PELUM elects new Board

PELUM Association has a new Board. The board, which was elected at the PELUM Triennial General Meeting held in October 2008 in Morogor-tanzania is led by John Bideri from Rwanda as Chairperson. Gladys Faku from Lesotho is the vice chairperson while Emmanuel Mutamba is the treasurer. Others in the board include the following:

Joyce Lepetu	Botswana
Eliud Ngunjiri	Kenya
Prince Kapondamgaga	Malawi
Monique Salomon	South Africa
Demetrius Kazonde	Tanzania
Agnes Kirabo	Uganda
Lewis Mashingaidze	Zimbabwe
Joseph Ssuuna Regional	Secretary Desk to the board

PELUM exhibits at the CAADP Day

PELUM with the financial support from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) was one among other organisation who exhibited their initiatives and products that help improve the living conditions of rural populations. The exhibitions were part of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Programme (CAADP) day meeting was held in the Libyan Capital, Tripoli on 27th June 2009.

The meeting was organised by the African Union Commission and the AU-NEPAD, hosted by the great socialist people’s Libya Arab Jamahiriya. Other organisations that exhibited included Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), CTA, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) among others.

 

Agriculture ministers and stakeholders discuss and agree on way forward for CAADP

Agriculture ministers and other stakeholders met in the Libyan Capital, Tripoli on 27th June 2009 to discuss the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Programme (CAADP) and agree on how it can be strengthened and taken forward. The meeting dubbed as the ‘CAADP Day’ was organised by the African Union Commission and the AU-NEPAD, hosted by the great socialist people in Libya Arab Jamahiriya.

It brought together ministers of agriculture from nine African countries including Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, development partners who included the African Development Bank, the European Commission and the World Bank as well as representatives of civil society organisations (farmers organisations and women groups) and the private sector.

Making their opening remarks, representatives from the African Union Commission’s Agricultural Unit, AU-NEPAD and Development Partners acknowledged the cardinal role that agriculture plays for Africa’s socio-economic development. They also acknowledged that fact that CAADP is the first and real African initiative that has been embraced by development partners, as a framework for increasing agricultural productivity on the continent. The development partners through the DFID committed their support to CAADP and admitted that not all targets have been met in several countries since CAADP implementation started in 2003.

Rwanda was recognised as a role model in implementing CAADP as it went through the round table process and establish a CAADP Compact. Between 2006-2008 Rwanda’s average agricultural growth has been approximately 8% and annual funding 25% on average annually since the compact was signed.

Implementation of CAADP was noted to be slower at country level however, in 2009 progress was being made; COMESA region reports indicate that the round table process will be completed by the end of the year 2009 and establish CAADP Compacts; in West Africa ECOWAS is guiding its countries through the round table process and 14 round table are hoped to be completed by November 2009.
A statement from the Agricultural Unit, AU-NEPAD noted that African leaders have recognised the need to fight hunger and poverty and adopted CAADP as a collective vision to do so. Many development partners have also adopted CAADP as an entry point to support African Agriculture. It was however said that there are emerging issues/challenges to strengthening the implementation of CAADP at country level.

The need for governments to increase public financing for agriculture as well as the concern over efficiency and effective use of resources going to the agricultural sector;; Strengthening the capacity to implement CAADP; local level government and CSOs including farmers organisationsl; Establishing appropriate policy frameworks in support of agricultural growth with timelines; Peer review mechanisms, evidenced planning and dialogues involving the civil society, private sector; ecognizing the role of women in agriculture and strengthening their capacity to participate as well as integrating gender in national CAADP processes.

Ministerial Dialogue
Following a briefing about the state of agriculture by ministers for agriculture moderated by the media, it was agreed that the focus on agriculture especially by development partners is due largely to the awareness created by CAADP. They agreed on the need for strong political commitment to the CAADP backed by good governance and accountability. They highlighted the need to develop a comprehensive and a unified African response to the emerging issues of climate change, food, fuel ad financial crisis. They also agreed on the need to focus researches and technology development on the specific crops and livestock that will diversify agricultural production and increase productivity for increased food security. With regard to financing CAADP activities, it was agreed that governments need to commit adequate financial resources prior to seeking donor support which will indicate commitment and ownership. Concerning the impact of the current economic crisis on agriculture development partners expressed their commitment to continue to support agriculture by virtue of CAADP framework.

Agriculture and CAADP
Three presentations were made focusing on the initial reflections of CAADP review, an overview of its implementation; experiences on regional and country case studies (COMESA and Uganda). The CAADP review focused on its relevance, effectiveness and sustainability. The review found CAADP to be highly relevant with a clear long term objective. However, it was noted that there is need for short term and medium visions.

With regard to implementation of CAADP it was agreed that the CAADP is integral to agricultural development and should involve state and non state actors. There is need to commit to CAADP targets and develop strategies to move past the compacts.

In case of regional and national implementation, it was greed that countries need to hasten the compact processes to demonstrate that CAADP can address the issues of climate change and agricultural productivity.

