There is a need to develop coherent national and regional agricultural S&T strategies and policies. There may be a greater role for national councils of science and technology, academies of science and professional associations in this respect. A scientific advisor or chief scientist, who is responsible to the Prime Minister, is viewed by many as a necessary complement to these initiatives. Also the contributions of national agricultural research systems and subregional organizations for this process should be explored. Any R&D priority setting requires improvement, with greater accountability of all actors and stakeholder participation. There is also a need for role clarity through strengthened monitoring and evaluation capabilities and geo-referenced data and information management.
African governments see technology diffusion as being more of a constraint than technology generation. The most frequently mentioned agricultural priorities in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers were the improvement of rural infrastructure, development of markets, extension/advisory services, diversification out of agriculture, a special focus on women farmers, farmer training and promotion of farmer organizations. These were consistent with the priorities that emerged in the consultative workshops the Study Panel conducted in collaboration with the subregional organizations. They are also reflected in the current strategies of the subregional organizations and FARA.
The notion that technologies available 'on-the-shelf' are sufficient to solve all or most agricultural problems in Africa has been a factor in the continuing decline in the funding of research by governments, donors and international financial institutions since the 1980s. For example, the World Bank funding for African agricultural research went from a peak of US$120 million in 1991 to US$8 million in 2002 (in 1993 dollars). That of USAID went from a peak of US$80 million in 1982 to US$4 million in 1999. Other sectoral priorities, such as health and education, have also emerged as funding competitors with agricultural research.
The Study Panel concurs with a short-term strategy of exploiting technologies on-the-shelf by enhancing investments in infrastructure, adaptive and participatory research with farmers by improved policies, market access and information. However, keeping the technology pipeline flowing requires a renewed emphasis on long-term strategic and applied research in, and for, Africa by Africans. This type of research has much longer lead and lag times than adaptive research. The lack of priority accorded to agricultural research in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers does not augur well for this to happen.
The Study Panel notes that there now may be a window of opportunity for the renewal of the priority accorded to agricultural research with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD, 2002). The NEPAD strategy, which has been agreed to by African heads of State, includes:
The NEPAD strategy recognizes that expansion of the agricultural land area will continue to be a component of agricultural development strategies. The plans and strategies of national agricultural research systems and the subregional organizations, however, emphasize the need for increased land and labour productivity. Each of these goals imply very different agricultural and land-use strategies. This fact illustrates the need for more clarity in sectoral R&D strategies, priorities and policies. The critical elements of these frameworks would include (a) the role and contribution of agriculture in the overall national economic and social development strategy; (b) the importance given to science and technology in agricultural development; and (c) concrete suggestions for improvements in the investmentand organization of agricultural S&T research, extension, information and technology exchange systems, and primary, secondary and continuous education systems.
To achieve the above would be a daunting task in any country. However, the Study Panel believes that African and international capacities are sufficient to undertake these reviews and ensure the articulation of policies, strategies and implementation plans for the advancement of science and technology and, more importantly, for the development of impact-orientated institutions.
A Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) has been formulated under the auspices of NEPAD through dialogue and debate among Africa's agricultural researchers, policy makers and the international community. FARA is poised to become the focal point for the NEPAD agricultural research strategy under the CAADP. The four prioritiesof CAADP are:
The fourth priority of the CAADP is derived from the Vision for African Agricultural Research (SPAAR/FARA, 1999), which suggests that agricultural production should grow 6 percent annually to improve food security and reduce food imports while producing the necessary surplus for an agriculture-led industrialization. To achieve such an ambitious growth in agricultural output a broad range of measures are needed, including improvements in macro-economic and agricultural policies, development of markets, investments in rural infrastructure, education and health, as well as improvements and additional investments in the generation, dissemination and adoption of new technology. A target is also set to double investments in agricultural research investments in 10 years time.
