African Agricultural Research and Technological Development

African Agricultural Research and Technological Development
Author: Donald Pickering
Publisher:
Total Pages: 232
Release: 1988
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN:

The future well-being of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa depends on the development of science-based agriculture appropriate to the diverse physical, social, and economic conditions encountered in the countries of this region. Recognizing this fact, the World Bank commissioned comprehensive reviews of the status of international, regional, and national agricultural research activities in western, and in eastern and southern Africa. These reviews provided the basis for formulating a draft strategy for agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this endeavor was to provide a framework in which the World Bank, its borrowers, and other interested parties could pool their resources for strengthening agricultural research systems in the continent. This report includes the views of decision-makers on African economic development and the closely related subject of agricultural research and technology on the Bank's proposed strategy on Africian agricultural research. It also helps provide a forum for an exchange of ideas on this important topic, and thereby helps concerned governments and regional and international agencies formulate programs to strengthen agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa.

Agricultural Research in Africa

Agricultural Research in Africa
Author: Lynam, John
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 459
Release: 2016-09-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0896292126

This book—prepared by Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI), which is led by IFPRI—offers a comprehensive perspective on the evolution, current status, and future goals of agricultural research and development in Africa, including analyses of the complex underlying issues and challenges involved, as well as insights into how they might be overcome. Agriculture in Africa south of the Sahara is at a prospective tipping point. Growth has accelerated in the past decade, but is unsustainable given increasing use of finite resources. The yield gap in African agriculture is significant, and scenarios on feeding the world’s population into the future highlight the need for Africa to expand its agricultural production. Agricultural Research in Africa: Investing in Future Harvests discusses the need to shift to a growth path based on increased productivity—as in the rest of the developing world— which is essential if Africa is to increase rural incomes and compete in both domestic and international markets. Such a shift ultimately requires building on evolving improvements that collectively translate to deepening rural innovation capacity.

Africa’s Green Revolution

Africa’s Green Revolution
Author: William G. Moseley
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2017-10-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1317288068

This volume examines the dominant neoliberal agenda for agricultural development and hunger alleviation in Africa. The text reviews the history of African agricultural and food security policy in the post-colonial period, across a range of geographical contexts, in order to contextualise the productionist approach embedded in the much heralded New Green Revolution for Africa. This strategy, supported by a range of international agencies, promotes the use of hybrid seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides to boost crop production. This approach is underpinned by a new and unprecedented level of public–private partnerships as donors actively work to promote the private sector and build links between African farmers, input suppliers, agro-dealers, agro-processors, and retailers. On the consumer end, increased supermarket penetration into poorer neighbourhoods is proffered as a solution to urban food insecurity. The chapters in this volume complicate understandings of this new approach and raise serious questions about its effectiveness as a strategy for increasing food production and alleviating poverty across the continent. This book is based on a special issue of African Geographical Review.

Farmer Innovation in Africa

Farmer Innovation in Africa
Author: Chris Reij
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2014-07-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1134204981

One of Africa's major untapped resources is the creativity of its farmers. This book presents a series of clear and detailed studies that demonstrate how small-scale farmers, both men and women, experiment and innovate in order to improve their livelihoods, despite the adverse conditions and lack of appropriate external support with which they have to contend. The studies are based on fieldwork in a wide variety of farming systems throughout Africa, and have been written primarily by African researchers and extension specialists. Numerous lively examples show how a participatory approach to agricultural research and development that builds on local knowledge and innovation can stimulate the creativity of all involved - not only the farmers. This approach, which recognizes the farmers' capacity to innovate as the crucial component of success, provides a much-needed alternative to the conventional 'transfer of technology' paradigm. This book is a rich source of case studies and analyses of how agricultural research and development policy can be changed. It presents evidence of the resilience and resolution of rural communities in Africa and will be an inspiration for development workers, researchers and policy-makers, as well as for students and teachers of agriculture, environment and sustainable development.

The Economics of Agricultural Technology in Semiarid Sub-Saharan Africa

The Economics of Agricultural Technology in Semiarid Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: John H. Sanders
Publisher:
Total Pages: 336
Release: 1996
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

This strategy is evaluated using field studies and modeling from the major agroecological zones of crop production. The authors address the higher-input, yield-increasing strategy from the perspective of risk, sustainability and the impact on women. They also consider alternative approaches to increasing output through area expansion and livestock-crop integrated systems.

Technology Development Assistance for Agriculture

Technology Development Assistance for Agriculture
Author: Norman Clark
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2013-05-02
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1134058594

Stemming from an 11-year DFID funded programme under its Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS), Technology Development Assistance for Agriculture: Putting Research into Low Income Countries reviews part of this programme as a case study of a broader issue of technology development for Africa. Controversially, it critiques current international technology development assistance and focuses on the potential role of the private sector in agricultural technology development as well as providing insights for future cognate science policy and practice. The book focuses on the RIU "Best Bets" Africa sub-programme. This identified promising proposals to take existing agriculture research products and put these into use in ways that would benefit the poor in developing countries. The sum set aside for this was £5 million. The empirical sections of the book cover project selection, progress and programme management over a 2009-2012 period with special attention paid to lessons learned that may have implications for future cognate technology development assistance. This topical book gives direct evidence of meeting objectives and delivering real changes in technology development for Africa to postgraduate students, researchers, international bodies, NGOs, policy makers and government organisations working on natural resource management, technology development assistance, and low income country agriculture.

Impact of Science on African Agriculture and Food Security

Impact of Science on African Agriculture and Food Security
Author: P. Anandajayasekeram
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 326
Release: 2007
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1845932676

The need for agricultural research resources in the developing world cannot be underestimated, but the availability of such resources is often poor due to lack of funding and investment. In order for Africa and other such developing countries to achieve productivity in agriculture - vital to food security, poverty reduction and sustainable management of natural resources - investment and policy development needs to be assessed. This book, a joint effort from IFPRI, ILRI and the Kellogg Foundation, explores the importance of impact assessment studies in Africa, and assembles important evidence to pave the way for further, much needed investment in agricultural research all over the developing world.