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The need for agricultural research resources in the developing world cannot be underestimated, but the availability of such resources is often poor. This book explores the importance of impact assessment studies in Africa, and assembles evidence to pave the way for investment in agricultural research all over the developing world

This paper discusses the theme 'Agriculture and Development in Africa'. It was presented at one of the AU Fridays of the commission forums. It looks into the concept of agriculture and development versus agriculture for development; evidence on the grounds; reasons for poor performance; emerging challenges; recent optimism and options for moving forward. The first part - agriculture for development - outlines the different ways agriculture contributes to development, as an economic activity and leading sector for economic growth, as a livelihood, as a provider of environmental services, peace and stability as pre-conditions for sustainable growth and development, new technology, improved human capital, sustainable growth in physical and biological infrastructure, effective institutes, and enabling political environment. Other topics of discussion include emerging food and energy crisis, recent technological advances in bio-technology and ICT, climate change, trade, market liberalization and the emerging agri-food system, emerging diseases, growing need intersectoral linkages, changing expectations of science and technology and innovation, globalization of private agricultural research and innovation, greater concern for the environment, meeting commitments and targets, under investment in agriculture and agricultural research, emerging optimism, and way forward.

The ultimate interest of investors in agricultural research and Development (R&D) is the extent to which their investment eventually bears a positive outcome on the lives of the poor and hungry people of developing nations without seriously harming the natural resource base. Consequently, most donors, governments and financiers of agricultural and natural resource research focus on outcome and impact assessment as a major step in their strategy. In impact assessment of R&D investments, one needs to differentiate between the research results and the contribution of research to Development (i.e. the people-level impact). Moreover, both of these aspects should be addressed simultaneously. This chapter summarizes the various methods and techniques used in R&D using a comprehensive framework that addresses intermediate product, direct product and people-level impact simultaneously. Owing to the wide-ranging implications of agricultural research results to society, no single technique or method is sufficient to adequately address the impact. However, there is consensus that the most appropriate approaches to impact assessment should involve a mixture of both qualitative and quantitative methods and active participation of the beneficiaries. Case studies are also essential for further refining the approaches and lessons learned. The chapter concludes by outlining suggested best practices in understanding impact assessment of agricultural R&D investments.

At independence in 1960, Africa was a modest food exporter while Asia was engulfed in a food crisis. The Green Revolution boosted food production in Asia and the global food problem shifted to Africa. However, science and technology have been promoted on an ad hoc basis in Africa's 45 years of independence. This chapter analyses why the Asian Green Revolution failed to take root in Africa, and why the average African grain yield has been flat since 1960. The chapter shows that the rate of return has been high on investments in research for a few commodities, such as hybrid maize, rice and flowers. However, most countries in Africa have a weak scientific and institutional foundation for transforming agriculture. Long-term investments are required to build the scientific and institutional foundation for a modern agriculture. This is a tall order, but this is what the USA accomplished from 1860 to 1912, what Japan did from 1868 to 1914 and what many countries in Asia and Latin America have accomplished over the past 40 years. The challenge now is to mobilize African political leaders and donors to make long-term accretionary (step by step) investments in science and technology that will boost cereal yields, increase agricultural productivity and drive down real (inflation adjusted) food prices. This is a proven way to reduce urban poverty and the poverty of rural families who are net food buyers. This book brings together empirical evidence from 20 studies on the impact of investments in agricultural research and food security in Africa. Information on the returns to investments in research can help countries in setting priorities for agricultural research. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the emerging issues, challenges and constraints on African agriculture that beg serious attention from the policy makers. It enumerates a broad set of food security challenges facing African agriculture. Finally, it identifies successes in African agriculture and recent efforts aimed at scaling-up the successes.