Ripe for Change: The Promise of Africa's Agricutural Transformation

29 January 29, 2014. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia. A new ONE report, called Ripe for Change: The Promise of Africa's Agricutural Transformation, calls on African governments to implement an “enhanced CAADP” package of policies to accelerate economic development in Africa through an African-led agricultural transformation agenda steered by the AU's own CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme). The package of policy recommendations, was developed after a lengthy consultation process with African farmers and farmers associations from all over the continent.

The ONE Campaign also launched Do Agric, It Pays. This campaign is calling for African governments to commit to spending at least 10% of national budgets on effective agriculture investments, through transparent and accountable budgets. At the heart of the Do Agric campaign is an effort to push political leaders to adopt better policies that will boost productivity, increase incomes and help lift millions of Africans out of extreme poverty.

The launch of Do Agric in Addis Ababa coincides with the 2014 January African Union (AU) summit, where heads of state have gathered to discuss key development challenges across the continent. The AU has declared 2014 the Year of Agriculture in Africa.

Civil society partners at the launch included the Pan African Farmers Association (PAFO), ActionAid International, Acord International, Oxfam, East and Southern African Farmers Forum , ROPPA, Southern African Confederation of Agriculture Unions (SACAU), the Africa Union Commission, Becho Welisho and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Campaign champions include Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Beninois President Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni and Côte d'Ivoire footballer Yaya Touré.

Ripe for Change: The Promise of Africa's Agricutural Transformation

62 pages

20th January 2014. 

advanced copy

1. In the first section, “Profiling Success”, the report presents three case studies of African countries (Ghana, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso) where real leadership, reform and investment in agriculture have helped foster national growth and development. Public spending offers one of the most direct and effective instruments for governments to promote inclusive agricultural growth. Yet as governments seek to implement reforms, increase agricultural spending and boost growth, they must grapple with a range of options and reforms to address their country- and context-specific concerns and reach their goals. These case studies illustrate how leaders in Ghana, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso have navigated these decisions and how they have shown remarkable progress in both agricultural success and economic development. They also offer important policy lessons for other leaders who wish to see similar results. 
2. In the second section, “Renewing Maputo’s Promise”, the report looks at progress made by African countries in achieving (or falling short of) the Maputo targets, and surveys the challenges that they have faced in striving to reach these goals. There is a particular focus on the CAADP results framework, which underscores the importance of accountability and of improving farmers’ access to information. Farmers have not had opportunities to hold leaders to account on prioritising the agriculture sector or on achieving CAADP progress and implementation. These challenges also demonstrate important areas for reform that could be enhanced in any new agreement reached in 2014. 
3. Finally, in the third section, “Policy Recommendations for Africa’s Agricultural Transformation”, the report concludes by calling on policy-makers to seize the opportunities presented through transformations in the agriculture sector, the enhancement of public investment, strengthened ties with farmers, civil society and the private sector, and enhancements to the quality of public policy and spending. A range of policy options are presented for consideration by African leaders, including programmes aimed at narrowing the gender gap in agriculture, reforms designed to facilitate intra-regional trade and heightened resources targeted at improving land governance.

Published on 22 Feb 2014 Musicians and artists from across Africa have come together - to seek more money for farming. They want governments to help transform the agricultural sector. And they've recorded a song, to promote the cause.