African governments urged to implement agricultural policies
Professor Mandi Rukuni, Director Barefoot Education for Afrika Trust (BEAT), an NGO has commended African governments for instituting agricultural policies but urged them to be proactive in implementing the policies.
He said it is imperative for African governments to have in place proper mechanisms that would ensure that agricultural policies are implemented in an efficient and effective manner.
Speaking at meeting in Accra on strengthening agricultural policy practice in Africa, Prof Rukuni said there is the need to develop strategies for strengthening policy practice by first publishing the patterns and trends.
He explained that policy practice required institutional capacity and effectiveness to coordinate, advocate, formulate, implement, follow up, review and continually update policies of national interest.
Prof Rukuni said BEAT with support from The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) since 2014 has helped to Strengthen Agricultural Policy Practice in Africa (SAPPA) initiative.
He explained that BEAT is currently completing the piloting of SAPPA as a country self-assessment tool for agricultural policy practice in three countries: Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Prof Rukuni noted that BEAT and AGRA recognised that there has been an enduring absence of Africa-led policy initiatives since many African agricultural policies are not implemented.
He explained that the emphasis on policy practice is to address policy formulation and implementation, saying the long-term goal of SAPPA initiative is to create an enabling environment that supports smallholder farmers to increase productivity, profitability and social welfare.
The Professor said it is incumbent on African governments to build greater commitment towards policy implementation and strengthen agricultural policy practice, reduce cost of implementation and increase confidence to implement policies using existing resources.
He called for self-assessment by countries instead of waiting to be assessed by others or relying on international rating agencies and give priority to policies that could be implemented with existing knowledge and resources.
He urged governments to engagement farmers, producers, entrepreneurs at different points of policy implementation.
Dr George Owusu Essegbey, Director for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research/Science and Technology Policy Research Institute CSIR-STEPRI, sharing the experiences of Ghana’s quest in strengthening policy practice, said the country has many policies but are weak in formulation, which needed attention.
Dr Essegbey called on Ghana to strengthen and build capacity of respective institutions to effectively implement the policies and other related action plans to sustain Africa’s agriculture.
Dr Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, said agriculture is the most important sector in sub-Saharan Africa and that there is the need to put in place effective regulatory policies to improve the agriculture sector.
She said there is urgent need for the African Union and the National governments through the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme aligned with national strategies to roll out policies to reduce climate change.
Source: GNA