A PRESENTATION ON THE THEME « ENVISIONING A PRESENTATION ON THE THEME « ENVISIONING

THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE AND THE NEW ROLE OF FARMERS’ THE NEW ROLE OF FARMERS’

ORGANISATIONS » ON THE OCCASION OF THE ORGANISATIONS » ON THE OCCASION OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL BRIEFING AFRICAN CONTINENTAL BRIEFING

YAOUNDE – CAMEROON 3-5 NOVEMBER 2013YAOUNDE – CAMEROON 3-5 NOVEMBER 2013

BY

ALANGEH ROMANUS CHEALANGEH ROMANUS CHE1ST VICE PRESIDENT OF CNOP-CAM1ST VICE PRESIDENT OF CNOP-CAM

E-MAIL: cnopcameroun@yahoo.fr E-MAIL: cnopcameroun@yahoo.fr E-mail: E-mail: alabongalazebong@yahoo.com

PRESENTATION PLAN 1. INTRODUCTION OF CNOP-CAM

2. GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS3. THE POSITION OF AGRICULTURE IN THE CULTURAL,

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIVE PATTERNS OF AFRICANS,4. A REVIEW OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE, 5. THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE,6. KEY ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED ON ROAD TO A BRIGHT

FUTURE FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURE,7. THE ROLE OF FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONS,8. RECOMMENDATIONS

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INTRODUCTION OF CNOP-CAM When the International Community and the African

continent started witnessing that there was an increasing need to involve Non State Actors in development initiatives, Cameroon was not left out. Rather, the government manifested the political will and went beyond by creating an enabling environment through the institution of laws governing the formation and functioning of Common Initiative Groups, Cooperatives, Associations and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

INTRODUCTION CONT. This motivated the emergence of most structures that

have contributed a lot in shaping the socio-economic architecture of communities and life patterns of farmers and rural dwellers in Cameroon today.

It was within this framework that the National Consultation Forum of Farmers’ Organisations of Cameroon known by its French acronym as CNOP-CAM came into being.

INTRODUCTION CONT.Created in 1998 and officially registered in the

year 2000 after a long process that began way back in 1986 and ended with the “Ebolowa Call” by Farmer Leaders in 1998, CNOP-CAM is a national platform for representation and expression by the representatives of Farmers’ Organisations (FO) at national level. It is a non profit making and apolitical organisation formed, owned and controlled by apex Farmers’ Organisations (FO) of producers with agro-sylvo-pastoral background including rural craft men and women, special women and youth organisations that are in search of adaptable solutions to their practical and strategic gender needs.

INTRODUCTION CONT.As a proximity partner of the Government of

Cameroon in the agricultural and rural development sectors, CNOP-CAM has its registered Head Office in Yaoundé – Cameroon and Regional Coordination Offices across the country charged with liaising between the Head Office and the grassroots members in their local communities. To ensure the associative life of CNOP-CAM, the Regional Branches meet annually in Regional General Assemblies during which they elaborate Regional Action Plans and corresponding Budgets. In a related issue, the proposed actions for the year are identified and forwarded to the Head Office ahead of the Annual General Meeting of the organisation which is the supreme organ that is charged with strategic orientation and validation.

INTRODUCTION CONT.With a Corporate membership of 66 member

organisations of the 3rd and 4th categories and individual membership of over 410,000, CNOP-CAM upon creation has as mandate to: -

Bring together, small holder farmers in Cameroon under a national platform of solidarity and dialogue where their felt needs will be identified and prioritized, the harmonization of intervention strategies geared towards addressing the prioritized needs,

Reinforce farmers/producers organizational, institutional, technical, managerial and economic capacities,

INTRODUCTION CONT.Be involved and participate in policy decision circles

and in the elaboration of programs and projects concerning the development of the agricultural sector and the rural world.

Facilitate national, sub regional, regional and international integration of farmers and farmers’ organizations,

Improve on the status of farmers, their managerial and technical know-how,

Promote entrepreneurship amongst farmers, women, youths and the minority groups,

Promote the development of Socio-Economic Development Tools,

Contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection.

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS OF CNOP-CAM

CCC

PROPACCNOP-CAM

THE POSITION OF AGRICULTURE IN THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIVE PATTERNS OF AFRICANS

- Africa is one of the World’s continents with abundant natural resources including high potentials for agricultural production and practices,

- Over 75% of the population of Africa depends on agriculture for livelihood,

- Agricultural produce (crops, livestock, forest products) are used for household consumption, performing traditional rites, celebrations, income generation, protein source, means of transportation, fuel, construction amongst others.

