Strategic Agricultural and Food Shortage Solutions for Africa 26 th 28 th March 2012

Transcription

1 Strategic Agricultural and Food Shortage Solutions for Africa 26 th 28 th March 2012 JB Belmont Hotel, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania Sustainable social and economic development in Africa has to be driven by the development of its agricultural sector, which is the mainstay for 70% of its population and 80% of its poor. Under such conditions, significant efforts are clearly needed to make African agriculture more productive and more efficient, but also more resilient to climate change. DAY 1, 26 th March :30 Registration and Morning Coffee 08:45 Importance of Agriculture to Society and the Economy Performance Growth of agricultural production vs. population growth Africa s per capita grain output Sirte Ministerial Declaration Sharm el Sheikh Declaration Confirmed: Hon Edward W Lutaaya, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Kingdom of Buganda 09:30 Socio Economic Factors HIV / Aids Poverty Gender inequality Challenges facing Women involved in agriculture Low water availability Confirmed: Grace Mijiga Mhango, Director, Women in Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa (WASAA) - Malawi 10:15 Morning Tea 10:45 Political Factors Governance Corruption Private and Public Partnerships International Investment restrains Infrastructure Confirmed: Dr. Jude Ssebuwufu, Director, Institute of Ethics and Development Studies - Uganda

2 11:30 The Impact of Climate Change on Africa s Agriculture The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly stated, in Its fourth assessment report published in 2007, that global warming and extreme weather events will affect the world s poorest regions most. In sub-saharan Africa, rain fed crop yields could fall by half between now and The mitigation of these impacts is going to depend on the investments that will be made in water control, irrigation, storage facilities, rural roads, seed production and multiplication and conservation agriculture. Higher temperatures Greater variability of rainfall Extreme events floods droughts Water availability Animal and plant diseases Confirmed: Dr Evans Sikinyi, Seed Trade Association of Kenya - Kenya 12:15 Sponsored Lunch 13:15 Panel Discussion: Africa s Food Imports Facing the challenges of higher food import bills and people s limited access to energy 14:00 Importance of Fertilizer Discussing the Green Revolution Selected Seeds Seed control system Organic fertilizers The Importance of Transport infrastructure on Harvest losses Storage and packing Confirmed: Dr Mwamburi Mcharo, Manager (High Value Non-Staple Crops Programme), ASARECA - Uganda 14:45 Afternoon Tea 15:15 Insurance and Risk Management Types of agricultural risk Implications of climate change for agricultural risks Price risk and volatility Risk management tools Policies and strategies that underpin the development of agriculture Agricultural insurance: policy experiences to improve the efficiency of insurance markets Confirmed: Prof J.H Nyeko Pen-Mogi, Vice Chancellor, Gulu University - Uganda 16:00 End of Day One DAY 2 27 th March :30 Morning Coffee 08:45 Applying Irrigated Agriculture Irrigated Agriculture, occupies 20%of the world s arable land, accounts for more than 40% of total agricultural production. Irrigated agriculture is much less vulnerable to climate Sirte 08 variability and other changes than rain fed agriculture. Yields from irrigated agriculture are three times higher than those from rain fed agriculture. Unfortunately, in Africa, only 7% of arable land is irrigated, with an even lower

3 4% in sub-saharan Africa compared to 38% in Asia. The continent only uses 4% of its water reserves (less than 3% in sub-saharan Africa), against 20% in Asia. That means that on 93% of Africa s agricultural land, the population has to rely on rainfall to live or rather to survive; and rain is becoming increasingly unpredictable on account of climate change. Small water harnessing Irrigation Drainage works Blair Report Soil Moisture Management Confirmed: Hon Prof Magembe, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture - Tanzania 09:30 The Use of ICT in Agriculture The use of ICTs in Africa has the potential to enhance the efficiency of governments in formulating and implementing their agricultural policies, a study undertaken with the purpose of evaluating the use of mobile phones and its implication on farm production in western Kenya revealed that mobile phones greatly helped farmers in their output, ability to bargain and access to funds. Unfortunately, most national ICT and agricultural policies in Africa do not prioritize the use and application of ICTs for rural communities. However, use of ICTs such as mobile phones can be hindered by lack of information, low levels of education and the cost e.g. of the phones and Airtime. IDASA, Kenya, 2010 Confirmed: Judith Payne, e-business Advisor, USAID (EGAT/I&E/ICT) - Kenya 10:15 Morning Tea 10:45 Water Control Investment needs for water control Analysing current Countries Water Policies and procedures Legislation Production factors Dry spells and supplementary irrigation Confirmed: Dr Hezron Mogaka, Director of NRM&B Programme, ASARECA - Uganda 11:30 Land Resource Management Retention of soil moisture Catchment of runoff water Capturing of Rainwater Re-use of groundwater Confirmed: Drake Mubiru, SRO, National Agriculture Research Organisation - Uganda 12:15 Sponsored Lunch 13:15 Water Technology and Hydro-agricultural Works Encourage the adaptation of current technologies Promoting innovative technology an research Technological Measures Discussing irrigation and hydropower potential Reasons for current operations performing below capacity Technical and economic reasons institutional and social reasons Confirmed: Dr Kodjo P. Abassa, Agricultural Advisor and Coordinator, Biotechnology Program - UNECA 14:00 Genetically Modified Seeds (GMO) Pros and cons of GMO Risks of GM crops toxic health environmental effects International bans on GM Alternatives other than GMO s

