Making Agricultural Information and Knowledge Work for Food Security in Africa
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This document summarizes a presentation on agricultural information and knowledge for food security in Africa. It discusses that Africa has the lowest food production and is the most food insecure continent, facing challenges of ineffective responses, underdeveloped agriculture, and lack of political focus. Coordinated efforts are needed between different sources of agricultural knowledge, including research organizations and governments, but there is currently poor information sharing and networking. Initiatives like CAADP and FARA aim to improve food security and revitalize agricultural research and technology adoption, while the partnership CIARD promotes more coherent approaches to sharing agricultural knowledge globally. The conclusion emphasizes the need for participatory knowledge systems to facilitate widespread and equitable sharing of innovations, with agricultural information and knowledge needing to be
![Food Security in Africa - Challenges
• Ineffective regional and global
responses
• Underdeveloped agriculture
• Lack of modernization
• Chronic poverty
• Lack political focus
[UNECA, AU, AfDB & UNDP, 2013]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/chisengafoodsecurityandknowledgerev-130716034750-phpapp01/85/Making-Agricultural-Information-and-Knowledge-Work-for-Food-Security-in-Africa-7-320.jpg)
![Knowledge and Information
The farmers and the people who support
them need agricultural knowledge and
information for sustainable food
security
[van Crowder, 1998]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/chisengafoodsecurityandknowledgerev-130716034750-phpapp01/85/Making-Agricultural-Information-and-Knowledge-Work-for-Food-Security-in-Africa-11-320.jpg)
![Knowledge and Information…
Knowledge and information are important
factors for accelerating agricultural
development by increasing agricultural
production and improving marketing and
distribution
[Bertolini, 2012]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/chisengafoodsecurityandknowledgerev-130716034750-phpapp01/85/Making-Agricultural-Information-and-Knowledge-Work-for-Food-Security-in-Africa-12-320.jpg)
![Need for Coordinated Efforts
• Information and knowledge initiatives to
address the food security and hunger
situation on the continent MUST exist
within [national], regional and global
frameworks](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/chisengafoodsecurityandknowledgerev-130716034750-phpapp01/85/Making-Agricultural-Information-and-Knowledge-Work-for-Food-Security-in-Africa-16-320.jpg)
![CAADP Pillar IV
• Strategy for increasing agricultural
productivity by revitalizing, expanding
and reforming Africa’s ag ricultural
re se arch, te chno lo g y disse m inatio n
and ado ptio n syste m s
[FARA, 2011]
• FARA leads implementation of CAADP
Pillar IV](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/chisengafoodsecurityandknowledgerev-130716034750-phpapp01/85/Making-Agricultural-Information-and-Knowledge-Work-for-Food-Security-in-Africa-20-320.jpg)
Making Agricultural Information and Knowledge Work for Food Security in Africa
- 1. 6th Africa Agriculture Science Weekand FARA General Assembly Justin Chisenga Knowledge & Information Management Officer FAORegional Office forAfrica, Accra, Ghana Accra International Conference Centre Ghana, 15 – 16 July 2013 Side Event on: Information& KnowledgeforFoodSecurityinAfrica Making Agricultural Information and Knowledge WorkforFood Security in Africa
- 2. Presentation Outline • Introduction – Food (In)Security • Food Security Situation in Africa • Political Will • Agricultural Information and Knowledge • Need for Coordination – CAADP – CIARD • Conclusion
- 3. Food Security exists: ...when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Wo rld Fo o d Sum m it, 1 9 9 6
- 4. Food Security - dimensions: • Physical AVAILABILITY of food • Economic and physical ACCESS • Food UTLIZATION • STABILITY of availability, acce ss and utiliz atio n
- 5. Food Insecurity exists: • When food is not available, when individuals or households lack the means to access it, when it is not available all the time and when individuals or households are unable to consume it UNECA, AU, AfDB& UNDP, 20 1 3 • Hunger is an element of food insecurity
- 6. Food Security Situation in Africa • Lowest average value of food production of any region (1990 – 2010) • Net food importer • Low rural incomes • High rates of malnutrition • About 240 million hungry people (almost 25% of total population) • World’s most food insecure continent
- 7. Food Security in Africa - Challenges • Ineffective regional and global responses • Underdeveloped agriculture • Lack of modernization • Chronic poverty • Lack political focus [UNECA, AU, AfDB & UNDP, 2013]
- 8. Food Security Situation in Africa… Africa is off track... Slow progress on the health MDGs
- 9. Political will Strong leadership and political will be critical determinants of success in eradicating hunger from Africa High Level Meeting of African and International Leaders 29 June – 1 July 2013 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- 10. Agric Knowledge and Information ...several other factors, including agricultural knowledgeandinformation, also come into play
- 11. Knowledge and Information The farmers and the people who support them need agricultural knowledge and information for sustainable food security [van Crowder, 1998]
- 12. Knowledge and Information… Knowledge and information are important factors for accelerating agricultural development by increasing agricultural production and improving marketing and distribution [Bertolini, 2012]
- 13. Knowledge and Information – focusing on: • Crop production • Post-harvesting techniques • Livestock production • Marketing • Water & irrigation management • Climate change & Environmental issues • Rural development economics
- 14. Sources of knowledge ∼ Farmers ∼ Agriculture research organizations ∼ Governments and government agencies ∼ International development organizations ∼ International and local non-state actors ∼ Private sector • Agricultural knowledge, research development ideas and best practices come from different sources:
- 15. Sources of knowledge… Challenges • Poor information/knowledge sharing • Lack of/inadequate access to best practices at continental level • Low level of networking and partnerships at continental level General absence of institutional and national ICM policies and strategies
- 16. Need for Coordinated Efforts • Information and knowledge initiatives to address the food security and hunger situation on the continent MUST exist within [national], regional and global frameworks
- 17. Regional Initiatives: CAADP & FARA • Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme • July 2003, Maputo, Mozambique • To improve livelihoods, food security, andenvironmentalresilienceinAfrica
- 18. CAADP Pillars • Pillar I - Extending the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systems • Pillar II- Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for improved market access
- 19. CAADP Pillars… • Pillar III - Increasing food supply and reducing hunger • Pillar IV - Agricultural research, technologydisseminationandadoption
- 20. CAADP Pillar IV • Strategy for increasing agricultural productivity by revitalizing, expanding and reforming Africa’s ag ricultural re se arch, te chno lo g y disse m inatio n and ado ptio n syste m s [FARA, 2011] • FARA leads implementation of CAADP Pillar IV
- 21. • Partnership of organizations involved in: – Agricultural innovation – Opening access to agricultural information – Development assistance Coherence in Information forCoherence in Information for Agricultural Research for DevelopmentAgricultural Research for Development A Global MovementA Global Movement
- 22. • CIARD partners create coherence by: (a) coordinating their efforts (b) promoting common formats, (c) adopting open systems and standards Coherence in Information forCoherence in Information for Agricultural Research for DevelopmentAgricultural Research for Development A Global MovementA Global Movement
- 23. • 5th FARA General Assembly endorsed CIARD and recommended to: Coherence in Information forCoherence in Information for Agricultural Research for DevelopmentAgricultural Research for Development A Global MovementA Global Movement ∼ advocate for more coherent approaches to knowledge sharing and communication of the outputs of agricultural research and support development of national capacities for all types of stakeholders
- 24. Conclusion • There should be synergy between farmers, researchers and policy markers • There is need for participatory knowledge systems to facilitate sharing of innovations widely and equitably
- 25. Conclusion… • Agricultural information and knowledge for food security m ust be accessible to all ∼ Especially to the farmers and poor families who arethemost affected