A presentation was made on 23 February 2012 about the Political Economy and Future of the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) in Malawi. This presentation was made at an Agriculture Policy Dialogue, a forum convened by the Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) whose aim it is to stimulate debate among government, donors and civil society agencies active in the agricultural sector, as a way of developing consensus on contentious issues in the agricultural sector. This particular event was attended by over 100 participants drawn from the three sectors.

The FAC Science, Technology and Innovation Theme carried out two phases of research in five countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe) on the ‘Political Economy of Cereal Seed Systems in Africa’, from which 10 FAC Working Papers were produced (two for each country), as well as a special issue of the IDS Bulletin on the ‘Politics of Seed in Africa’s Green Revolution’ (July 2011) and six FAC Policy Briefs (five country papers and an overview). These have attracted attention from a variety of key actors working on seed R&D policy in Africa, including the FAO Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Group of the Plant Production and Protection Division, among others.

The FAC Climate Change theme convened a policy discussion roundtable in Nairobi, 31 January 2012, to discuss key findings of recent FAC research on the status of agricultural climate change policy process in Kenya. The roundtable was attended by mix of senior government, civil society and donor representatives.

The Policy Engagement Meeting noted the government’s appreciation of the enormous agricultural potential of Kwara State, Nigeria.  It highlighted the requirements of commercial agriculture and the imperative of state support, especially in the areas of access to land with secure tenure and credit.