4 Confirmed: Dr Kodjo P. Abassa, Agricultural Advisor and Coordinator, Biotechnology Program - UNECA 14:45 Afternoon Tea 15:15 The Role of CAAPD and COMESA Under CAADP, African governments are committed to increase their national budget expenditure on agriculture to at least 10 %. The Programme, agreed by heads of state at the 2003 summit of the African Union, expects a six % growth rate in agriculture every year. How can CAADP and other organisations build a future together? Linking agricultural policies and programmes to CAAPD s four pillars Discussing the part of FANRPAN Confirmed: Peter Muchoki Njoroge, Chair-Competition Commission, COMESA - Kenya 16:00 End of Day Two DAY 3, 28 th March :30 Morning Coffee 08:45 Private Sector Investment in Agriculture The public and private sectors need to work together to create an environment which unleashes the entrepreneurship of the peoples of Africa, generates employment and encourages individuals and firms, both domestic and foreign, to invest - Sirte 2008 Highlighting Africa s untapped resources and agricultural possibilities Investment priorities Tariffs and Tax incentives Improve policies for enhancing private sector investments Financing Agriculture through financial institutions Addressing the structure of existing investment portfolios Adaptation to future needs, private sector investment e.g. hydroelectric energy Confirmed: Dr Monty P Jones, Executive Director, FARA - Ghana 09:30 Forestry Geospatial information Risk Management in forestry Role of Forestry in Africa s Agriculture as a hole Addressing the potential of agriculture and forest management in combating climate change Strategies to do reforestation or afforestation Soil Fertility Crop health Insect infestations Drainage patterns Confirmed: Dr Evans Sikinyi, Head: Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, KEPHIS - Kenya 10:15 Morning Coffee 10:45 Highlighting the Need and Importance of Infrastructure Support Market Access Storage Rural roads Small scale irrigation Role of the ADEA Confirmed: Mr. Zachary Makanya, Country Coordinator, PELUM - Kenya

5 11:30 Climate Smart Agriculture Productivity Resilience Greenhouse gases Food security Development goals Confirmed: Dr. Charles Ssekyewa, Director of the African Research and Documentation Centre, UMU - Uganda 12:30 Sponsored Lunch 13:30 Using Bio Energy in Agriculture New innovations and opportunities for Bio Energy in Africa Using Renewable Energy for efficient waste management Using agriculture to become a significant source for bio-fuel production, Researcher, UDMS: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - Tanzania 14:15 Organic Farming Partnerships between farmers, farmer groups, NGOs and civil society organizations (CSOs), organic movement organizations, governments and certifying bodies at all levels foster successful organic agriculture. In order to facilitate the spread of organic agriculture there is a need to work at all levels: local, national and international, as well as to encourage more links between governments, NGOs and the private sector. UN 2008 Is organic agriculture the answer for food security in Africa? Benefits of Organic Farming Limitations and challenges to the spread of organic agriculture in Africa IFOAM s Principles of Organic Agriculture Confirmed: Dr Sarah Olembo, Senior Policy Officer, AU (REA) - Ethiopia 15:00 Afternoon Tea 15:30 Crop Protection Management and Seed Fertilizers Risks and benefits of Agricultural Pesticides Protecting crops from pests insects weeds disease theft Pesticide- based approaches Barrier-based approaches Biotechnology- based approaches Confirmed: Mr. Badi Omar, Regional Manager, GRAINPRO INC - Kenya 16:15 End of Day Three and End of Conference