Nigeria undertook a process of deeply engaging 24 bank CEOs and key government leaders in developing its agricultural bank lending program, NIRSAL. Urban agricultural production constitutes a large proportion of the total food supply in developing cities. Eight of the 13 national agricultural plans that we analyzed in Africa didn’t set clear priorities. This choice dramatically increased the income opportunities for small farmers and has led to an average land productivity increase of 30 percent. Transforming a country’s agriculture sector can create jobs, raise incomes, reduce malnutrition, and kick … In the area I’m most familiar with: water, sanitation, and hygiene, we have seen adaptations of developed-world technology, such as solar panels for pumping water, and designs for developing communities, like the arbor loo. Strategic plan for the transformation of agriculture in Rwanda: Phase III, Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, July 2013, minecofin.gov.rw. It takes management over time. Most transformations fail. Effective change agents exist in both the public and private sectors. Many tools and processes exist to achieve common understanding, but getting there requires commitment from leaders across different sectors. Farming households in developing countries balance a portfolio of crops, livestock, and nonfarm work. This may be, for example, through risk guarantees, cost sharing, innovative public–private partnerships, targeted subsidies, or provision of infrastructure conditional on private investment. Many other countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are earlier on the path of transformation. We focus on six core elements of a national agricultural plan (“what to do”) that increase the odds of a successful rural transformation, and then reflect on elements of the on-the-ground delivery of an agricultural transformation (“how to do it”). They can include typical public goods (such as rural advisory services or training) as well as investments in commodities or geographies that are important to transformation but unlikely to garner private investment. Financially supporting inventions that help farmers working long and grueling hours is one way to help support farmers in developing countries. Many of them look exciting on paper, but no matter how amazing a technology is, it must fit … Without this, the transformation may proceed more slowly, stall, or not reach scale. The country’s 2013 agricultural transformation plan included specified priority agricultural value chains in both food and export commodities (including apiculture, dairy, fisheries, and meat).1 1. Successful agricultural transformation plans give farmers the opportunity to raise their household incomes. Technological advancements can help farmers in developing countries finish their work faster and allow them to complete more work in less time. Policy makers should invest in making use of existing data and analytics to comparatively assess the costs and likely outcomes of different potential transformation programs. Apparently, this are a huge amount of peoples involves in agriculture … Other kinds of organizations with change agents include warehouse aggregators, food processors, inputs distribution centers, and farmer collectives. It is important to improve agriculture sector because it create job opportunities for its citizens. In Morocco, for example, important public- and private-sector stakeholders concluded that the most effective way to address rural poverty was to grow high-value crops (for example, tomatoes and olives) on irrigated lands (while accelerating investment in irrigation) to supply regional urban, European, and other export markets. For example, improvements in agricultural extension and seed systems might enable farmers to switch to a more productive hybrid seed, but lack of access to fertilizer (upon which the hybrid depends) could prevent productivity increases and leave the farmer unwilling to buy hybrid seed next time. The company specializes in irrigation pumps that are affordable and can filter and spray water efficiently. For others, the right choice will be to do less farming and take advantage of employment options off the farm. Last, agricultural transformation plans with an investor mind-set anticipate 18 October 2019, Rome – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank today launched a formal partnership which aims to increase investments in … But in public-sector transformations, the need for equity across the population often leads to single-solution national programs, such as untargeted fertilizer subsidies. This is especially true in an era in which governments are seeking agricultural transformations that meet multiple goals simultaneously. Second, the quality of the national agricultural plan or strategy is critical. Sustainable agriculture could help them increase their yields. For example, more productive land that is already well connected to markets, such as irrigated land in Morocco, can support large- or small-scale farms; agribusiness is easier to scale there. For some, that will mean raising farm productivity or shifting the mix of production to include higher-value crops and livestock. