News
John Wyeth and Steve Ashley's review of DFID’s 2005 Agricture Policy
This report considers whether the DFID agriculture polic remains relevant in the light of the recent food crisis and where and why consideration might be given for changes to be made. It is not an evaluation and it does not suggest a new policy but aims to provide direction and identify issues and some alternative ways in which the policy might evolve, especially in its relationship with food security.
Funding opportunity:
Research Into Use (RIU) Call for Proposals - African Innovation Challenge Fund
The RIU management team have decided to focus this call on two key elements which they feel are critical in getting research into use and from which lessons can be drawn for decision makers. These two elements are 1) novel communication methods and 2) public-private partnerships which can stimulate the use of natural resource technologies and processes produced by DFID research activities for the benefit of large numbers of people.
Click here for further details of this call and all documents
New partnership to improve the productivity and incomes of small-scale farmers and poor rural households in Africa.
A new partnership between the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has recently been agreed. MCC and AGRA will work together to identify specific projects and activities to be undertaken by targeted African countries to foster broad-based agricultural growth and poverty alleviation.
Five complementary areas of activities are contemplated: infrastructure, research, access to financing, storage/processing and policy environment.
Article in the International Herald Tribune: Food revolution that starts with rice
Article about Norman Uphoff's work on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) which emphasizes the quality of individual plants over the quantity. The system is proving controversial but is increasingly being used by farmers all over the world.
Fiddling in Rome While the World Burns?
FAC member John Thompson reflects on the 2008 World Food Summit, arguing that any solutions will require the international community to move beyond simple, short-term technical or market ‘fixes’ and address the political economy of food and agriculture.
OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook 2008-2017
Due to a combination of permanent factors underpinning the recent increases in food prices, these higher prices are here for another 10 years at least says the above report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN. Although the current price peaks will come down slightly, the report states that “when the average for 2008 to 2017 is compared with that over 1998 to 2007, beef and pork prices may be some 20% higher; raw and white sugar around 30%; wheat, maize and skim milk powder 40 to 60%; butter and oilseeds more than 60% and vegetable oils over 80%.” The report sets out to answer vital questions surrounding the current food crisis and agricultural development like which of the factors that are driving up prices are temporary and which will prove to be more permanent influences? How will they individually and collectively affect price levels, price trends and price volatility in the future? How will markets react to currently high prices and a more uncertain price outlook? What are the appropriate policy responses?
Ian Scoones talks to The Guardian about the current rises in global food prices
Ian Scoones (Future Agricultures Consortium member) speaks about the current rise in food prices, saying they are an opportunity as well as a challenge. Listen to Ian on this podcast on the Guardian weekly website. Please note Ian’s section starts at 11mins19secs.
FAC/ODI Briefing Paper - Rising Food Prices: A global crisis
The FAC, ODI and the Chronic Poverty Research Centre have just published a briefing which examines the causes of rising food prices, expected trends, the likely impact, and possible policy responses.
Kofi Annan calls for a 'Uniquely African Green Revolution' to address food crisis
Mr Annan was speaking at the ‘Toward a Green Revolution in Africa' conference in Salzburg, Austria, which kicks off a multi-year initiative by the Salzburg Global Seminar, the Future Agricultures Consortium and the Institute of Development Studies in the UK. The initiative seeks to develop a new vision for African agricultural development.
more...
FAC engagement with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
Future Agricultures Consortium partner Amdissa Teshome reports from the CAADP Review Partnership Platform Meeting (March 17-20 2008)
New DFID Research Strategy 2008-2013
DFID will spend around £1 billion over the next five years on development research. The UK Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander revealed details of the new priorities at the London launch on April 22nd.
Details and reactions>>
DFID's strategy on Sustainable Agriculture>>
Evaluation of Malawi Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme
Future Agricultures Consortium partners Andrew Dorward, Ephraim Chirwa and colleagues have produced a major evaluation of the 2006/7 Malawi Government Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme (AISP). The team assessed the impact and implementation of the AISP in order to provide lessons for future interventions in growth and social protection.
Malawi Fertiliser Subsidy Programme in the news
Malawi's Fertiliser Subsidy Programme (FSP) was the subject of an article in the New York Times on 7 December 2007. The article discussed how the FSP has been hailed as a great success by some people, despite having been opposed by some major aid donors, such as the US and British governments.
Read the FAC policy briefings on the Malawi FSP here.
IAASTD Plenary Meeting Report
The postponed inter-governmental plenary meeting of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) took place in Johannesburg, South Africa in April 2008. The meeting represented the culmination of three years of work to assess and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of international research into agricultural technologies for development. The final reports from the event are available to download on the IAASTD website.
Events Diary
Boosting Smallholder Agricultural Production in Africa: Learning lessons from SABMiller’s small scale farming projects
Towards and African Green Revolution
April 2008
A Workshop on Investing in Sustainable Crop Intensification: The Case for Improving Soil Health, 22-24 July, FAO, Rome
The 3rd African Green Revolution Conference will take place August 28-29, 2008 in Oslo, Norway
For more information:
click here
12th Africa Forum: Making agri-business work for rural livelihoods; In support of CAADP implementation at country level
29 September to 3 October 2008, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 12th Africa Forum is being hosted by the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The forum is co-organised by the Sector Network Rural Development (SNRD) of GTZ and the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of NEPAD.
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme(CAADP) events calendar for 2008
The Global Donor Platform on Rural Development events calendar for 2008
New Agriculturalist events calendar for 2008/09
