2017 – Unfolding Agricultural Transformation in Africa: Strategies for sustainable development

2017 – “Unfolding Agricultural Transformation in Africa: Strategies for Sustainable Development”

Lagoon Beach Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
November 30 – 1 December 2017

Conference programme
DAY 1: 30 November 2017

Opening Remarks & Welcome
Chance Kabaghe, IAPRI/ReNAPRI
Hester Klopper: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Stellenbosch University
Joyene Issacs: Head of Department, Western Cape Department of Agriculture

Overview and Context
Presenter: Prof. Emilio Tostao, CEPPAG/ReNAPRI

SESSION 1
Agricultural Transformation in Africa and the Role of Parliamentarians
Presenter: Thom S. Jayne, Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), Michigan State University (ReNAPRI)
Chair: Thomas Munthali, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
Panelists:

  • Richard Mkandawire, Chair of National Planning Commission; Malawi (ReNAPRI)
  • Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa, MP, South Africa. President of United Democratic Movement (UDM)
  • Annette Steyn, MP, South Africa. Shadow-Minister of Agriculture
  • Geordin Hill-Lewis, MP, South Africa. Shadow-Minister of Trade and Industry
  • Sulaiman Sisay, MP, AUC, Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Sierra Leone
  • Abdiaziz Abdilahi, MP, AUC, Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Somalia
  • Khanyisile Malambe, MP, AUC, Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Swaziland
  • Mboni Mhita, MP, AUC, Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Tanzania
  • Ladislus Ndoro, MP, AUC, Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Zimbabwe
  • Anthony Egeru, Regional Project Manager, MCF@REFORUM

SESSION 2
Transformational Investment in Agri-food Systems and Youth Employment
Presenters:

Panelists:

SESSION 3
Land and Changing Land Governance Structures
Presenter: Antony Chapoto, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), (ReNAPRI)
Chair: Chance Kabaghe, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), (ReNAPRI)
Panelists:

  • Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa, Member of South African Parliament, President of United Democratic Movement (UDM)
  • Chieftainess Muwezwa, Zambian Traditional Leader
  • Ray van Rooyen, Head: Sales Enablement, Barclays Africa Group Limited
  • Christo van der Rheede, Deputy Executive Director: Agri SA

Closing of Day 1: Insights and Lessons
Isaac Minde, Alliance for African Partnership, Michigan State University

DAY 2: 1 December 2017

SESSION 4
Policy Coherence for Predictable Maize Markets in ESA: Rethinking Role of Strategic Grain Reserves
Presenter:  Antony Chapoto, Indaba Agricultural Research Policy Institute, (IAPRI), (ReNAPRI)
Chair: Chance Kabaghe, Indaba Agricultural Research Policy Institute (IAPRI), (ReNAPRI)
Panelists:

  • Antony Chapoto, Indaba Agricultural Research Policy Institute (IAPRI), (ReNAPRI)
  • Gerald Masila, East African Grain Council, Kenya
  • Ben Mwongela, FTESA Consultant in SGR, Kenya
  • Steve Orr,  FoodTrade ESA
  • Thomas S. Jayne, Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), Michigan State University (ReNAPRI)

SESSION 5
Regional Outlook
Chair: Ferdi Meyer, Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), (ReNAPRI)
Presenters:

  • Brian Chisanga, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), (ReNAPRI)
  • Tracy Davids, Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), (ReNAPRI)

SESSION 6
Global Commodity Outlook: Implications for Africa
Chair: Ferdi Meyer, Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), (ReNAPRI)
Presenters:

  • Holger Matthey, United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
  • Patrick Westhoff, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), University of Missouri
  • Robert M’Barek, European Commission, Joint Research Centre

CLOSING SESSION
Recap and Way Forward
Miltone Ayieko, Tegemeo Institute, (ReNAPRI)

Conference Description:
At the turn of the century scholars agreed that Africa’s development crisis was largely underpinned by policy failure. However, the combined effect of African governments’ commitment to transformation (as embodied in CAADP) and the rapid rise in economic growth rates in resource-abundant economies was a change in global perspectives on Africa within the first decade of the 21st century. The visions shifted from a “Hopeless Continent” towards “Africa Rising” as evidence of major transformations in the region’s agricultural sectors and broader economies came to light.

Today, the pace and scope of agricultural transformation is not assured. The ability of stakeholders within the agricultural sector to evolve and adapt to tipping-points within the system is largely determined by the enabling environment set by governments. In short, the fundamental questions at the core of the future of agriculture transformation in Africa are linked to issues of political governance. For this reason, ReNAPRI’s focus in their 4th Annual Stakeholder Conference is on policy strategies, which can generate the incentives for system-wide private investment in food systems that contribute to broad-based growth.

The ReNAPRI conference was held over a day-and-half period and comprised the following activities:

  • Keynote Presentations focused on “unfolding” agricultural transformation and highlighting the key challenges, and;
  • Panel Discussions including industry experts/stakeholders, charged with identifying concrete strategies that address the challenges and ensure sustainable development.

Conference participants include a range of stakeholders actively engaged in the African Agricultural sector. These include:

  • Regional Economic Community and relevant government ministries representatives
  • Farmer organizations
  • Private sector organizations and companies
  • Academics
  • Development think tanks
  • Research organizations (national and international)
  • Development agencies and donor community

Conference concept note

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