African Commitments For Agricultural Development Goals And Milestones For Rwanda

The study developed a results framework to analyze Rwanda’s progress towards selected CAADP/Malabo, SDGs and Agenda 2063 goals. A Computable General Equilibrium model linked to an income distribution Micro-Simulation model were used to identify priority investment areas for accelerated agricultural growth, poverty and inequality reduction. The current investment trend simulated in the baseline scenario would leave Rwanda off-track to meet these objectives. The analysis of alternative agricultural investment scenarios shows that enhancing the role of the private sector in agriculture will be critical in curbing supply side constraints. The government plays a central role by creating an environment and making the sector more attractive to private investors. Developments outside of the agricultural sector and social protection will be critical to further reduce poverty. Productivity remains one of the major challenges but also one of the most effective solutions for accelerated agricultural growth in Rwanda. Agricultural investments should be designed considering the agricultural value-chain.

The main objective of this study is to assess the potential contribution of agricultural investment to the achievement of Niger's economic and social development objectives. By combining a computable general equilibrium model and a microeconomic model, it helps to determine to what extent the implementation of the National Agricultural Investment Programme (NAIP) would enable Niger to achieve the objectives and targets of the CAADP, the United Nations’ SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063. The results indicate that the implementation of the NAIP would enable the country to maintain the share of public agricultural expenditure above the 10% target set by CAADP. All things being equal, this would improve the attractiveness of the agricultural sector and increase both domestic and foreign private investment in the sector. Increased public and private investment could lead to agricultural GDP growth at a rate above the CAADP target of 6%, and to the achievement of several sustainable development goals by 2030 as well as some of the targets of the African Union's Agenda 2063. In particular, Niger could halve poverty by 2030. Similarly, the country could achieve the objective of sustainable growth and the creation of decent employment. However, reducing inequality and eradicating extreme poverty will remain major challenges for the country.

The main purpose of this study is to assess the contribution of agricultural investment to the achievement of Côte d'Ivoire's development objectives. More specifically, it aims to analyze the extent to which the implementation of the National Agricultural Investment Programme can contribute to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union's Agenda 2063. The methodological used combines a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and a microsimulation model to assess the impact of agricultural investment options on different outcomes related to the different agendas above. The simulation results indicate that the implementation of the NAIP would enable Côte d'Ivoire to make significant progress and achieve some of the CAADP, SDGs and the African union’s 2063 Agenda’s targets. Thus, the country could achieve investment targets by slightly exceeding the 10% share of public expenditure in total government expenditure and a significant increase in private investment in agriculture. This progress in terms of investment could result in an acceleration of agricultural growth so that Côte d'Ivoire's agricultural GDP would increase at a growth rate above the target of 6% per year. It would also make it possible to achieve several SDGs by 2030, as well as certain targets of the African Union's Agenda 2063. However, despite progress in terms of productivity in some segments of the agricultural value chain, the fight against poverty will remain a major challenge that the country will not be able to meet.

The study developed a results framework to analyze Ethiopia’s progress towards selected CAADP/Malabo, SDGs and Agenda 2063 goals. A Computable General Equilibrium model linked to an income distribution Micro-Simulation model were used to identify priority investment areas for accelerated agricultural growth, poverty and inequality reduction. Simulation results indicate that the current investment trend and composition would leave Ethiopia off-track to meet these objectives. The analysis of alternative agricultural investment scenarios shows that the public sector has still a great role to play in promoting agricultural growth in Ethiopia. Past expenditure levels have been high, though not sufficient, and would need to increase substantially with an emphasis on the quality of public agricultural spending. Productivity remains one of the major challenges but also one of the most effective solutions for accelerated agricultural growth in Ethiopia. Agricultural investments should be designed considering the agricultural value-chain. While social protection programs are important for the poor, rural non-agricultural development could provide a more sustainable source of income.

If agriculture in Eastern and Central Africa remains in its current state, not a single nation in the region will achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015. In the hopes of averting such a dismal outcome, this report analyzes agricultural development priorities and investment patterns in the region and their impact on growth and poverty rates, seeking an improved agricultural strategy. Using the Dynamic Research Evaluation for Management (DREAM) model and other tools to evaluate opportunities for increasing both agricultural and overall economic growth, the authors offer alternatives to the status quo. They propose approaches such as tailoring agricultural production to demand within Eastern and Central Africa, encouraging a wide variety of agricultural production to match the diversity of national demands and capacities, and promoting regional cooperation in agricultural development. Their analysis and conclusions should interest specialists in agricultural policy and investments, particularly those concerned with the impact of both on poverty reduction.

Changes in the global environment have led some to question whether the conventional wisdom on the role of agriculture in economic development is still relevant to Africa today. This report critically examines the literature on this issue, taking both the conventional and skeptical views into account. It complements this review with case studies of five African countries. The findings indicate that agricultural growth will play an essential role in promoting overall economic growth and reducing poverty in most of Africa's agrarian-based economies. This holds true even for countries that have the potential for industrial growth driven by natural resources. The results also show that only smallholder food-staple and livestock production can generate broadbased agricultural growth. By demonstrating that Africa's agricultural and food subsector cannot be bypassed, this report contributes to an important ongoing debate in development studies.

The current report—Mechanized: Transforming Africa’s Agriculture Value Chains—summarizes the findings of a systematic analysis of what countries at the forefront of progress in mechanization have done right. It analyzes which policy decisions were taken and which interventions were implemented to substantially increase the uptake of mechanization. The report takes a broad perspective on mechanization, including technologies along the entire value chain and how they relate to agricultural development and job creation. The report shows what can be done to sustainably mechanize agriculture to increase production and enhance value addition across value chain segments. The set of policies and practices that are identified, if brought to scale, could have significant impact on agricultural transformation in Africa. The report provides a roadmap for African governments to take concerted action to deliver on the growth and transformation targets set out by the Malabo Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Crop Sector Development Strategy for Eastern Africa 2021 - 2026 defines a series of goals and interventions agreed by representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture from the countries within the jurisdiction of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, as well as inputs from FAO representatives in the member countries, the East African Community Secretariat, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Secretariat, the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa and the CGIAR centres. The Strategy presents a holistic approach to improving crop production and productivity through a unified approach. This should be seen as a starting point for programmes and initiatives aimed at growing crops better, bridging yield gaps, feeding people with more nutritious food and enabling farmers to practice agriculture as a business so that they are better positioned to support their families. The higher aim of the Strategy is to contribute to the realization of the goals of the African Union, as enshrined in the Malabo Commitments to end hunger through accelerating agricultural growth by at least doubling agricultural productivity levels and halving levels of post-harvest losses. FAO is committed to achieving the overall goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the world through better rural livelihoods, improved agricultural productivity as well as through the contribution to the sustainable growth of national and regional economies. This Strategy serves as another critical element in the repertoire of tools at our disposal to ensure no one is left behind.