AFRICA Non state actors and the CAADP agenda

Reflections were made from farmers organisations and the African agri-business sector and the role of academic and research institutions in advancing CAADP discussion. Farmers organisations called for the need to strengthen farmers organisation, women’s groups and agribusiness and for increased support due to catalytic role that they are playing in organising and promoting the interest of small holder farmers. They stressed the need to have interventions based on their capacities and ability to produce since the objective of CAADP agenda is to increase agricultural productivity.

The African Development bank group appreciated the CAADP initiative and noted that they recognise its value and the challenges they face. Their interventions focus on agricultural recovery, plans and increasing resources for stronger agribusiness through partnerships. AFDB investments in agriculture are linked to infrastructural in the areas of water management, post harvest handling as well as support for financial crisis. The meeting recognised the importance of pursuing partnerships with the Arab League as part of the strategy to mobilise resources for targeted investments in the CAADP agenda and welcomed the joint afro-Arab Ministerial meeting on agriculture and food security that has been scheduled for later in the year- 2009.
Pillar IV highlighted the need for increased investment in research and education to have a greater ability to advice on policies, knowledge management, an enabling environment through relevant policies and improving Africa capacity to build capacity.

There is a clearly strong support for the CAADP globally. However there is need for action and for African Agriculture to provide a stimulus package to the world economy. The meeting preceded the 13th Session of the AU Assembly of the head of state and government which took place from 1st to 3rd July 2009 in Sirte, Liby whose theme was on investing in Agriculture for Economic growth and Food Security;. The sub themes were

Political leaders resolve to tackle Climate Change
After many months of preparations, anxiety and arguments, the Climate Change Conference was held in the Danish capital, Copenhagen in December 2009.  The meeting, as expected draw people from all over the world. The peak of the conference was the attendance of the United States of America President, Barack Obama after so many speculations on whether he was going to attend at all. The impact of President Obama attendance at the conference is yet to be seen. The conference was also characterised like protests and police arrests.

FARMERS ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate variability and livelihoods of small scale farmers are extremely vulnerable to these changes because of their limited capacity to adapt, at the same time their unsustainable practices contribute to climate change and pause a great challenge to environmental sustainability particularly through deforestation in search of productive agriculture farmlands.  New evidence from a study from IFPRI indicate that ongoing extreme changes and variability in Zambia's climate could bring losses of more than US$4 billion in agricultural income in the next 10 years, driving hundreds of thousands into poverty and food insecurity.

Farmers are already facing the challenge as quoted by Dickson Siangoma, The headman of Malundu Village, Lusitu, Siavonga “Farming has now become completely different and difficult. Sometimes rains start in late November or later instead of October as in the past.  When it comes, it rains and rains continuously for almost the whole day, which is bad for our crops. The weather patterns have gone completely mad here. When we expect a drought there is too much rains and floods and vise versa. The rains destroy houses and wash away fields, roads and bridges. Its getting even worse each year.

While the above is the reality, the Copenhagen climate negotiations that were expected to give immediate hope to the helpless farmers, small island state by and large concluded in what was code name No Deal i.e. without the expected ambitious legally binding framework necessary for supporting especially those most affected to deal with the impacts already experienced. The outcome of the Copenhagen Accord of 18 December 2009” (refer to UNFCCC website) is not a legally binding document and above all parties just took note of the accord, therefore are not bound by decisions therein. This means that decisions were postponed to the next climate negotiations due this year in Mexico.

PELUM believes and has evidence that solutions for enabling farmers to adapt to climate change do exist and need to be up-scaled with the minimum resources available and enhanced farmer capacity as we await resources from international sources. The following have been tested by PELUM and farmers and offer solutions to current climate crisis.

Adaptation to mainly floods and droughts can be tackled through sustainable farming practices such as conservation agriculture, organic farming. The core of these practices emphasize maximum utilization of available water resources through early and timely planting, soil-protection through organically fertilizing ground-cover plants and watershed-management, keeping cattle and goats out of up-stream forests. For the case of flooding, simple sustainable water harvesting techniques should be introduced to farmers. Climate change as a result of human influence through deforestation, destruction of water-bodies and inadequate land-use, wasting resources like rain-water, soils, vegetation and livestock needs to be checked.; Mechanisms to regulate and guide farmers on how to sustainably utilize these resources are critical. These should be both regulatory and educational/awareness.

Tradition knowledge systems, like the Lozi living with floods as one example of many, have for long enabled farmers deal with such changes. These need to be identified, documented and passed on through appropriate channels that reach farmers, in addition these should be recognized by global, regional and national policy frameworks, development and research mechanisms. Farmer capacity building in ecological profitable, high yielding land-use methods will improve yields sustainably by several 100%.  Farmer trainers in these methods, documentation of ecological and economical successes for wider farmer sharing through farmer learning platforms will enhance adaptation.
By Yawe Agnes, Campaign Advocacy

Will Obama save us from Monsanto's monopoly on food?

Us President Obama has appointed the former vice president of monsanto a senior advisor to the Food and Drug Administration, FDA. Obama does not seem to be informed, that Monsanto, together with Rockefeller, Gates and USAID try to break the African market open for GMOs, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, ignoring the failure of the Asian green revolution with high cancer rates, indebted farmers, exhausted and polluted water resources.

The main danger is the contamination of food-species world wide, with manipulated genes forcing farmers and seed-producers to surrender to Monsanto. Read more