AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SECTORAL SUPPORT. More and Better aid By J K. Mutunga - KENFAP

Transcription

1 AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SECTORAL SUPPORT More and Better aid By J K. Mutunga - KENFAP

2 Characteristics and nature of support Introduction to agriculture Focus on the Economy as the first priority A welcome call after economic neglect leading to deepened poverty and erosion of the social gains of the first 2 decade Government efforts in rehabilitation of the collapsed systems to recovery then growth Efforts led to the development of the ERS The strategy recognizes revitalization of agriculture as the engine of economic growth

3 Introduction SRA was developed as a step towards implementation of the ERS The strategy addresses issues of productivity per unit of land after a sharp decline in the land per capita It focuses on productivity, intensification and diversification of agricultural activities to raise productivity per init The strategy covered several critical issues that require public action

4 Critical issues that requiring public action 1. Reform of the legal and regulatory framework governing agricultural operations in order to make it fair and jus for farmers, processors and others involved in agro related activities. 2. Promotion of research and technology development 3. Reform of the extension service system to create a mor effective linkage between research, extension and th farmers as the ultimate beneficiaries. 4. Establishment and development of a market based agricultural credit and inputs systems. 5. Promotion of domestic processing of agricultura produce in order to provide increased opportunities fo value adding employment creation and foreign exchang earnings.

5 Challenges towards the implementation of the strategy Realization of the pronouncements of the policies into the ultimate results of a prosperous Kenya without food insecurity Private sector and the beneficiaries participation in the realization of the goals of the strategy Progressive reduction of unemployment and poverty Ensuring food security, increase real incomes and raise agricultural productivity Improving the standards of living of Kenyans

6 Why focus on agriculture is so important in Kenya Direct contribution to GDP = 26% Indirect contribution to GDP = 27% Contributes 60% of the export earning Supports about 80% of the population mainly living in the rural areas Supports 80% of the poor people who happen to live in the rural areas (80% of 56% poor = 45% of the poor) Supports the urban poor who rely on the sector Targets pastoralists who for 50% of the poor

7 Prioritising support for agriculture (meaning) Prioritising food insecurity alleviation of food insecurity Addressing hindrances towards provision of effective and adequate support Prioritising target to the 50% food insecure Kenyans Reducing dependence on food aid and famine relief Increasing the productivity of the sector Increasing agricultural growth and development Economic and social development of the country

8 Performance of Agriculture The two post independence decades; growth at an average of 6% Declined to about 3.5% in the 80s Went further down to among the lowest in the world I.e 1.3% in the 1990 to 2000 Performed lower than the population growth rate in the 90s Decline in the overall economic growth and per capita income

9 Government support to the agricultural sector To be equated to or relative to the sector s importance Not been realised as yet Ex. Budgetary allocation for the current year to the sector is 4%, does not reflect the importance Expectations are high, level of support to relate well with associated importance Kenya, a signatory to the Maputo protocol National government support sets the benchmarks

10 Government support to the agricultural sector To utilize correct pointers for other interested partnerships Priorities at national level to generally guide the prospective support Kenya is yet to display the expected correlation The sub regional farmers demand a 30% budgetary support to the sector Similar sentiments aired even in the southern Africa and the regional as a whole in line with CAADP

11 Support by the international community Development support on the decrease as donor countries become richer Un proposal that 0.7% of their national income would suffice Aid has fallen to half the amount given in the sixties Ex =.48% 2003 =.24% A negation to meeting the MDGs such as Cutting poverty levels by half Reducing child mortality

12 Support by the international community The paradox As the rich become richer, they give less and less All the more why we should re-examine our priorities Oxfam report estimates: Between now and 2015, developing countries will lose 45 million more children all factors remaining the sam Support to peasants production in the developed countries will help in food quality improvement, environmental protection and avoid dumping one single factor that destroys peasants production in the developing countries

13 The type of preferred and supported agriculture Financial support is directed to the large scale, intensive, export oriented production Negative consequences: Environmental destruction Loss of biodiversity Destruction of the local peasants production through dumping Reconcentration of land and profits Corporate control of the market and productive resources etc. All the above undermine public support to agriculture therefor the campaign. For a model of production that responds to th needs of the population of a given country.

14 More and better aid campaign Established to be part of the fight to eradicate hunger and poverty Advocates an increase in both the quality and quantity of aid for agric & rural development An independent campaign comprising of social movements, civil society and NGOs The two global FOs IFAP and Via Campesina, re[resenting more than 600 million farmer are part of the campaign Campaign closely linked to the purpose of the UN IAAH and achievement of MDGs The goal of the campaign is to reduce hunger and poverty.

15 More and better aid campaign The campaign will lobby for vital changes in national & international policies geared towards: - A substantial decrease in the number o hungry and undernourished people and people living in poverty A major increase in development aid for agriculture, rural development and food in the developing countries. Significant improvements in the quality of aid for agriculture, rural development and food

16 Common principles of more and MaB recognizes that: Better Aid Campaign The climatic, natural, political, cultural and economic situations of countries are diverse and often unique. However, there are several common principles, which could improve the quality of aid targeted for agriculture, pastoralism, fisheries and rural development.

17 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 1. Aid should support the programs and policies developed by the recipient communities and countries Aid should not disrupt local production and markets. It should support long-term development and respond to the expressed needs of local communities. Local and national food security should be a top priority for aid. Aid should lead to greater autonomy and self- reliance of the recipient countries with regard to food production and availability of food for all. Aid should strengthen the local control of resources and reach the intended beneficiaries in rural areas.

