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Interview with Papa
Abdoulaye Seck
Papa Seck, Director General of the Africa
Rice Center, warns of the continent's continuing vulnerability
to food crises and describes vigorous measures being taken to
strengthen domestic production.
Q: The food price crisis of 2008, while impacting
people around the world, hit Africa's rice consumers especially
hard. Is the crisis now behind them?
PS: Even though major food riots have subsided, the food crisis
is far from over in sub-Saharan Africa. In many countries, rice
prices in local retail markets have stayed well above their
pre-crisis levels, even as international prices have declined.
The basic ingredients exist for another episode like that in
2008. Global rice stocks are low, and El Niño threatens rice
production in countries like Thailand and the Philippines.
Moreover, despite significant increases in domestic cereal
production in many countries during 2008 and 2009, Africa continues
to depend heavily on food aid and global cereal markets for its
leading food staples (rice and maize), and a large share of its
population is food insecure and undernourished (30% compared to 16%
in Asia). Until those conditions change, the continent will remain
vulnerable to recurring food crises. In fact, humanitarian agencies
already warn that a food crisis is unfolding in the Sahel,
particularly in Niger and Chad.
Q: Great hardship caused by the crisis unleashed a
wave of renewed concern about agriculture and promises of stronger
support for agricultural research. What evidence have you seen that
the international community is making good on its
promises?
PS: First, African countries must be commended for the bold
steps they have taken. In line with the Maputo resolution, several
have increased their budget allocations to agriculture since 2003,
and there is evidence of further increases since the 2008 food
crisis.
There are also positive signs of increased support for
agriculture from the international community. Recent figures
published by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development) indicate that total net ODA (official development
assistance) from donors belonging to OECD's Development
Assistance Committee rose in real terms by 0.7% in 2009. The OCDE
report also indicates that in 2009, net bilateral ODA to Africa
reached US$28 billion, representing an increase of 3% in real terms
over 2008. Denmark, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden
all exceeded the United Nations ODA target of 0.7% of gross
national income.
Since the food crisis, AfricaRice has received substantial
support from member states and donors to implement several
emergency rice research and development projects. The US government
provided our Center with a $5.1 million grant for a 2-year
emergency program to boost rice production in Ghana, Mali, Nigeria
and Senegal. Japan subsequently provided $4.8 million for emergency
seed production projects in 21 countries. Other donors reallocated
some of their project funds to support an emergency rice
initiative. Under this same initiative, the Spanish government is
channeling funds through FAO for emergency rice projects in five
countries.
Q: How are new resources being put to use and with
what results so far?
PS: In response to the 2008 rice crisis, many member states
implemented policies and projects to facilitate smallholder
farmers' access to subsidized certified seed and
productivity-enhancing inputs, like fertilizer and farm machinery.
In Mali, for instance, pubic investments in the rice sector reached
$85 million in 2008 and $106 million in 2009.
Such measures have resulted in substantial increases in
Africa's rice production. According to the FAO Rice Monitor,
production grew by 18% between 2007 and 2008. Benin, Côte
d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda all recorded
double-digit increases in national rice production. Especially
notable was the 241% increase achieved in Burkina Faso. In West
Africa's Sahel region as a whole, production rose by 44% in
2008. For the 2009-2010 crop season, FAO is projecting double-digit
growth in rice production for several countries.
Q: What measures are needed to better shield the
region's rice sector against future price
volatility?
PS: Price volatility is inherent to the agriculture sector
because of its strong dependence on weather. But sub-Saharan
African can reduce its exposure to global rice market shocks by
increasing regional production and by reducing dependence on rice
imports. Improving access to improved rice varieties and to other
productivity-enhancing inputs, expanding the area under sustainable
water control and enhancing post-harvest and marketing systems are
some of the key measures needed to stimulate domestic rice
production.
Q: To what degree has the 2008 crisis made policy
makers in the region more aware of the rice sector's needs and
potential? What are they doing, or should they do, to strengthen
rice production?
PS: The 2008 rice crisis reminded African policy makers that
reliable and affordable supplies of staple foods are critical for
maintaining political and social stability. Many African countries
have pledged to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of food,
particularly rice. At the regional level, this crop has been
singled out as a priority for investment. Many countries have taken
bold policy measures, such as widening access to credit;
accelerating the rehabilitation of irrigated rice areas; and
providing subsidies on seeds, fertilizers and farm machinery.
Countries are also strengthening the institutional capacity of
their agricultural extension and research systems
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