Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization: A Framework for Africa
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2019-03-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251308713

This framework presents ten interrelated principles/elements to guide Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (SAMA). Further, it presents the technical issues to be considered under SAMA and the options to be analysed at the country and sub regional levels. The ten key elements required in a framework for SAMA are as follows: The analysis in the framework calls for a specific approach, involving learning from other parts of the world where significant transformation of the agricultural mechanization sector has already occurred within a three-to-four decade time frame, and developing policies and programmes to realize Africa’s aspirations of Zero Hunger by 2025. This approach entails the identification and prioritization of relevant and interrelated elements to help countries develop strategies and practical development plans that create synergies in line with their agricultural transformation plans. Given the unique characteristics of each country and the diverse needs of Africa due to the ecological heterogeneity and the wide range of farm sizes, the framework avoids being prescriptive.

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.

Lost Crops of Africa

Lost Crops of Africa
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2006-10-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309164540

This report is the second in a series of three evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa's food supply. The volume describes the characteristics of 18 little-known indigenous African vegetables (including tubers and legumes) that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists and policymakers and in the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each vegetable to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each species is described in a separate chapter, based on information gathered from and verified by a pool of experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume III African fruits.

Rebuilding West Africa's Food Potential

Rebuilding West Africa's Food Potential
Author: Aziz Elbehri
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Agriculture
ISBN: 9789251075302

This book offers an in-depth analyses of value chain policies, past and present in West Africa. The book contains a large number of in-depth case studies of food value chains in particular countries, including traditional export commodities (cocoa, cotton), high value exports (mangoes, horticulture) and the most important staple food value chains (oil palm, rice, maize, sorghum and millet and cassava) in the region. It also contains a large number of private and public initiatives, and thematic analyses relating to the role of the private agro-industry and producer organizations and their role as market agents.

Capacity development for resilient food systems

Capacity development for resilient food systems
Author: Babu, Suresh Chandra
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2014-04-30
Genre: Social Science
ISBN:

Food systems face shocks varying in breadth and duration from a wide array of sources. These shocks can affect all aspects of a country’s food system, threatening the food security of its citizens. Low levels of capacity to address food system shocks are a major development challenge. This paper presents a conceptual framework for assessing the capacity of a food system to become more resilient, regardless of what kind of threat it faces. It suggests that food systems can be categorized into three subsystems: a policy system; markets, trade, and institutions; and a production system. Within each of these systems, three dimensions of capacity are analyzed: individual capacity, organizational capacity, and system capacity. The paper explores examples of building capacity within this framework and identifies key knowledge and research gaps. It also presents a typology as a possible tool for prioritizing investments in capacity building for resilience across countries.

Agricultural Growth for the Poor

Agricultural Growth for the Poor
Author:
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2005-01-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 082136068X

"New forces are at work in the agricultural sector: the growth of markets and private entrepreneurship, the changing global demand for food and other agricultural products, the rise of multinationals, and the expansion of integrated food chains. To realize the potential benefits, the public sector has a crucial role to play through policy initiatives to support agriculture, reduce poverty, and ensure broad rural development alignment with these forces." "Building on the foundation of the Agriculture Investment Sourcebook (World Book 2005), Agricultural Growth for the Poor: An Agenda for Development explores ways in which the public sector can work with the private sector to facilitate growth and ensure equitable benefit distribution. It describes the key policy and institutional issues involved in promoting private sector investment in agriculture and accelerating growth to benefit the poor. It identifies priorities for public investment in specific agricultural settings at different stages of economic growth and offers practical approaches for enhancing the impact of such investment. Finally, it summarizes lessons learned about successful support of agricultural development and discusses areas in which additional progress is required." "Policymakers and international development organizations will find Agricultural Growth for the Poor an invaluable resource for analyzing the prospects for agriculture in the changing global environment and developing an agenda for pro-poor development."--BOOK JACKET.

Realizing the Promise and Potential of African Agriculture

Realizing the Promise and Potential of African Agriculture
Author: InterAcademy Council
Publisher:
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2004
Genre: Agricultural innovations
ISBN:

Africa is rich in both natural and human resources, yet nearly 200 million of its people are undernourished because of inadequate food supplies. Comprehensive strategies are needed across the continent to harness the power of science and technology (S&T) in ways that boost agricultural productivity, profitability, and sustainability -- ultimately ensuring that all Africans have access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs. This report addresses the question of how science and technology can be mobilized to make that promise a reality.

Lost Crops of Africa

Lost Crops of Africa
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 380
Release: 2008-01-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309164435

This book is the third in a series evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa's food supply. The volume describes 24 little-known indigenous African cultivated and wild fruits that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists, policymakers, and the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each fruit to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each fruit is also described in a separate chapter, based on information provided and assessed by experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume II African vegetables.

Capacity Building in Developing and Emerging Countries

Capacity Building in Developing and Emerging Countries
Author: Elie Chrysostome
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2019-07-16
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3030167402

This book explores new perspectives on how to improve the chances of success regarding capacity building in developing and emerging countries. Drawing on lessons learned in the course of six decades of capacity building research and practice, it identifies the required conditions for the success of capacity building efforts, and suggests that a radical change in mindset has become a critical aspect in developing countries. In addition, the book discusses capacity building in connection with entrepreneurship (especially female entrepreneurship), transnational diaspora remittances, and combating corruption, which it considers to be essential drivers of sustainable development in developing and emerging countries. The book’s contributing authors represent the leading minds in capacity building research and practice, and include researchers from prestigious universities in North America, Europe and Africa, as well as international development experts from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, African Development Bank, and African Capacity Building Foundation. All authors have considerable expertise regarding capacity building issues, and represent 26 emerging and developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean Islands, North America and Europe.