SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA: FROM IDEAS TO ACTION

Most African countries currently suffer from very low agricultural yields compared to the rest of the world. Since a large proportion of the continent’s inhabitants are subsistence farmers, these low yields contribute to a lack of economic development, poverty, and high levels of infant mortality and premature childhood deaths.At the same time, opponents of modern agriculture – including both domestic and foreign NGOs, ideologues and policymakers – have promoted policies that perpetuate the low yieldsand returns which are characteristic to subsistence agriculture. Similarly, African government policies towards agriculture have tended to be biased towards the politically connected elite rather than poor rural producers.

This half-day conference focused on issues and challenges relating to the practice of sustainable agriculture in Africa, including

* The use of modern agricultural technologies — or lack thereof.
* Successes and failures in terms of enhancing productivity, food security and nutrition and economic development relating to agriculture.
* Public policies towards agriculture and farmers — both domestic and external.

Speakers

Keynote speakers
Moeletsi Mbeki, South African Institute of International Affairs
Hon. Ruth Oniang’o, MP, Government of Kenya, Professor, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

• Mike Burgess, agronomist, South Africa
• Franklin Cudjoe, Imani, Ghana
• Michael Foster, Sasakawa Global 2000, Uganda
• Cosmas Kyengo, Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya
• Lewis Njeru, Somalia Water and Land Information (SWALIM) project, FAO, Somalia
• Leon Louw, Free Market Foundation, South Africa
• Mike Beckett, Zambia National Farmers Union
• Josephat Juma, Inter Region Economic Network, Kenya
• Hon. David Butler, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, New Zealand
• Richard Fowler, African Conservation Tillage Network
• Douglas Southgate, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Ohio State University

Session 1: What is the status of agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa today?

Presentation by Michael Foster, Sasakawa Global 2000, Uganda

Presentation by Josephat Juma, Inter Region Economic Network, Kenya

Presentation by Douglas Southgate, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Ohio State University

Session 2: Improving Agricultural Productivity, Health and Sustainability through Technology and Consumer Demand

Presentation by Richard Fowler, African Conservation Tillage Network

Presentation by Cosmas Kyengo, Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya

Presentation by Lewis Njeru, Somalia Water and Land Information (SWALIM) project, FAO, Somalia

Presentation by Mike Burgess, agronomist, South Africa

Session 3: Achieving public policies to support markets and sustainable agriculture

Presentation by Franklin Cudjoe, Imani, Ghana

Presentation by Leon Louw, Free Market Foundation, South Africa