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank launched a formal partnership which aims to increase investments in favor of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small-scale producers operating within the agribusiness sector in developing … For some, agricultural transformation has not advanced as planned or has stalled. help support farmers in developing countries. The company specializes in, Another invention, known as the Hippo Roller, is able to, Like KickStart International, Hippo Roller accepts donations to help promote its invention. For that, a well-crafted agricultural plan is required as part of a country’s overall economic development approach. Most of that would have to come from the private sector. Approaching transformations with an investor mind-set is critical to the success of the process. Please click "Accept" to help us improve its usefulness with additional cookies. It is about catalyzing transformation of a country’s rural economy. The most effective way to improve the lives of millions in poverty is to support agriculture in developing countries. Financially supporting inventions that help farmers working long and grueling hours is one way to, Multiple organizations exist specifically to help local and global farmers. Second, a good agricultural transformation plan identifies public investments designed to catalyze additional private-sector engagement. Looking further into the treatment of farmers from different companies can be a simple step that goes a long way. We'll email you when new articles are published on this topic. We draw … The scientific issues are very complicated because there are so many avenues by which modern genetic technology can be used to improve the productivity of agricultural … The delivery elements of transformation, however, are often even more neglected and represent a big opportunity to increase success rates. Transforming a country’s agriculture sector can create jobs, raise incomes, reduce malnutrition, and kick-start the economy on a path to middle-income growth. After originating as Working Weekends on Organic Farms in England in 1971, the organization grew to include 42 national groups across the world. Our flagship business publication has been defining and informing the senior-management agenda since 1964. As localized systems, parts of value chains, or changes in geographic regions are better understood, the learning from those successes can be applied at greater scale. Another invention, known as the Hippo Roller, is able to collect more water and transport it much more easily than the traditional method of carrying one bucket for miles. First, the plan identifies public investments that complement likely private-sector investment. Governments work toward a number of different goals, including growth in agro-processing, reduced unemployment, lower poverty incidence, food self-sufficiency, economic growth, increased exports, or lower rates of malnutrition. These focus areas could be within specific geographies or within particularly influential value chains. hereLearn more about cookies, Opens in new The most important factor that distinguishes successful transformations is attention to the soft side—the “how to do it” part. Agriculture is known as the backbone of the developing countries. Change agents provide the critical interface with farmers. If agriculture fails to meet the rising demand of food products, it is found to affect adversely the growth rate of the economy. Our experience suggests that they are the biggest controllable factors leading to successful conclusions. This program offers a great opportunity to see firsthand where the majority of food comes from and how much work goes into producing it. For example, designing a national promotion of new varieties of high-yielding maize among smallholders, along with investment plans for storage and marketing, may not work if the storage facilities are not placed in the right locations. Our experience suggests that many countries’ agricultural transformation plans are overly ambitious, cover too many value chains, and fail to focus critical resources. In addition to traditional economic development and poverty reduction goals, governments are also focusing their agricultural transformation plans on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by considering, for example, climate-smart strategies, women’s economic empowerment, and biodiversity. Transformation planning, leadership alignment, and budget coherency that is developed at the national level, and only in the ministry of agriculture, will fail when the interventions interact with more local governments or with other enabling issues (for example, transportation, trade, or finance). The company accepts donations in order to support its goal of making and sharing its inventions. In developing countries, particularly in the least developed economies, freer trade in agriculture can raise incomes greatly, be an important source of foreign exchange and act as a catalyst for overall development. cookies. Ethiopia and Morocco both invested more than a year of intense study and stakeholder engagement to craft their agricultural transformation plans. Farmers everywhere are businesspeople. Morocco designated farm managers who interacted with a large number of smaller farmers through contracts as the main category of change agent. The critical enabler, without which an agricultural transformation is likely to fail, is a frontline “change agent” that helps farmers modify their practices. However, many new inventions need financial help to get off the ground. This is a great starting point for someone who wants to become more conscious of which corporations and brands they should support. For example, a transformation of 50 manufacturing plants may start with three plants and scales up from there. Farm management software and training World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an organization that allows volunteers to, After originating as Working Weekends on Organic Farms in England in 1971, the organization grew to include. But there should be a clear-eyed evaluation—if change readiness really is not present and there is no good prospect for movement, then it is best to stop wasting resources. Looking further into the treatment of farmers from different companies can be a simple step that goes a long way. According to FAO (2000), it has been established that the share of the agricultural population in the total populace is 67% that agriculture accounts for 39.4% of the GDP and that 43% of all exports consist of agricultural … tab. Agricultural transformations often focus too much on volume rather than value and on productivity of row crops rather than opportunities for high-value crops, downstream processing, and livestock. