Asia Africa Co-operation for Agriculture and Rural Development
Project / Programme Summary

I. Basic data

The context / justification of the project

1. The Agriculture sector in Africa is a dormant giant waiting for investment, know how and entrepreneurship. The potential for production is sizeable, yet Africa imports agriculture products to feed its population.
2. The main paradox lies with rice. While Africa used to be self-sufficient and even to export rice, it became net importer of a product which is, all over the continent, with the improvement of the standard of living, a basic staple for the population and the main food product for the urban population and the highest segment of the society. The consumption of rice is growing in Africa at the rate of 5% per annum with immediate negative impact on the balance of payment.
   This situation is the outcome of the combined effects of the opening of the Economy and the Agriculture low productivity due to traditional exploitation practices. Import prices were far more competitive than domestic prices and the government tended to subsidise rice production accentuating hence the low productivity and curbing the necessary technology changes. The introduction of Structural Adjustment Programmes cut subsidies, the Government financial situation not being able any longer to sustain a subsidy policy to the Agriculture sector. Consequently, the rice domestic production simply collapsed and domestic rice tended to disappear from the market. Protection of the market through import duties would have allowed domestic rice production to continue, but that would have meant, in the absence of subsidies, higher market prices; a situation which could have entailed social contestation. Revival of rice production within the present context of open Economy and non intervention of the State in regulating the market price, ask for a reassessment of the productive capacity and the introduction a new adapted and technology and know how.
3. Parallel to food security goal, the African Agriculture sector has the potential for export. That has been proved in the past with rice, and presently experiences of export oriented production are started in many African countries. One product, which is successful in Mozambique, is shrimp, it is a good example of government-private sector partnership and the demand in urban Africa as well as in Asia is potentially important. It is deemed advisable to assist African countries to develop production of shrimps within a comprehensive aquaculture development policy.
4. However increasing the productivity of one product, rice, and promoting the introduction and development of another export product, shrimp, calls for organised government policy. Government needs to upgrade its regulating capability and mainly to strengthen the extension services, mainly at the decentralised level (regional/local) level, to promote local participation. Local NGO's capability could also be strengthened to provide extension services.

The Project

The Fields of Intervention

5. In the context describes above, the present Project will include three specific components:
   Component A. Development of rice production
   Component B. Assistance in the development of aquaculture, concentrating in the production of Shrimps,
   Component C. Assistance in strengthening the extension services for integrated rural development schemes.
   
   Operational Objectives and Activities
   Development Objectives
6. The Programme stands within Africa long term objectives of securing food security objective and promoting exportation.

Component A. Developing Rice Production

Immediate objective

7. The project will aim at promoting irrigation rice production in two selected African countries the potential of which is deemed promising. It will identify one specific pilot project in one of these two countries and support its development.
8. The following activities will be implemented.
   
   Activities
   
   Activity 1: Organise visits of a team of experts from the International Institute of Rice Research and/or WARDA in the country to:
   • identify, in relationship with local expert a pilot project,
   • conduct a full feasibility study of the development of the selected project: location, technology, seeds, practices cultural, training, documentation,
   • assist in the development of a pilot project: choice of the location, selection of the project chief and production chief, organisation of work with the central and local authorities of the host country, formulation of development plan, supervision of implementation.
   Activity 2: Organise a visit of African expert to IIRR and/or WARDA and countries where the development of rice production has been successful in irrigation rice production and where the know how is easy to transfer in the context of the feasibility study conducted by IIRR expert. Are to be considered as visiting countries: Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
   
   Activity 3: Contribute to the financing of activities within IRRI exchange programme of testing with genetic evaluation of rice (EPTGER) concerning Africa.
   
   Activity 4: Ensure the participation of a group of 10 to 15 African experts in a specialised 3.5 months training course in China.

Component B. Promoting Industrial shrimp production

Immediate Objective

9. The Project will aim at developing and or strengthening the capacity of a modern shrimp production for urban market and export. The Project will focus on aims at 4 African countries: Gabon, Mozambique, Tanzania and Madagascar. The private sector will be associated as much as possible in the design of the development programme and the choice of the pilot project.
10. The implementation will call for the following activities.
    
    Activities
    
    Activity 1: A team of Asian Experts from Indonesia, Thailand and India will visit the African countries selected to:
    • conduct a survey of the situation and assess the potential in terms of production and market;
    • design a complete programme of development of the shrimp industry: possible projects technology and know how, policy measures, human resource development.
    • select one pilot project and prepare a feasibility study, including the financial requirement for resource mobilisation.
    • assist, through advisory services, to the promotion of the pilot project.
    
    
    Activity 2: A group of experts from the African countries selected indicated above would visit Thailand, Indonesia and India.

Component C. Strengthening extension services capacity at the local level for rural integrated development programmes

Immediate Objective

11. The project will aim at strengthening the human resources capacity mainly at the regional/local level in the country to design integrated rural development programmes, ensure a proper follow-up, the develop new programmes.
12. The following activities will be implemented.
    
    Activities
    
    Activity 1: Selection of a group of African countries to participate in the Programme.
    
    Activity 2: Visits will be organised for a group of African officials in charge of regional/local development and extension experts from the government and/or local NGO's to study the experiences of Bangladesh, Vietnam and India.
    
    Activity 3: A group of 10 to 15 cadres from the selected African country cadres will be trained within a two-week course in integrated rural development in Bangladesh.

Expected Outputs

13. The following outputs will be developed through the project activities:
    (i) 25 to 30 African experts trained in irrigation rice production (10 to 15) and Integrated Rural Development (15),
    (ii) African experts' know how upgraded in irrigation rice production and shrimp production,
    (iii) Efficient technology introduced for irrigation rice product,
    (iv) A Programme of development of rice production will be available,
    (v) A policy for the development of shrimps will be available,.
    (vi) A pilot project in Rice production will be in operation,
    (vii) A pilot project in shrimp production will be in operation.

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