- Agriculture is pivotal in addressing food and nutrition insecurity on the continent and above all, in stimulating economic growth as viewed by the African Union (AU) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

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A REVIEW OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE POST COLONIAL PERIOD: Amongst the legacies left by the Colonial

Masters were technologies transferred in the agricultural sector whose quality was a blend of indigenous knowledge and scientific wisdom, Research institutions and research tools, the introduction of inputs like seeds varieties and breeds of livestock and most importantly, the cultivation of the culture of investing in the agricultural sector in our National Governments. This momentum witnessed a steady increase in annual budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector between 15% to 25% and above in some countries. The support areas to farmers as key practitioners to the agric sector included inputs supplies and technical support that also promoted the formation of cooperatives until the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Program.

STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT ERA: This could be described as a pre-mature weaning of a baby from breast milk. Total disengagement of National Governments from the Agricultural Sector; a situation where the father of a new born baby gets up in the morning and request the mother of the baby to stop breastfeeding the baby and develops mechanisms to ensures that she stops giving breast milk to the baby from that same morning without having taken some time to prepare the mind set of the baby or better still, introducing the baby to other food supplements. In a Strategic-Thinking-Setting, an enabling environment would have been created to ensure a progressive take over of support to the agricultural sector by the Private Sector that was also expected to be backed by the preparation of a Weaning Plan that has to be scrupulously followed. Unfortunately, this was far from the ground reality. 11

A REVIEW OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE CONT. THE CURRENT SCENARIO: It is worth mentioning here that during the SAP

era that lasted over 25 years or so, Agriculture did not feature as a priority on the development agenda of the international donor community, leading to a steady decrease in food production and in the income levels of farmers making it difficult if not impossible for nursing mothers and babies in their first 1000 days to be well nourished. After learning from what did not go so well with the conception and the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Program, the International Scientific Community, the International Donor Community, the Civil Society Community, the Farmers’ Organizations Constituency and National Governments started reviewing and thinking locally and globally in a more strategic manner. This has introduced so many initiatives from National Governments, Regional Economic Communities and at Continental levels like Micro Projects, National Agricultural Investment Plans, Regional Agricultural and Food and Nutrition Security Investment Plans, Special Programs, Special Funds with emphasis on gender sensitivity, Specialized Frame Works like the Africa Union/NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) to mention but a few. Some examples in Cameroon include PACA and ACEFA.

While National Governments, the Regional Economic Communities and the African Union are manifesting high political commitments in addressing the deficits registered in the past, farmers who are key practitioners in the agricultural sector are organizing themselves in a more professional manner and developing socio-economic development tools in a bid to complements the efforts of their national governments. The current architecture on the continent presents farmers organized in National Platforms like CNOP-CAM in Cameroon, Regional Platforms like PROPAC and in a Continental Platform like PAFO.

A REVIEW OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE CONT.THE QUEST FOR A SOLUTION TO FOOD INSECURITY

Without the intention to challenge scientific wisdom, there is no doubt that even though with abundant natural resources and potentials for increased food production, Africa has become a net food importer with a reasonable percentage of its population living in abject poverty and misery and so we need significant increased in food production to meet the practical and emerging population challenges . This has motivated the Scientific Community to craft solutions. But I must say that addressing the practical aspect of a problem without thinking of the strategic dimension will not sound well into our eardrums. In another words, excellence void of flavor and cultural values; food security without a blend or touch of sovereignty largely leads to nutritional deficiency.

THE CONCEPT OF INCLUSIVENESS: Recently, there has been an increasing need for the employment of broad and inclusive approaches in development drives at all levels. A lot of awareness seems to have been raised on this and it seems as if there is consensus on the need of bringing all key stakeholders on board but so far, it is being done reluctantly both at national, regional and at continental levels. However, we must admit the fact that these changes are being effected though the pace is too slow. Some examples, in Cameroon, CNOP-CAM has been participating in policy decision circles, included in the Pilot Committees of some national projects like the CAADP Country Team represented by the President of CNOP-CAM in the person of Mrs. Atangana Elizabeth, Project for Amelioration of Competitive Agriculture (PACA) represented by the 1st Vice President - the speaker. At the level of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Farmers’ Organizations and Non State Actors have participated in the elaboration of the first ever Common Agricultural Policy for the Regional Economic Community and also the elaboration and validation of a Regional COMPACT and a Regional Agricultural and Food and Nutrition Security Investment Plan represented by Mrs. Atangana Elizabeth – President of PROPAC and Chief Forngueh Alangeh Romanus Che. Finally, at the Continental level being that of the African Union and NEPAD, Farmers’ Organisations and other Non State Actors are involved in the implementation of CAADP with the Continental Chairman of the CAADP NSA being myself Chief Forngueh A.R.C.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

The CAADP Framework through the Maputo 2003 declaration by the Political Principals of the African continent committing themselves and their various countries to stimulate economic growth through agricultural transformation in itself is a road map to a bright future for African Agriculture.

