Experts gather to discuss technologies, innovations, and knowledge to improve agriculture and livelihoods

By Samson Haileyesus

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- Amidst global concerns on the rise of food prices close to 200 policy makers, researchers, and representatives from the private sector, farmers’ organizations, and other civil society groups gathered convened this week in Addis Ababa to take part in an international conference to discuss technological, institutional, and organizational innovations that are transforming agriculture, reducing poverty and hunger, and improving people’s lives.

The conference entitled ‘Advancing Agriculture in Developing Countries through Knowledge and Innovation’ was is organized by the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and will be held here from April 7-9.
Speaking at the opening of the three day conference Dr. Joachim Von Braun, Director General of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) sated that developing countries continue to suffer form low productivity coupled by low utilization of knowledge and innovations but through implementation of knowledge and innovation challenges such as surging food and energy prices, strong demand and climate change can all be averted. Dr. Braun also stated that the current agricultural crisis does have opportunities for the developing countries to look into.

A recent report by IFPRI, ‘The world food situation: New driving forces and required actions’ states that many parts of the developing world have experienced high economic growth in recent years including Sub-Saharan Africa which has also experienced rapid economic growth of about 6 percent in the same period. Even countries with high incidences and prevalence of hunger reported strong growth rates. Of the world’s 34 most food-insecure countries have had average annual growth rates ranging from 5 to 16 percent between 2004 and 2006. This growth in low-income countries have led into increased consumption of food thus influencing the current food crisis.

In addition the major force altering the food equation is shifting rural-urban populations and the resulting impact on spending and consumer preferences. The world’s urban population has grown more than the rural population; within the next three decades, 61 percent of the world’s populace is expected to live in urban areas. However, three-quarters of the poor remain in rural areas, and rural poverty will continue to be more prevalent than urban poverty during the next several decades.

Dr. Solomon Assefa, Director of Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research for his part highlighted the Ethiopian government’s efforts towards raising the livelihoods of rural farmers in Ethiopia and stated that last week’s launch of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange was a case in point in the government’s plan to push for an agricultural led industrialization drive.
Through out the three day conference delegates discussed on a series of topics ranging from the innovation and knowledge sharing, the role of the private sector, education, agriculture extension programs, capacity building, poverty reduction and other issues pertaining to agricultures and development.