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Book (stand-alone)Knowledge exchange on the promotion of efficient rice farming practices and value chains in Sub-Sahara Africa through South-South Cooperation
Summary Workshop Report, Elmina, Ghana, 7-11 August 2017
2018Also available in:
No results found.The Regional Knowledge Exchange on the promotion of efficient rice farming practices and value chains in sub-Saharan Africa took place from 7 to 11 August 2017 in Elmina, Ghana. The workshop brought together over 40 participants from ten countries and technical partner institutions involved in the implementation of the regional project “Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Sub-Saharan Africa’’ (GCP/RAF/489/VEN). The key objectives of the workshop were primarily (1) to discuss priorities and plans for continued project implementation at country and at regional level, and (2) to facilitate the regional exchange of knowledge and experiences on sustainable rice production intensification and rice value chain. As a result of workshop discussion, a number of proposals were put forward for study tour exchanges to disseminate best practices on rice value chain development. These include exchange on seed systems, irrigation, post-harvest losses and mechanization. Study tours would be coordinated with regional and global research institutions such as Africa Rice and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in collaboration with FAO. It is envisaged that the knowledge exchange will provide a catalyst for the dissemination of best practices in Africa along the rice value chains through the practical adoption of innovative tools and approaches to boost productivity and enhance competitiveness of African rice farmers, processors and traders. -
MeetingRegional Implementation Plan for the African Soil Partnership 2016
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No results found.Land, or soil, is the main resource base for many people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is especially important for the rural population. With an estimated population growth for SSA from the current 900 million to 1.4 billion in 2030, the region’s soils will experience increasing pressure as a natural resource to provide for the needs of its people. With an estimated 65% of arable lands, 30% of grazing land and 20% of forests already degraded in Africa, the region has the potential to position itsel f as champion in terms of increasing food production and security, achieving land restoration, and increasing agricultural resilience to climate change. Sustainable soil management is vital to achieving these goals and, for this reason, is one of the cornerstones of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP). The African Soil Partnership caters for the Sub-Saharan Africa which includes 45 African countries. The AfSP Implementation Plan is based on regional priorities in terms of the Pillar recommendation s in their respective Plans of Action. This document is the product of a collaborative effort, mostly via email, involving participants from the two sub-regional launch events, as well as later participants in digital soil mapping training, representatives from regional institutions involved as partners and, finally, national GSP focal points as nominated by the respective country representatives. The main challenges associated with sustainable soil management in SSA were identified as: Inade quate capacity, knowledge and experience to plan and implement SSM and optimally manage, mitigate and monitor the productive and degradation status of the soils; especially under intensive cultivation. Where regional and national SSM policies exist, financing is often not a priority and/or implementation can be ineffective due to a lack of political will or a lack of implementation capacity. In many countries, policies regulating soil use are lacking. Soil information/data at national level is often inadequate, outdated, not in digital format and not georeferenced. Data availability is further restricted by intellectual property often held by private institutions that are not willing to share data for national use, or data needs to be paid for prior to use. Lack of national or umbrella organizations leading the campaign to promote and create awareness of SSM. Weak linkages between researchers, farmers and extension services to optimize information exchange. Addressing these cha llenges and increasing SSM implementation encompasses various aspects that are crucial to its success. Under the five Pillars of the GSP, the various components of sustainable soil management can be addressed and managed to enable a holistic approach to improved soil management for long term soil protection while simultaneously providing for human livelihoods. In SSA, crop production often occurs on already underperforming and poor quality soils using poor management practices and low use of ext ernal inputs. Over time, this leads to further decreases in soil quality, degradation of soil resources and resultant declines in food production and quality. The region’s soils are especially vulnerable to degradation, especially in drier climates. During the launch workshop of the African Soil Partnership, most countries reported the occurrence of both chemical and physical soil degradation which leads to low soil productivity and yield gaps in many countries 4 which in turn leads to fo od imports. The development of SSM solutions should not only consider the implementation environment, site specific characteristics and the necessary enabling environment, but also the causes of improper soil management to date in order to develop cause-driven rather than symptom-driven solutions. This Implementation Plan sets out the road map for the next 5 years to achieve SSM over the longer term and includes a large number of outputs and activities