Events

“Children suffering from the problem of malnutrition have weakened immune systems; as a result they become vulnerable to different infections and diseases. When such children lack immediate health care, they die,” reveals Ms Catherine Kimalando – an officer from the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC).
She was speaking at the NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Tanzania, in May 2013, adding that malnutrition is among the major health challenges facing Tanzania, whereas children under the age of five years suffer the most, while malnourished adults suffer from complications such as diabetes, heart problems and the like.

Ms Kimalando says further that it is important that mothers eat healthy food, especially during pregnancy in order to help the fetuses to develop well before birth.

She is of the opinion that awareness must be created in communities, drawing from 2010 statistics that show that there is a baby dying of malnutrition after every few seconds – as in that year alone over 40,000 toddlers died of the same cause.

Scientists consider malnutrition as being very much responsible for the stunting problem, particularly if the mother, during pregnancy did not eat balanced diet. They argue that human brain starts growing from conception, and this growth develops fast until the age of two. This is a very crucial moment in a child’s life for developing a well-balanced health.

Ms Kimalando argues that proper feeding, particularly of fortified foods, from an early age can cut the problem of stunting in adults by up to 20 per cent.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives during the opening of a CAADP Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Tanzania, the Ministry’s Unit and Development Aid Chief Economist Margaret Ndaba says that the deliberations at the meeting were very important for the government. This is because they highlighted key factors that can be taken on board as strategies for improving agriculture and food security.

“The agricultural sector is the source of livelihoods for over 75 per cent of the country’s population; it contributes more than 40 per cent of export earnings and earns the country about 60 per cent of foreign exchange. Because of the importance of the sector, and the nature of on-going national policies and strategies, Tanzania will continue to emphasize its reliance on active involvement of Non State Actors (NSA) like farmers’ organisations, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the media,” Ndaba reveals.

Just like many of its counterparts in Africa, Tanzania’s agriculture is yet to be run in an effective manner as production is still low and it is not done in a competitive manner. The challenges that the sector faces, inter alia, are over-reliance on erratic rainfall, use of out-dated farming methods and tools, limited use of fertiliser and improved seeds, post-harvest losses, and poor access to input and output markets, as well as lack or low extension and financial services.

Ms Ndaba says that the sector offers immense opportunities that Tanzanians have not been quick and creative enough to grab. These include plenty of quality arable land, plenty of manpower that is not put to use properly and lack of engaging value addition to crops harvested.

“Agriculture can only become the engine for national economic growth and the source for food and nutrition security if we are able to adequately address these challenges, and harness the available opportunities,” she argues.

According to this statement, CAADP is one among several continent-wide programmes that encourage and guide country efforts to promote rural development and agricultural productivity. CAADP was endorsed by the African Union Assembly in July 2003, whereas it receives the full support of national governments and regional bodies like the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Under this framework, keen interest to invest in agricultural development has also been noted from international development partners.

This growth-oriented agricultural development agenda seeks to increase national agricultural growth rates to 6 per cent per year through the commitment of governments to allocate at least 10 per cent of their national budgets in agriculture.

Successful implementation of the CAADP agenda requires regional economic communities (RECs), national governments and NSAs to work together very closely.

“I am happy to report that, to show its commitment to the CAADP agenda, the government of Tanzania has increased investment in agriculture through the national budget from 3 per cent to the current 9 per cent over the past few years. We aim to increase even further!” Ndaba says.

She says that the government is aware that Tanzania has been losing a staggering amount of over Sh650 billion annuals, about 2.65 per cent, of its national income.
This, she says, cannot be allowed to continue, as agriculture loses over Sh400 billion annually.

Ends
By Kulthum Ally

New technologies for African agriculture

Addis Ababa, 2 June 2013: Africa needs to double food production between now and 2050 to ensure food security for a growing population. Fortunately, new technologies are available  tested, proven and already in use  that can substantially increase crop yields and food production. With government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector working together, these technologies can be scaled out, benefiting millions of families across the continent.

This was the unanimous view of international experts gathered at the Africa Committee meeting of the Board of Directors of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) on 02 June 2013.

The meeting, provided a comprehensive review of IFDC’s Africa projects: progress, challenges, priorities for the future, and opportunities to expand partnerships with other organizations involved in agricultural development in Africa. Specifically, it laid out plans for ongoing and new projects that will expand food production, fight hunger and poverty, and create better livelihoods for small-scale farmers.

