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Book (stand-alone)International Investments in Agriculture in the Near East
Evidence from Egypt, Morocco and Sudan
2011Also available in:
No results found.The food crisis of 2007- 2008 sparked an increase in investment flows to agriculture in the Near East, particularly to countries rich in water and land resources, such as Sudan. These investments have continued to increase during 2009 - 2010, as food prices continue to remain high. This publication was motivated by this surge in international investments in agriculture. and the-. need to answer some key policy questions, through and a brief review of international investments in the region, and an exploratory analysis of the issues and challenges in the policy arena. Three case studies in Egypt, Morocco and Sudan were commissioned by the FAO Regional Office for the Near East. The purpose was to (i) identify past and current investment trends in terms of the actors involved, modalities, size and impact (to the extent that information is available), (ii) assess these investments in the context of the region and its food security challenges, and (iii) identify areas to be addressed by pol icy makers to ensure food security in the long run and provide a starting point to evaluate investments for timely and targeted policy measures. While information on international investments in agriculture is not readily available, the case studies provide an overall picture of agriculture investments, specifically focusing on foreign direct investments. The share of international investments to agriculture has traditionally been very low in the region. With a an average share of 1- 2% of total FDI, this investment is mostly concentrated in sectors other than primary agriculture. In the past few years, investments in agriculture have grown remarkably; however, information on their allocation and impact is incomplete and fast changing. Impacts of agricultural investments in the past have been mixed and concentrated in capital and resource intensive activities which are largely supported by the public sector. Sudan has attracted resource seeking investments, whereas Morocco and Egypt co ntinue to be investment destinations for market seeking investments, in the food processing and fruit and vegetable production sectors. The involvement of the private sector in investment in agriculture is growing but there is still a strong government presence in supporting these investments, often through direct and indirect subsidies in most countries. The historical experience of the region is instructive in terms of improving the efficiency of future investments in agriculture as well as en suring sustainable outcomes. Some of the salient features of international investments in agriculture can be summarized as follows: • Intra-regional investment in agriculture constitutes the bulk of the international investment in agriculture in the Near East. • Countries such as Egypt and Sudan are the largest recipients of recent international investments in food and agriculture, mostly from the Gulf States but also from other countries such as China and South Korea. Other countries in the reg ion are also heavily investing in agriculture and food sectors overseas, and beyond the Near East, including in Asia and Latin America. • Whether investor or host country, the common driving factor for international investments in agriculture in the region is food security concerns. The investment policies of most countries in the region are geared toward attracting investments. They are therefore relatively open and do not differentiate between the different sectors or the different types of ac tivities within agriculture. Agriculture, as an investment category, has been growing rapidly in the last three years, and most countries (especially the poorest) have not yet had the time to align their investment strategies with their national food security objectives. Given the rapid growth in agricultural investment, caution needs to be exercised by investor and host country governments, as well as private investors, to develop sustainable solutions and incorporate a long term perspective to support healthy and profitable investments. Given the diverse national and household food security concerns and resource availabilities, a regional focus on food security may be needed to better formulate and harmonize policies as well as tap into opportunities. The potential capacity for staple food production has its limits, but income generating opportunities are ample. A mix of investments geared at food processing, food service, and other sectors linked to agriculture, could also provide a lternative income opportunities for rural people, as well as increased employment opportunities in urban areas. Within this context, regional initiatives could be very promising in promoting food security in the longer term. -
ProjectEmergency Support to Vulnerable Households to Mitigate the Impact of Drought and Floods on Agriculture - TCP/DRK/3705 2020
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No results found.In August 2018, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea faced one of the most severe heat waves/droughts in decades. Below average rainfall from mid-July until mid-August, normally the wettest months, coupled with high temperatures, resulted in moisture stress during critical crop development stages in localized areas of main crop-producing provinces. The six most affected provinces were North Hamgyong, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, South Hamgyong, South Pyongan and Nampo. The situation was further exacerbated by heavy rains in late August 2018, which caused flash flooding in the provinces of north and south Hwanghae. Over 9 000 people were displaced, nearly 1 800 residential buildings were destroyed or damaged, and 11 745 ha of arable land were flooded. With only 22 percent of the total land area of the country arable, an imminent crop failure would have serious consequences on the food security situation in the country. Despite a trend towards slow but steady growth of food production over the past five years (2012-2017), domestic production still falls short of meeting the demand for food by about one million tonnes in cereal equivalent. The erratic performance of the country’s agriculture sector is also caused by the recurrence of extreme weather events (drought and flood) - almost annually, hindering sowing and/or retarding the growth and development of planted crops - difficulties in cultivating the large mountainous terrain, and lack of access to modern production inputs, including fuel, tools and equipment for mechanized farming. In addition to general food insecurity, most people do not consume an adequately diverse diet, which reinforces cycles of undernutrition. The project focused on providing emergency support to mitigate the impact on crop production from the ongoing drought and floods, while also promoting complementary risk prevention and mitigation measures for more resilient farming systems. -
ProjectPopulation and development in fishing communities: The challenge ahead 1994
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No results found.The populations in all IDAF countries grew substantially during the last three decades, thereby hampering overall economic growth. Despite remarkable increases in agricultural production including fish, food supply could not keep pace with population growth. The population of the region will continue to grow fast in the years to come and is - based on its current average annual growth rate of 3% - expected to double in about 25 years. The implicationc of further population growth for the art isanal fisheries sector, which plays a crucial role within the region as a provider of employment and animal protein, are threefold: (i) the increasing number of (young) people entering the labour force market challenges the labour absorbing capacity of the sector; (u) increased fishing effort is putting pressure on limited resources; and (iii) the increasing demand for (cheap) animal protein challenges the potential of the fishery resource. Any efforts to develop appropriate strategies fo r a sustainable exploitation of the fishery resources harmonized with the increasing demands for employment, income and food of a growing population have to be based on the active participation of the fisherfolk themselves. Consequently, the design of such strategies requires a better knowledge of the perceptions of fisherfolk on population-development interrelationships, their view on the sustainability of artisanal fisheries and its role in providing the livelihood for their children in the future. In this context, IDAF undertook three case studies during 1992-93, one each in The Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria with the following objectives: t> to appraise the level of awareness amongst fisherfolk in the target communities on the interrelationships between population, resources, and the socio-economic environment; t> to assess the population and development concerns and advise on (i) potential fisheryoriented interventions; and (ii) potential population-oriented interventions. Based on their own past experience or even that of several generations, fisherfolk generally consider fishing and related activities as good occupations providing adequate employment, income and food. The introduction of improved fishing technology during the last decades pushed the sector substantially in terms of production. During the past few years,however, fisherfolk in all communities investigated observe declining catches, while at the same time the general cost of living are felt to have incre ased. The majority of fisherfolk people is taking the richness of the fishery resource as granted, and consequently they make mainly the lack of fishing inputs due to unavailability or high prices responsible for the prevailing lower catches. Some fisherfolk are, however, concerned about the increasing number of fishermen exploiting the given resources and link this directly to declining catches.They are apparently aware of the limited nature of the fishery resource and, hence, the need for co nservation efforts.One overwhelming finding of the studies is the importance given to formal education.
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