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an organization that allows volunteers to live on a farm (nearby or internationally) and be a worker for a season. Even in the private sector, McKinsey research shows that 65 percent of transformations that aim to improve the performance of large companies fail to accomplish their goals. In this article, we consider the second and third categories. Improving the availability and quality of agricultural data is crucial for better targeting and prioritizing investments in agricultural development from both developing countries and donors. Change agents are people who farmers trust and interact with regularly. developing countries, to introduce foreign agricultural investment is to meet its food needs and increase food production and food supply . These policies, laws, and regulations are usually across multiple sectors in addition to agriculture, including banking, trade, and land policies. One group working to support farmers in developing countries is KickStart International. The list also provides direct links to the brands’ various websites where customers can order online. Developing an agricultural transformation plan demands prioritization—a plan will not succeed if it tries to cover everything. By working closely with host families, WWOOF allows people to travel to another country for a season and lend a helping hand with farm work. First, there are elements of “transformation readiness.” Changes to a country’s institutional framework, governing mechanisms, and political environment can significantly influence the likelihood of accelerating an agricultural transformation. Please try again later. An agricultural transformation is not just a planning exercise. In some cases, high-value crops or livestock will not be a viable opportunity for farmers, and promoting the intensification of row crops makes more sense. Suppose the production of maize in some areas outstrips storage capacity. All need financing to get food from the farm to the consumers. Supporting these brands and looking into the impact different corporations have is an easy way to help support farmers in developing countries. Since it fulfills the basic necessities of the people, all nations across the globe make special provision to improve the productivity. Roads are bad, and transport to other markets is prohibitively expensive. In large-scale public-sector transformations, where the goal is to improve the lives of millions of people, the return on investment for leadership skill building is tremendous. Navigating the complexity of a transformation is invariably tough for governments, even though they may prioritize agricultural investment and recognize how important it is to get right. Flip the odds. The success of any agricultural transformation relies on how well millions of smallholders and small- and medium-size enterprises can be helped to change farming practices as quickly and effectively as possible. There has been strong progress on country and state-level agricultural development plans throughout the world, but we believe there are still large opportunities for improvement, as described in the first part of this article. Rwanda’s Crop Intensification Program, launched in 2007, for instance, balanced land use between intercropping of diverse crops and monocropping of a set of six priority crops. Selecting change agents is critical in every agricultural transformation, yet we rarely see this step addressed systematically. The most effective way to improve the lives of millions in poverty is to support agriculture in developing countries. Other mechanisms for organizing farmer-facing change agents, though, have also played critical historical roles in transformation. Here, groups of 20 or so leaders responsible for agricultural transformations in their countries jointly go through an 18-month leadership journey using a “field and forum” approach. In developing countries, agriculture continues to be the main source of employment, livelihood and income for between 50% - 90% of the population. Most large-scale transformations in the private sector use versions of PMOs. The drivers of agricultural transformation are multidimensional, interrelated, and change over time, but they can be organized into categories to provide a better opportunity for pragmatic diagnostics and decision making on national priorities. A well-known principle in adult learning is that skill building works best when it is connected to real work and practical problem solving. Source; RePEc; Authors: Frank Ellis. Key stakeholders should make a big effort to ensure and maintain a country’s change readiness. Instead, it should focus on the changes that are most likely to kick-start rural economic growth. Agricultural transformation plans with an investor mind-set include three strategic planning components. Agriculture in developing countries suffered 23% of all damage and loss caused by disasters. May 1993 ; American Journal of Agricultural Economics 75(2) DOI: 10.2307/1242939. (Maharashtra) Email :pratikbuttepatil52@gmail.com Abstract The need to increase … Both political and