultural expenditures have risen by over 7 per cent per year across Africa since 2003, nearly doubling public agricultural expenditures since the launch of CAADP .
Obviously demand for more clarity has been expressed in terms of further elaboration and refinement of the CAADP targets, and assessment of technical efficacies and political feasibilities for success as well as identifying key factors that define success in agricultural transformation. The AU Commission and NPCA have recently commissioned studies to try and provide some answers to these vexed questions. The outcomes of the studies are expected to provide an important input into the series of deliberations and mutual learning and experience sharing opportunities planned during the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP.
In terms of performance, annual agricultural GDP growth has averaged nearly 4% since 2003 – well above the agricultural GDP growth rates for the previous several decades. Several Member States have also achieved significant improvements in tackling the challenges of hunger, undernourishment and extreme poverty. It is important to note that in most African countries, it is the improvement of agricultural performance that can contribute towards the achievement of pro-poor growth. Empirical evidences suggest that a 1% gain in GDP originating from agriculture generates a 6% increase in oval all expenditure of the poorest 10% of the population; in contrast a 1% gain in GDP originating from non-agricultural sectors creates zero growth.
These experiences are strong indicators that inclusive growth as advocated under CAADP is a process requiring sustained and concerted actions and efforts in application of quality policies, strategies, programmes, and investments driven by strong political commitment and leadership and fostering effective partnerships. It is therefore, desirable that the next decade will build on this momentum to deliver in an accelerated manner, positive changes towards prosperity that directly impacts on livelihoods of African citizens through an inclusive agricultural transformation process.
3. Objectives and expected outcomes
3.1. Objectives
i. To facilitate broad-based and inclusive consultations, and dialogue among all relevant stakeholders (parliamentarians, women groups, youth groups, farmers organisations, CSOs, private sector, etc.) on African Agriculture and food and nutrition security,
ii. To facilitate mutual learning and experience sharing among countries with a view to strengthening and deepening country engagements and ownership to advance the agriculture and food security agenda.
iii. To facilitate high level political dialogue on collective actions and seek demonstrable commitment by the Heads of State and Government for a sustained support and engagement on agriculture through the CAADP framework.
iv. Facilitate dialogue with Africa’s strategic partners – for demonstrable commitment to programme alignment, harmonization, coordination and mutual accountability for results.
3.2. Expected Outcomes
(i) Enhanced level of awareness and engagement among broad spectrum of African citizenry (legislators, farmers organisations, CSOs, women and youth groups, private sector, etc.)
(ii) Improved platforms for multi-sectoral actions at country and regional levels.
(iii) Renewed demonstrable political commitment by African leaders through adoption of an AU Declaration to sustain the momentum to deliver on a set of measurable goals and targets.
(iv) Renewed demonstrable commitment by Africa’s partners to alignment, harmonization and coordination of programmes and support and to mutual accountability for results.
4. Theme and sub-themes
The proposed theme for 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security, Marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP is:
“Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, through harnessing opportunities for inclusive growth and sustainable development”.
There is now broad consensus that without a successful agricultural transformation, neither could agricultural growth be sustained nor would its impact on prosperity and poverty reduction be ensured.
The goal of agricultural transformation in Africa, first and foremost is to enable production and availability of food for the population, and provide livelihoods to those involved, raise income, create jobs and wealth of those involved in the sector and along the entire value chain. But it is also functional to the attainment of other macroeconomic objectives through its forward and backward linkages with the other sectors. African agriculture needs a major transformation if it has to significantly contribute towards the improvement of livelihoods of the population as well as to the broader countries macroeconomic welfare and prosperity.
As is known, African agriculture is predominantly smallholder agriculture – the majority of which is organized by women farmers; hence, unavoidably should be at the centre of the transformation agenda. Moreover, due to demographic dynamics, the future farmers in Africa are going to be younger, but also they are going to be better exposed to new technologies and ideas, better informed, and with growing needs and aspirations. The issue of motivating the youth to see their future in a growing and transforming agriculture and rural economy presents a real challenge. Therefore, the sooner these considerations are factored in the transformation agenda the better.
