Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay

African agriculture is at a crossroads. The current high food prices and the instability they have provoked in several countries have added impetus for African countries to review their agricultural policies and programs. New agricultural policies will have to be more focused on staple food crops an...

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Main Author: Ngongi, Namanga
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161071
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author Ngongi, Namanga
author_browse Ngongi, Namanga
author_facet Ngongi, Namanga
author_sort Ngongi, Namanga
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description African agriculture is at a crossroads. The current high food prices and the instability they have provoked in several countries have added impetus for African countries to review their agricultural policies and programs. New agricultural policies will have to be more focused on staple food crops and on their main producers-smallholders, most of whom are women. The new policies must remove constraints that impede access by smallholder farmers to the knowledge, technology, and financial services they need to increase farm productivity in a profitable and environmentally sustainable manner. Institutional mechanisms that lower the risks of lending to the agriculture sector and to smallholders in particular should be established and programs developed to leverage financial resources from the commercial banking sector. Governments and the private sector have an opportunity to work together to support the procurement, blending, and packaging of fertilizers. Together they can also support the breeding and multiplication of improved seeds. Government policies should support agro-dealers to ensure that improved seeds and other inputs are available to farmers. The many issues that African countries must address will be beyond the capacity of most countries, even after financial resources in private banks are leveraged. External assistance will be very much needed, especially to develop essential road infrastructure, irrigation, and rural energy. Other issues, including land policy, will also need attention. The road ahead for African agricultural development, especially the attainment of food security, will not be easy. African governments will need to formulate and implement bold pro-poor, pro-smallholder farmer policies that will increase farm productivity, trigger a sustainable green revolution, and end the cycle of food crises in Africa.
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spelling CGSpace1610712025-11-06T03:50:13Z Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay Ngongi, Namanga food prices poverty alleviation globalization food security developing countries farming systems trade markets natural resources social protection nutrition capacity development African agriculture is at a crossroads. The current high food prices and the instability they have provoked in several countries have added impetus for African countries to review their agricultural policies and programs. New agricultural policies will have to be more focused on staple food crops and on their main producers-smallholders, most of whom are women. The new policies must remove constraints that impede access by smallholder farmers to the knowledge, technology, and financial services they need to increase farm productivity in a profitable and environmentally sustainable manner. Institutional mechanisms that lower the risks of lending to the agriculture sector and to smallholders in particular should be established and programs developed to leverage financial resources from the commercial banking sector. Governments and the private sector have an opportunity to work together to support the procurement, blending, and packaging of fertilizers. Together they can also support the breeding and multiplication of improved seeds. Government policies should support agro-dealers to ensure that improved seeds and other inputs are available to farmers. The many issues that African countries must address will be beyond the capacity of most countries, even after financial resources in private banks are leveraged. External assistance will be very much needed, especially to develop essential road infrastructure, irrigation, and rural energy. Other issues, including land policy, will also need attention. The road ahead for African agricultural development, especially the attainment of food security, will not be easy. African governments will need to formulate and implement bold pro-poor, pro-smallholder farmer policies that will increase farm productivity, trigger a sustainable green revolution, and end the cycle of food crises in Africa. 2008 2024-11-21T09:53:19Z 2024-11-21T09:53:19Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161071 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161003 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Ngongi, Namanga. 2008. Policy implications of high food prices for Africa. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161071
spellingShingle food prices
poverty alleviation
globalization
food security
developing countries
farming systems
trade
markets
natural resources
social protection
nutrition
capacity development
Ngongi, Namanga
Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay
title Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay
title_full Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay
title_fullStr Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay
title_full_unstemmed Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay
title_short Policy implications of high food prices for Africa: IFPRI 2007-2008 Annual Report Essay
title_sort policy implications of high food prices for africa ifpri 2007 2008 annual report essay
topic food prices
poverty alleviation
globalization
food security
developing countries
farming systems
trade
markets
natural resources
social protection
nutrition
capacity development
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161071
work_keys_str_mv AT ngonginamanga policyimplicationsofhighfoodpricesforafricaifpri20072008annualreportessay