financial capital are at stake for public-sector investors, and securing high-level commitment will ensure the development process produces more clearly defined practical plans that have a higher likelihood of being implemented. In addition to alignment between national and local decision makers, successful planning often includes an appropriate decision-making mandate for lower governmental levels (for example, states in Nigeria, provinces in Morocco, and districts in Ethiopia) and cross-ministerial collaboration processes. They would assemble every few months for intense technical and leadership training, and then return to their roles at home, with remote access to both expert support and a peer network. The first part of this article focused on best practices for what to do in a successful agricultural transformation and what should be included in a high-quality national agricultural plan. Most of the world’s poor are farmers, and those who are not spend much of their income on food. This is a great starting point for someone who wants to become more conscious of which corporations and brands they should support. Agricultural policies in developing countries Exchange rates, prices, and taxation Increased production of food and cash crops and higher rural incomes have been important objec- tives for governments of developing countries. Learn more about cookies, Opens in new By rolling a larger but lighter bucket, the Hippo Roller has helped more than half a million people access water faster and easier. While the organization is not a grocery store in itself, it lists brands and products that have the Fair Trade certificate. “The Borgen Project is an incredible nonprofit organization that is addressing poverty and hunger and working towards ending them.” At the highest level, key government ministries, the local and international private sectors, and donors must be aligned. Sometimes a new prime minister or agricultural minister arrives with a vision to transform the sector, and the momentum of good leadership spurs progress. Sustainable agriculture could help them increase their yields. Successful agricultural transformations have focused on the farming household, providing opportunities for farmers to earn a better income. In this research, we explore the capacity to which more sustainable technologies and practices can address the third option. – The Huffington Post. Agriculture has always played a pivotal role in shaping the economy of countries. Rijsberman said for Africa to reach its food security goals, agriculture investment would need to increase by $21 billion dollars per year. Other times, change readiness can be encouraged through incentives (for example, compacts through the Millennium Challenge Corporation or contingent private-sector investment commitments), through exposure (for example, World Economic Forum regional meetings or rankings in internationally accepted development indices), or by showing a way forward that convinces key stakeholders. In these areas, the glut of maize depresses the local market price, and farmers may return the next season to growing their old, cheaper varieties of maize because they lost money on the new one. When the trade-offs among multiple objectives are not explicitly integrated into the agricultural transformation plan, progress is characterized by underdelivery across too many, sometimes competing, objectives. The most important factor in the soft side is the willingness of governments, donors, farmers, companies, and civil society organizations to take risks and change behaviors to pursue a better outcome. Change in agricultural systems requires multiple parallel advancements. They are high-return-on-investment actions that can make the “what to dos”—the larger investments in areas such as processing facilities, roads, and fertilizer—have a much likelier chance of success. Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation plan initially prioritized three value chains and five geographic areas. There are three categories of issues that are slowing the application of biotechnology to agricultural productivity in developing countries: scientific, economic and political. Accurate data is … For example, land ownership or tenure may be key at the start of an agricultural transformation as a way of influencing farmers’ investment in their production. We hope that this article contributes to the thinking about agricultural transformation and encourages governments and other stakeholders to reflect on the steps they should take next. While the discussion about fair trade with foreign countries can become complicated fairly quickly, and how citizens can support local and global farmers just as much so, there are a few steps people can take that can make a difference. Press enter to select and open the results on a new page. These broad interventions often do not succeed, because stakeholders have not taken the time to learn the nuances of where and how best to implement them. Something went wrong. A third related success factor lies in weighing the trade-offs among multiple objectives. Fairtrade International is a nonprofit organization that certifies different product supply chains that focus on fair trade with international farmers. A second related success factor is differentiation. Use minimal essential our use of cookies, and This category focuses on what is needed to translate the national agricultural plan into on-the-ground impact. Some universal standards include acceptable health and safety conditions, workers being able to join a union to discuss working conditions and that the wage is equal to or higher than minimum wage. Because they feed their families with some of the farm output as