Policy makers confident

The meeting was opened by H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Prof. Tekalign Mamo, Adviser to the State Minister for Agriculture, goverment of Ethiopia; and H.E. Dr Agnes Kalibata, Minister for Agriculture, government of Rwanda.

Mr. Mwencha was optmistic that outcomes from the meeting would impact directly on small-scale farmers across Africa. “Agriculture must develop, for national and regional economies to grow,” he said. “Discussions at this meeting will find a place in national policy, and faciltate people to work together to transform Africa from a food importer to an exporter.”

“Agricultural development is a national priority,” Prof. Mamo said. “This is where IFDC’s support, its technical expertise and worldwide experience, will be vital. As an international organization with long experience in Africa, IFDC offers a great deal to national organizations. IFDC projects in Ethiopia have shown excellent results, and I have no doubt that their new initiatives will be equally successful.”

New technologies save resources

Technical presentations at the meeting described new technologies and innovative market-driven approaches that can increase yields, protect soil and water resources, and strengthen agricultural value chains.

One such technology is Fertilizer Deep Placement (FDP) – a simple, low-cost method being promoted by IFDC, that can allows farmers to use 30 to 40 percent less fertilizer, and harvest the same or even higher yields. In Bangladesh, FDP is used on more than 1.3 million hectares, producing an extra 860,000 tons of rice every year. In Africa, it is being scaled out in 13 countries in collaboration with government agencies and international donors. Adoption has grown rapidly because FDP is easy to use, requires only limited investment, and is highly profitable. It is also environment-friendly: it reduces fertilizer contamination of groundwater, and lowers the carbon footprint of fertilizer by a remarkable 60 percent.

African Union

Agriculture is the central element of economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa. It is also the main tool for the attainment of food security and alleviation of hunger on the continent. These two attributes are the basis for the Millennium Development Goal No 1 (MDG1).

The leadership of the AU has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to a food secure Africa especially during the tenure of President Bingu Wa Mutharika of Malawi as Chairman of the African Union. Apart from the launch of the African Food Basket initiative the African Food and Nutrition Security Day was also launched in October 2010.

The Division of Agriculture and Food Security of DREA is best positioned to address to most of these challenges especially through Comprehensive African Agriculture Programme (CAADP) and other projects and programmes.

IFDC, a global leader

IFDC, the International Fertilizer Development Center, is an international non-profit organization that has worked in Africa for almost 40 years. IFDC implements a range of agricultural development projects that have helped increase crop yields, improve soil fertility, build market linkages, and train and support farmers as well as agro-entrepreneurs.

In Ethiopia, IFDC works closely with the African Union Commission’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Transformation Agency, and with donors such as USAID and the Netherlands.

IFDC and its partners combine cutting-edge research with development programs at grassroots level. Together, they have implemented development projects in over 100 countries; their capacity development initiatives have benefited 150 countries.

For more infomation contact
Dr Oumou Camara
Senior Scientist-Economist Seconded to the African Union Commission and IFDC Country Representative, Ethiopia
Email OCamara@ifdc.org; camarao@africa-union.org

Fish is a food source in Sierra Leone and a big contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The sea food also has the potential to contribute significantly to the health and national purse of many other African countries in the West African region.

Since 2010, more than 252 illegal fishing cases have been reported by over 23 communities in the Sherbro river area and effectively dealt with. Between 2011 and 2012 alone, US$ 300000 was generated for the Sierra Leonean government from communi¬ty surveillance because illegal trawl¬ers were prevented from overfishing vital stocks.

The Environment Justice Foundation now plans to expand the community surveillance model to other areas of West Africa. As a result of the vigilante activities against fishing of restricted stocks, communities liv¬ing around the Sherbro Rivea have reported increased catches of certain species and increased sightings of sharks, an indication of an improved ecosystem health, while in neigh¬bouring Guinea this successful model of has been included in the country’s poverty reduction strategy.
In addition to support the patrol of Sierra Leone’s coast, NEPAD, through its PAF programme has joined forces with the World Bank’s West African Regional Fisheries Programme (WARFP), to assist in reforming the fishing sector in the country.

“The trawlers destroyed our fishing gear, hooks, nets; I am one of the victims. We have no money to buy new net” said Koroa Lahai in the town of Bahoi which is 200 kilome¬tres from Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone.

Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a net through the water behind one or more boats. The vessels that are used for this kind of fishing are called trawlers or drag¬gers. Some of this fishing is done illegally and depletes stocks.

