African Forum for Agricultural
Advisory Services
Small holder farmers are the solution to poverty- UN
The UN agricultural development fund has been asked to focus more on promising small holder farmers to reduce poverty. The call was made during the 37th session of the Governing Counsel of IFAD in Rome.
Fabrizio Saccomani, the Italian minsietr for economy and finance assserted that ensurinf small holder family farmers have adequate access to credit and investment is of paramount importance for poverty reduction.
Speaking to international policy makers, farmer leaders and private sector representatives, Saccomani said that while some progress has been made, much more still remains to be done to eliminate hunger and poverty. According to him, "the challenges ahead require a radical increase in productivity, but this has to be pursued in a sustainable way."
Supporting small holder agriculture is the way out- as evidence and research show; it breaks the vicious cycle of poverty while preserving scarce natural resources.
Seeds and Agriculture Research Processes in Tanzania: The case of small scale farmers' participation in setting the research agenda
The Eastern and Southern Africa Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) supported under the European Union funded INSARD project conducted a study under the above title. Its executive summary reads: ‘Agriculture occupies a very important place in the lives of Tanzanians as well as the national economy. Seeds are not only a strong symbol for food sovereignty and biodiversity, but also one of the important elements to strengthen small scale farming communities.
In Tanzania there are two types of seed systems: the formal system, which is market-oriented and is developed by
the public and/or private sectors, and the family or community production system which is based mainly on seed self-provisioning exchanges and gifts among neighbors, and the informal market. The later is a result of many years of farmers’ selection and is rich in agribiodiversity. INSARD, has an overall objective to ensure an informed participation of a broad range of smallholder farmers, civil society organizations in the formulation and implementation of ARD policies and practice in Tanzania. To fulfill this, this study contributes through conducting a Scoping Study on Seeds and Agriculture Research Processes in Tanzania: the case of small scale farmers participation in setting research agenda. The full findings of this scoping study can be found here.
AG SECTOR COUNCIL SEMINAR
How can Sub-Saharan Africa adequately feed a rapidly growing population in a manner that both advances economic development and reduces pressure on the environment? A recent on “Improving Land and Water Management” from the World Resources Institute (WRI) observes that most African soils are inherently poor, and soil nutrient depletion is particularly serious. The report proposes investing in a number of promising, proven practices to improve soil fertility as well as the quantity of water available to crops. These “re-greening” practices include agroforestry, conservation agriculture, rainwater harvesting, and integrated soil fertility management.
This seminar will address a number of questions, including:
- What is the latest evidence on yield impacts of these land and water management practices?
- What is the latest data on income and other benefits from these practices?
- Where are the opportunities to best scale up these practices?
- What strategies show the most promise for taking these practices to scale?
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM AND EXHIBITION ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAC PARTNER STATES
Lessons from the past 50 years and prospects for the future.
International Symposium and Exhibition on Agricultural Development week opened officially on 4th November, 2013. The Events of this week are designed to help reflect on the progress so far made on agriculture during the 50 years since all the EAC Partner States earned independence. The meeting takes place at a time when the continent’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) is marking ten years of implementation. Furthermore, this meeting takes place at a time when there are only two years away to the target year (2015) for the EAC Partner States to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs). Therefore, the symposium, the Youth in Agriculture (YiA) workshop, the seminars and the executive roundtable will provide an opportunity to evaluate progress, lessons, and prospects for the future – in relation to national efforts since independence, the programs of the EAC; the 10 years of CAADP principles, as well as the international programs driven by the MDGs.
The theme of this week’s event “Lessons from the past 50 years and prospects for the future” resonates very well with the theme of this year’s Uganda’s chairmanship of the EAC “One People One Destination”
The UFAAS National AEAS stakeholders’ conference 2013
The Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS) is the country chapter of AFAAS in Uganda. Established in May 2011, UFAAS brings together a wide range of AEAS stakeholders from all sectors in Uganda including Public, Private, Civil Society, Farmer Organizations, Donor Community, Academia and the Media.
UFAAS for the first time held a National Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) conference on 23rd to 24th October at Hotel Africana, Kampala. The conference proved to be a fruitful one as all the objectives of the conference were realized. a number of organizations both private and public and individuals were able to register and participate in the general assembly.
The key activities conducted during the conference included among others member registration for both individuals and organizations, endorsing the UFAAS documents and conducting an exhibition throughout the conference. New members were also encouraged to join the AFAAS social virtual networking platform and were aided to do this throughout the conference. The conference ended with the members holding the first ever UFAAS General Assembly and consequently formally voting into office the committee members.
Adding value to Africa's productivity
The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), was established in 2004. It is the continental body which is bringing together agricultural extension and advisory services providers. The AFAAS board chair, Adolphus Johnson, gave an insight into the bi annual event now dubbed Extension Week. For thefirst time the symposium is being held in Southern Africa, in Gabarone, Botswana running from 5‐10 August, 2013.
We shared a moment with the current AFAAS board chair. Click here for more of the interview.