The African Union Land Policy Initiative (LPI)is an effort to facilitate access to land to the African agrarian community,

The hard working agrarian community and the availability of natural resources favoring the production of agricultural produce,

The increasing interest being manifested by the international donor community, CSO, the Private Sector and the Farmers’ Organizations Constituency declares the feasibility for the readiness and join efforts in achieving food and nutrition security in a decade at the latest from my estimation. For this to happen, there are some key issues that must be addressed.

KEY ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED ON ROAD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

THE POLITICAL LAND SCAPE AND THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK: The principal dynamics is centered around the policy and institutional arrangements. Good policy orientation and the setting up of viable institutions will indisputably pave the way for success. In a similar issue, the practice of developing accountability frameworks and making sure that commitments taken are respected will call for the celebration of successes. 10 years way back after taking the commitment of 10% annual budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector, the score board still brandishes a negative picture with less than 15 countries being able to make it.

ACCESS TO LAND AND OTHER RESOURCES: Land is pivotal as far as human settlement and agricultural investment is concerned, and so it will not sound proper for us to talk about agriculture without putting land and land related issues high on our agenda. Introducing the concept of Foreign Direct Investment or Large Scale Land Base Investment in the transformation of our economies which is a global phenomenon today demands that we need to go beyond the traditional thinking pattern of “Sustainable Land Use” by building strategic partnerships that can develop pragmatic solutions to both the practical and strategic gender needs confronting land users particularly farmers and rural dwellers in Africa today. So far, the economy in our rural world is controlled by the farmers and all farmers depends on land as their principal capital in their activities in the rural world, and so not having access to this capital and other resources to boast production impacts negatively on them. Corporate take over of the agricultural sector means taking over control of the rural world and taking over control of the rural world is equal to an “Advanced Form of Slavery” being introduced on farmers and other rural dwellers.

.TECHNOLOGY PATTERN: The technology pattern employed in the past has to be reviewed and embrace a system of a blend of indigenous knowledge and results from the scientific community.

INCLUSIVENESS: A broad-based and inclusive approach should be adopted in all our development initiatives not only doing that when found mandatory.

THE ROLE OF FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONSTraditionally, the role of Farmers is to produce and

the role of Farmers’ Organizations being to organize the farmers, organize group marketing and do facts findings on where to get financial and technical support, inputs and find markets for the produce.

Today, FO have to go beyond by being involved in Advocacy, Representation, Defending farmers’ interests, Adding Value in produce through processing, partaking in policy decision circles, involved in inputs supplies.

Initiate and develop socio-economic development tools,

Identify and elaborate projects for the economic empowerment of farmers and the strengthening of their institutions,

Participate in the development of farmers capacities.

RECOMMENDATIONS Currently food security is being ensured by those practicing family farming

and so, there is need for increase investment in family farming systems, The African Union Land Policy Initiative as a framework should be

implemented in a bid to facilitate access to land for smallholder farmers, Access to inputs and risk management schemes should be facilitated, Innovative finance mechanisms for family farming should be developed, Food sovereignty should be domesticated, Research initiatives should be evidence based and farmers placed at the

centre, Farmers’ Organizations be strengthened to better deliver. Example: Line

Ministry (ies) should introduce a budgetary line annually for FOs, Training packages in Colleges, professional schools and Vocational Training

Centers be well crafted to be demand driven, More advocacy on our national governments to respect the commitments of at

least 10% annual budgetary allocation to attend a 6% annual agricultural growth rate,

Parliamentarians to be strengthened to always take informed decisions, Comprehensive regulatory framework be developed at national level with

special provisions creating access to land for women, youths and other gender disadvantage groups,

A win-win-deal should be promoted between Agribusiness and Family farming practitioners.

Je vous remercie

THANK YOUObrigadoGracias

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