In 2009, NEPAD’s specialised fisheries programmme – the Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF) partnered with fifteen communities in the Sher¬bro Rivea area, and Sierra Leone’s Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) to combat illegal fishing off the region’s coast.

Sierra Leone loses around US$21 million per year to illegal fishing. The “Stop Illegal Fishing working group” is a team of experts have been put together by PAF to work on policy development and implementation on issues of illegal fishing.

Local fishermen were given cameras, satellite tracking locators, and two-radios. They have been using this equipment to report illegal fishing by done mainly by foreign vessels which trawl in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast. Under the law of the sea, an EEZ is a sea area over which a state has special rights over the exploration and fuse of marine resources.

An established community surveil¬lance boat responds to calls from fishermen and other community members who spot pirate or illegal fishing or whose fishing equipment has been destroyed by industrial trawlers operating illegally in the exclusive zone.
Photographs and videos recording are made of any offending vessel, and then reported to the Sierra Le¬one authorities for action.

This evidence is then used to sanction the offenders who are often fined. Authorities also ensure that the catch is not illegally exported to the world’s most valuable seafood markets.

Investments in Post Harvest Loss strategies cardinal says AUC

Lusaka, Zambia, May 14, 2013–The AUC today said investments in agriculture should go beyond improving on-farm productivity to also address Post Harvest Loss (PHL) reduction strategies.

Speaking during the African Union Commission, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) regional engagement on post harvest loss management meeting, Dr. Janet Edeme said significant amounts of food are lost after harvest thereby exacerbating food insecurity on the continent.

She said an efficient post-harvest sector would not only improve food security, but would also provide significant multiplier effects that would in turn enhance supply chain efficiencies, generate rural income and create on and off farm employment.

‘’ Therefore investment in agriculture should go beyond improvements in on-farm productivity to also address the post harvest sector and complementary areas of agri-business and agro-industry, whose potential as engines of economic growth is widely acknowledged.’’ said Dr. Edeme.

Dr. Edeme further acknowledged the endorsement of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), as an African initiative to foster agricultural policy reform at country and regional levels to boost agricultural growth and productivity in Africa.

COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Administration and Finance, Ambassador Nagla El- Hussainy said it was encouraging to note that the CAADP agenda required that African Governments strengthen their post harvest loss reduction strategies.

She said production would only be meaningful if efforts to ensure proper storage of produce were enhanced.

‘’…..High yields without proper infrastructure like storage facilities and roads and without robust interventions along the value chain-indeed without proper harvest systems are a waste of time.” Ambassador El- Hussainy said.

FAO representative for Zambia, Mr. George Okech, said post-harvest loss was a critical element in the quest to promote food security, alleviate poverty and foster the economic growth of African countries.
He noted that Africa’s commitment to invest in agriculture was revealed at the AU’s 13 th Heads of State and Government Summit which was themed, ‘’Investing in Agriculture for economic growth and food security.’’

‘’I am pleased to highlight that most African countries are implementing agricultural strategic frameworks that are in line with CAADP.’’ Mr. Okech said.

Although there is increasing awareness and knowledge amongst Member States, on the problem of PHL and the positive effect that reduced losses can make in improving economic growth and food security situation in the continent, the capacity of African governments and other stakeholders to address and meet this challenge remains very limited. It is in an effort to assist in meeting this challenge that AUC in close collaboration with FAO formulated the PHL Project. The project, to be implemented jointly in close collaboration with the RECs, is designed to strengthen the capacity of Governments and other organizations and institutions in the agriculture sector to tackle PHL by filling some of the exiting knowledge and policy gaps. It is also aimed at promoting increased investments in PHL reduction programmes in the context of the implementation of the CAADP based National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAIPs).

The project intends to build regional level capacities of senior technical officials of: Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Trade and Industries, national research organisations and other public sector institutions involved in post-harvest issues of AU Member Countries to identify, design and implement country level projects targeting PHL reduction and introduce methodologies and tools for conducting post-harvest loss assessments.

The three day training workshop intends to provide strategic guidance and practical know how to stakeholders on how to make effective investments in their post-harvest sectors that will promote food security, enterprise development and economic growth as well as filling in the gaps in PHL. It further intends to come up with bankable proposals to be implemented with support from the African Development Bank within countries’ CAADP agricultural investment plans.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Janet Edeme
Edemej@africa-union.org

Carol Jilombo
Jilomboc@africa-union.org

Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP ) Partnership Platform (PP) to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from March 26-28, 2013.

The 9th CAADP Partnership Platform Meeting Documents (2013)

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