Pursuing such critical considerations in a consistent manner, which have hitherto been customarily neglected in policies, strategies and public actions, is nothing but to embrace an inclusive process of growth and sustainable development; and there are clear opportunities if seized can help realize this goal. Some of these opportunities include: (a) the fact that currently agriculture has been high on the agenda at national, regional and global levels, (b) the growing focus on agricultural value-chain development and enhancing the profile of local enterpreneurs, (c) ease of accessibility and wide use of ICT in rural and urban areas, and (d) Africa’s huge untapped productive resources (land, water, human capital, among others).
Therefore the theme is intended to capture these key messages of transformation, impacts, inclusiveness and opportunities.
4.1. Sub-themes
Agricultural transformation and sustained inclusive agriculture growth for shared prosperity and improved lives and livelihoods, as a key plank of Africa socio economic development strategies in the next decade must address the following, which will serve as sub-themes:
(i). Increased agriculture production, productivity and value addition
(ii). Functioning agricultural markets (country and regional markets & trade)
(iii). Increased investment financing (public & private) along the agriculture value chains
(iv). Towards ending hunger in Africa by 2025
(v). Building resilience to address vulnerability to risks
5. Major activities and events
It is anticipated that a series of events and activities are going to be organised throughout the year by various stakeholders at national, regional and continental levels. It is therefore necessary to provide guidance and coordinate these efforts.
During the first half of the year, efforts will mainly be focussed on articulation of the key messages through a process of stakeholders’ consultations, in particular RECs and Member States, and deepening engagement for high level political commitment.
At the continental level, the main events planned for the first half of the year, in the run up to the July 2014 AU Summit include:
i. Launch of 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP, during the January 2014 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia-
ii. The 10th CAADP Partnership Platform Meeting to be held from 19th – 24th March, 2014 in Durban South Africa – organised by AUC and NPCA, which brings together Member States, RECs, key African Institutions and partners to review progress, and synthesise lessons for way forward.
iii. The Joint AU Conference of Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Rural Development, to be held from 28th April – 2nd May, 2014 also in Durban South Africa – which will deliberate on the theme and sub-themes and make resolutions for consideration by the AU Policy organs.
iv. The African Agribusiness Forum planned for June 2014 in Addis Ababa – which among others is expected to explore business opportunities for African entrepreneurs particularly women and youth, in the context of agricultural transformation and inclusive growth; and
v. The July 2014 AU Summit, whose theme will focus on the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa and commemoration of CAADP at 10 - where discussions and deliberations will be dedicated to agriculture, food and nutrition security– and a declaration on “agricultural transformation and inclusive growth for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods” is sought.
An effective advocacy and communication campaign will be launched throughout the year targeting a broad spectrum of audiences. Relevant events that will be co-organised with partners shall be used as important platforms for advocacy, communication and fostering partnerships.
At regional level, RECs are encouraged to take lead to organise events on the theme. Countries will be sensitised and facilitated to organise events on 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security. In addition, forums and organisations with stakeholders representation (women groups, youth groups, farmers organisations, etc.) will be encouraged and facilitated to organise events relevant to their respective concerns.
In shaping the key events leading to the July Summit and mainly towards and during the CAADP PP and Joint Conference of Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Ministers of Fisheries and those of Rural Infrastructure, the engagements and discussions will be guided along the areas of broader thematic areas .
At the launch during the January 2014 Summit, guidelines will be presented for Member States and RECs to engage in extensive in-country and regional consultations to facilitate effective dialogue with all stakeholders.
Launch of 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP.
It is befitting that the 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, marking 10th Anniversary of CAADP, is formally launched during the Assembly session of the January 2014 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The purpose of the proposed launch is to sensitise all stakeholders, in particular Member States and RECs, and provide update on the roadmap for the commemoration, and seek further guidance from Heads of State and Government on way forward.
In addition, a dinner event hosted by the AU Commission on 29th January 2014 in which all African Heads of State and Government, Executives of RECs, Heads of development partners will be invited, will provide opportunity for an interactive of session and interventions from Heads of State and Government on the significance of the theme will be solicited.
Dates:
Jan.15.2014
Agenda 2063 is Africa’s development blueprint to achieve inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development over a 50-year period.