which are considered priority in this first phase of establishing the AfSP. It is envisaged that funding for these activities will be secured by capitalizing on existing in-country initiatives and activities, as well as by actively sourcing additional external funding. Since the GSP is a voluntary initiative, it calls for the strong support of national governments, as well as national and regional entities involved in natural resource management to contribute to achieving the common goal of improved and sustainable soil management. Under Pillar 1 (Promote sustainable management of soil resources and improved global governance for soil protection and sustainable productivity) the implementation plan proposes that soil degradation and restoration hotspots, as well as soil potential for agriculture be mapped for major agro-ecological zones. This will enable the identification of priority areas for SSM implementation to be initiated under this plan. A SSM implementation monitoring system is further proposed to measure success of SS M initiatives and monitor the status of the soil resources. Under Pillar 2 (Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soil) it is proposed that SSM partner platforms be established to foster awareness and investment towards SSM implementation. To build soil science capacity, a regional tertiary soil science training exchange programme is proposed to increase the number of soil scientists trained at tertiary level. In addition, it is proposed that soil science education be included at secondary school level to educate learners from a young age about the importance of soil. The importance of soil extension services is highlighted, as well as the need for region-specific policy recommendations to support SSM development and implementation. Pillar 3 (Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities, and synergies with related productive, environmental, and social development actions) focuses on soil rese arch for development. Under this Pillar it is proposed that an African Soil Research for Development Platform be established to bring soil research for development partners. Its main aim is to align efforts and resources towards improving the management of soil fertility and soil health, increasing productivity while protecting the soil resources and restoring productivity on degraded soils. This would include identifying soil-related research gaps and establishing regional research working grou ps to collaboratively address on these gaps. Under Pillar 4 (Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and information: data collection [generation], analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring and integration with other disciplines) addresses the need for soil data and information to support decision making and monitoring. The implementation plan proposes that an inventory be developed of all soil and related data in the region and an African soil database be developed and maintained. Train ing in digital soil mapping is proposed to increase soil mapping capacity in an effort to produce new and updated maps for the region. Under Pillar 5 (Harmonisation of methods, measurements and indicators for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources) the implementation plan calls for the development of 5 a harmonization procedure for soil classification and soil description. In addition, it proposes that regional reference laboratories be identified and supported to en able soil analysis towards increasing national and regional soil data. Outcomes and activities are presented in separate log frames per Pillar, along with the associated budgets and time frames. Since the GSP is a voluntary initiative, it calls for the strong support of national governments, as well as national and regional entities involved in natural resource management to contribute to achieving the common goal of improved and sustainable soil management. The list of outputs may be considered optimistic, considering the 5-year timeline, but it is the view of the AfSP that these outputs are essential to moving forward towards achieving SSM in the region over the longer term. The aim of this implementation plan is therefore to solicit buy-in, support and active participation from additional partners to increase collaboration in soil management activities -
ProjectDeveloping Efficient and Inclusive Rice Value Chains in Kenya, Senegal and the United Republic of Tanzania - GCP/RAF/500/JPN 2020
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No results found.The importance of rice in sub-Saharan Africa has grown in recent years. It isthe third largest source of dietary energy in Africa as a whole, and the numberone source of dietary energy in West Africa. Its consumption is increasingfaster than any other staple. The 2007/2008 global food crisis led to thecreation of the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), an initiativeof the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Alliance for a GreenRevolution in Africa (AGRA) and the New Partnership for African Development(NEPAD). Doubling rice production in Africa by 2018 was set as the primarygoal of the CARD. Rice production in sub-Saharan Africa increased by3.2 percent from 2000 to 2007, and by 8.4 percent from 2007 to 2012. Despitethis growth, production is unable to keep up with demand, and imports arerelied upon to bridge this gap. The project sought to identify and addressbottlenecks in the middle segments of the rice value chains, where rice millersadd value, in three selected CARD countries: Kenya, Senegal, and the UnitedRepublic of Tanzania. This was done through a series of food systems analysesof milling operations to identify constraints related to nutrition, employmentgeneration, access to finance, farmer-miller market linkages and food safety.
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