18 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 2. Better aid promotes working with local communities and social organisations: Better aid supports local communities, CBOs and soci organisations in: Building political empowerment; Enhancing the capacity of people to articulate their views Implementation of their own development models Enhancing meaningful participation in developmen processes. It recognises that the needs and realities of rural communities are at the core of solutions to solve hunger and poverty. Development aid should give priority to strengthening smallscale production sector to ensure realisation of sustainable livelihoods for the majority.

19 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 3. Better aid builds on local culture and knowledge: Knowledge held by communities is based on generations of people interacting with their unique surroundings. Better aid should build on the wealth of local culture and knowledge held by communities, supporting processes that facilitate appropriate technological solutions

20 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 4. Better aid promotes diversity: Aid should promote diversities human, cultural, biologica environmental, and production methods 5. Better aid supports a culture of participation: - Better aid generates inclusive dialogue and engagemen among different development actors. It encourages democratic consultations and meaningfu dialogue among agricultural, pastoralism, fisherie forestry and rural development agents - Must be based on ongoing community participation. - Aid should contribute towards reducing existin inequalities.

21 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 6. Better aid recognizes gender as key: Women play a major role in agricultural production and in local food security. Better Aid facilitates the empowerment of women, recognizing the fundamental importanc they hold in providing food for their families and for the community

22 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 7. Better aid promotes sustainability: - Creates sustainable Livelihoods capable of coping with and recover from stresses and shocks that threaten food security without undermining their natural resource base. - Building local capital, social systems, financial capital and the natural resources on which they depend is critical. - Better aid should be guided by a clear development paradigm supportive of the principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability and intergenerational equity

23 Common principles of more and Better Aid Campaign 8. Better aid promotes coherence and linkages: Efforts should foster linkages between the local, national and global, opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing. Better Aid should provide platforms for the exchange of experience globally, provide nationally coherent programs for delivery of Aid, and should foster linkages among local efforts. It should address problematic structures and mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of aid in reaching the world s poor and hungry.

24 What is needed to eradicate hunger? Public Pressure and Political Will The lack of political will by the leaders in the world is one of the main obstacles to eradicate hunger. There is lack of economic resources because of lack of political will. The other main obstacle is wrong policies where the interests of the big companies are given the priority instead of the needs of people and nature. To change the policies and the will of the political leaders, a strong public pressure is needed.

25 What is needed to eradicate hunger? Recognise Food Sovereignty It is crucial that people and countries have the right to decide their own policies to feed themselves and their population as long as this does not violate the same rights for others. Dumping of highly subsidised products from rich countries and the rules of minimum import are destroying local farming in many developing countries. Export orientation of the agricultural production for feeding people. To recognise and implement food sovereignty is crucial to succeed in the fight against hunger and poverty

26 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 2 New International rules for Agriculture an trade. The Agreement on Agriculture in the World Trad Organization (WTO) is not in line with what i needed to eradicate hunger. On the contrary, th rules are causing more hunger. International trade rules should only be about th small portion of agricultural production, which i exported (about 10% of the total agricultura production in the world), and not deal with th conditions for production for domestic.

27 New International rules for Agriculture and trade The principle of food sovereignty should be the base o international trade rules for agriculture. Trade with agriculture products is different than any othe kind of trade. Food is a basic need, and should be treated different tha industrial goods. Therefore, either the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) i the WTO has to be changed fundamentally or agricultur should be taken out of WTO and dealt with within th United Nations system.

28 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 3. Agriculture and Rural Development should be give the highest priority in developing countries and i development assistance. Majority of people in developing countries and th majority of the poor and under nourished is living on th countryside and linked to agriculture. It is therefore, crucial that agriculture and rura development are given the highest priority both by th developing countries themselves and by the dono countries in their development assistance. The development aid for agriculture and rura development should increase significantly.

29 What is needed to eradicate 4. Cancel the Debt hunger? The debt burden of most of the developing countries is one major obstacle in the fight against hunger and poverty. A lot of these debts should be recognised as illegal because it is caused by the decision made by dictators and corrupt regimes and the money is never used for the benefit of the people. Most of the debt is also paid back many times by the payments of interests at high rates

30 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 5 National and International Regulation of Productio and Prices. Over-production on certain agricultural products and low prices are causing major problems. If the prices of tropica products had had the same increase since 1980 as industria goods, developing countries would have had an extr income of USD 250 billion per year that is five times th total development assistance from OECD countries. Agreements on production volumes and prices, whic guarantee farmers in developing countries a proper incom is an important tool in the fight against, hunger.

31 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 7 Agrarian reform and access to resources fo farmers Millions of farmers in developing countries ar landless or have very little land while there ar some big landowners. Redistribution of land to landless farmers an smallholders is one of the most important reform to eradicate hunger in many parts of the world. It is also of crucial and importance that farmer have access as water, seeds and credits.

32 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 8 Protect the Biodiversity and local Knowledge A rich biodiversity in agriculture is important for the food security both today and for the future. Local knowledge about the plants and natural conditions i also very important for the food security. Protection of the biodiversity, respect for and building on traditional knowledge, and to combine the traditional knowledge with new scientific knowledge, should be seen as integrated part of programmes to eradicate hunger. The use of GMOs should be banned since it is a big threa for the biological diversity unless and until effects are we understood

33 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 9. Diversified development of rural areas With Agriculture as the base, there is necessity to develop diversified production and service sectors in rural areas. Strengthening the infrastructure is also of crucial importance.

34 What is needed to eradicate hunger? 10. Power to the Poor and to the Women To eradicate hunger political power for the poo and for poor women especially is of crucia importance. Support to and strengthening the organisations o the poor, strengthen their capacity etc. has to b part of the fight against hunger.

35 Thank you