PostHarvest Management
The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), and AGRIDEA, are working together in a Swiss financed project led by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), to bring Post-harvest Management (PHM) issues efficiently in Rural and Agricultural Advisory Services (RAS).
Through this short survey we would like to ask you, if you are interested in the theme and if you dispose of knowledge and/or experiences in this specific field.We are especially interested in methods or approaches, which you think fit with the PHM problematic. We therefore request your kind consideration to this. Click here at access download the survey.
Modem to improve African net access
A modem designed specifically for Africa has been announced at the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh.
The device combines rugged design with a range of connectivity options, switching between wi-fi, 3G and fixed broadband.
Ushahidi, the Kenyan tech firm behind BRCK, believe Africa-specific hardware is long overdue.
Director Juliana Rotich hopes it will kickstart a hardware revolution on the continent.
Ushahidi - a Swahili word for "testimony" - began life designing software to monitor the 2008 Kenyan elections.
Since then, its open source software has found worldwide fame and a diverse range of uses, from helping victims of the Haiti earthquake and Japanese tsunami to fixing potholes. (more)
published: 2013-06-21 | tagged: extension homepage innovation
FAO and FARA Tropical Agriculture Platform Initiative
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and FAO are jointly implementing the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP, http://www.tropagplatform.org/), a joint initiative with backing from the G20 countries, in 15 African countries namely: Rwanda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Comoros, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Angola, Mozambique, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Liberia and The Gambia. TAP is also being implemented in Central America by CIAT and in Asia by SEARCA. The Platform seeks, among other things, to facilitate capacity development for agricultural innovation in the selected countries.
If you are in extension and belong to any of the above countries, please help their team to fill in the attached questionnaire (also in French and Portuguese). The questionnaire basically seeks to appraise the existent situation and identify gaps for channelling capacity development programs. They only need your personal perceptions on the issues.
They thank you very much for the expected assistance and hope to receive your responses very soon. Please click for links to the questionnaires
English | Portuguese | French
Given that...
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Most Africans still live in rural areas and are largely dependent on subsistence agriculture
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Most African economies are also greatly dependent on agriculture
... it is logical to conclude that improved agricultural performance will:
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Uplift both physical and economic access to food
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Raise the purchasing power of households
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Generate investment
Virtual Social Network News
Recent AFAAS Reports
- Report on the MEAS Rapid Scoping Mission - Strengthening Pluralistic Agricultural Extension in Malawi
- Sensitization on establishment of AFAAS. The Gambia Country Forum Notes - 20 June 2012
- Accessibility and Quality of Public and Private Extension Services in Rwanda July, 2012
- UFAAS Progress report - Sept 2012
40 Chances Fellowship Program
40 Chances Fellowship Program seeks to spur innovation in developing market based approaches that address food insecurity, conflict or poverty in Rwanda, Malawi, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
As such, 40 Chances Fellowship Program is offering an opportunity for young social entrepreneurs to implememnt start -up, innovative initiatives to enhance food security in Africa.
These fellowships will provide $150,000 each to four individual social entrepreneurs [one in each country], under the age of 40, who submit the most compelling application for a start-up program that can produce and enhance economic development and poverty elimination in that country and thus ensure greater food security. Citizens of any country are eligible.
You are encouraged to submit a proposal at www.40chances.com/fellows. The deadline for applications to be received is May 31, 2014.
Consultancy Service for Rural Skills Job Audit in Uganda
This is a call for proposal for a consultant based in Uganda and understands the Ugandan systems well per the attached ToR. Those interested and qualify should forward their Curriculum Vitae to abraham.sarfo@nepad.org; abraham.sarfo@giz.de; sarforo@gmail.com The assignment is expected to start by mid February.
Please find the ToRs here.
Call for Papers and Posters
This is an Announcement Call for Papers and Posters as well as the Nomination Form for South African Society for Agricultural Extension. Your form has all the Awards and the other one only four Awards. Kindly click here to download the full announcement and call for papers and posters as well as a nomination form.
Please visit the SASAE Website for more information.
AFAAS News Wrap
- AFAAS, in partnership with Helvetas, FANRPAN, and AGRIDEA is implementing a postharvest management project in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of the project is to increase food security of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa through reduced postharvest losses at farm and community level. The project is currently piloted in two countries: Mozambique and Benin.
- The World Bank and AFAAS signed the second Multi Donor Trust Fund Grant on 30 October 2013. This shall support AFAAS to implement its Strategic Plan 2011-2015 which has five components: a) Participation in implementation of CAADP Pillar IV, b) Knowledge Management, c) Support establishment and strengthening of Country Fora, d) Linkages and Partnerships, and e) Developing AFAAS governance, management, and funding systems.
Events
AFAAS Board Meeting
| When | 3 to 6 Feb 2014 |
| Where | Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) |
AFAAS Agricultural Extension Week, 2013
| When | 5 to 10 Aug 2013 |
| Where | Gabarone, Bostwana (Botswana) |