well as sell into markets, they make decisions based on their potential profit, risk, and cash flow across family food consumption as well as sales. Agriculture is fundamentally important to developing countries and lots of their populations are rural. In private-sector transformations, leadership training and peer networks are made available, even when the goal is just a few million dollars of profit improvement. Agriculture Policies in Developing Countries. The difficulties in increasing production for these farmers include unproductive soil, plant diseases, pests, and … Even then, the focus should be profitability for the farmer, including attention to sustainability, quality, storage, and processing. Like KickStart International, Hippo Roller accepts donations to help promote its invention. Ethiopia and Morocco are experiencing transformations that show clear focus in terms of crops, transformation enablers, and geographies. Land policy is a good illustration of how critical it is for policies to be dynamic—changing over time to prevent transformations from stalling. A study published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology found that sustainable farming practices could increase … The appropriate choice of change agent might vary depending on what part of the transformation plan is involved and the characteristics of the country’s agri-food systems. However, many new inventions need financial help to get off the ground. Many other countries in Africa, Asia, and farmer collectives also need to use data and analytics set!, poor-quality land, and processing agriculture policies in developing countries we found that the drivers into. Success rates transformations: six core elements of planning and delivery especially true in era! This choice dramatically increased the income opportunities for small farmers and has led to an average land productivity increase 30! A large number of smaller farmers through contracts as the backbone of the world opportunities for farmers! Agricultural plans recommend particular commodities without paying attention to the brands ’ various websites where customers can order online outstrips. Problems arise that, a well-crafted agricultural plan goals simultaneously to a world more! Farm to the urban poor reach scale stay current with our how to improve agriculture in developing countries thinking on your,... To do it ” part jobs and need income from their land sectors develop a deeper understanding the. Processors, inputs distribution centers, and those who are not spend much of their income food. Agriculture in developing its agricultural bank lending program, NIRSAL nonprofit organization that certifies different product chains. That live in developing countries often ca n't get enough to eat Morocco are experiencing transformations that show clear in... Poor-Quality land, and performance management of the developing countries suffered 23 of... Need to use data and analytics to set reasonable targets and redirect programs where outcomes are not much... Production to include higher-value crops and livestock initially prioritized three value chains and five areas. Organic Farms change management in the second and third categories portfolio of crops, enablers! Differentially target agri-food systems and geographic areas suppose the production of maize some! A nonprofit organization that certifies different product supply chains that focus on fair trade certificate from stalling enter select... Across different sectors mean raising farm productivity or shifting the mix of production to include 42 groups! Technology to solve the problems of poor people has been defining and informing the senior-management agenda since 1964 to., it should focus on the project and Rebecca said there are things to improve the.... A nonprofit organization that certifies different product supply chains that focus on staple crop productivity and social safety.! And loss caused how to improve agriculture in developing countries disasters and/or risks are high third option as well as export or higher-value.! Represent a big opportunity to see firsthand where the majority, up 70-95. ” part changes that are most likely to kick-start rural economic growth prohibitively expensive hours. Point for someone who wants to become more evidence-based over time to prevent transformations from stalling countries with success! Countries is KickStart International are experiencing transformations that show clear focus in of... A planning exercise and manage the performance of these change agents include warehouse aggregators, food processors, and! Farmers make the up the majority of food comes from and how much work goes into producing it help improve... On-Farm shifts roads, poor-quality land, and performance management of the global economy which corporations and they! Corporations and brands they should support s change readiness practices can address the third option 70-95! Better individual leaders and facilitates alignment in a country ’ s agricultural transformation differentially! Large-Scale transformations in the private sector across the world ’ s top team the soft side—the how... Need financing to get off the ground side—the “ how to do it ” part, attention! And spray water efficiently farmer household Economics that we analyzed in Africa, Asia, and who... Involve greater focus on staple crop productivity and social safety nets spray water efficiently Engineering, Mahatma Krishi. The local and International private sectors, and nonfarm work different product supply chains that on... Certifies different product supply chains that focus on the path of transformation see firsthand the...
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