//  Agricultural productivity alone is not enough

Focussing on agricultural productivity was of little use and doomed to fail, emphasized Ernest Ruzindaza, Permanent Secretary of the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture. A raise in productivity needed to be combined with improved market access. Utilizing the example of Rwanda’s successful implementation of the Purchase for Progress (P4P) programme, he outlined how a parallel focus on productivity, quality, market information and access could encourage a circular development process in the agricultural sector.

//  The necessity of political value chains

Ruzindaza’s point was picked up by Gregory Adams of Oxfam, who introduced what he called the necessity to improve not only agricultural but also ‘political value chains’. He called to attention that it was real value that was being wasted when missing links between different spheres of rural development were not properly addressed. There were not only economic value chains but also political value chains. Disregarding them was a typical mistake causing not only political damage but also very tangible immense economic losses. If for example a road was built without consulting the local communities to establish their interests, this could mean the failure of a project, causing immense economic costs. According to Adams, the ARD community needed to get used to not just focusding on the technical attributes of agriculture but also on political attributes — and relay these considerations into fora such as the HLF.

A possible solution to imperfect political value chains was presented by Canada with the example provided by Beverly Oda, Minister for International Cooperation. Donors had to help bridge the gaps that made ARD such a fragmented area and seek to cooperate with all ministries involved in ARD. Too often, she stated, ARD got lost between departments.

//  Increased aid flows in ARD

Representing both the Global Donor Platform and IFAD, the Vice President of IFAD Yukiko Omura highlighted the chances and opportunities that were retained in ARD, thereby emphasizing the necessity for increased aid flows. No other sector, she underlined, offered higher returns for investment or offered comparable chances for poverty reduction. For these opportunities to take full hold however, she called on donors to avoid competition and repetition for the sake of more effective aid in ARD.

The challenge of allocating more resources to a sector that tends to fall behind defence, education and health when it comes to government priorities was further addressed by Eunice Musiime from a Ugandan CSO. She stressed however that agreements and partnerships such as CAADP — which Uganda had joined — could contribute to increase governments’ attention to ARD.

//   Food security on the ARD agenda

Increasing attention to ARD was also at the heart of the statement of Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Finance Minister of Bangladesh. Despite its continuous importance for ARD, attention to food security was coming and going, he noted. Long term, sustainable programmes however, could only be implemented in an environment where food security did not repeatedly slip from the agenda.

//  Getting the results in ARD

Raj Shah of USAID called to attention that ARD did indeed present high challenges for finding the right indicators, measuring results and aggregating data, but that it was possible to do so. “We can no longer hide behind the excuse that it is too difficult to collect data in a complex field like ARD“, he argued.

It was highlighted by the represented donors, that a change of mindset was slowly emerging towards more comprehensive models of ARD and the overdue focus on getting the results. As Josette Sheeran, moderator of the debate and WFP Chair stressed “we cannot expect better results if we do not change the way we do things“. The panel left no doubt that ARD, with its unique potential but also unique challenges, was the sector where there was a dire need to improve approaches and to focus on aid effectiveness.

Jan O’Sullivan, closed with the statement that “this meeting is surely one of the most important we could attend here at Busan”

//  Ernest Ruzindaza and Katarina Eriksson on the private sector in ARD

Ernest Ruzindaza, Permanent Secretary of the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture

To ensure food security, it is essential to invest in primary production, Ruzindaza acknowledged. But, he added, no project would become sustainable and provide results reliably if it did not expand beyond questions of production. To incorporate the whole value chain of agricultural products into development efforts was the only way to eventually make aid redundant and create self-sustained agricultural production. To capture the interest of the private sector — often deterred by high investment risks and a resulting difficulty in finding loans — however remained a key challenge to such comprehensive projects, Ruzindaza stated. It must also be kept in mind, he pointed out, that the task did not end with having integrated all stakeholders in a value chain. An inclusive negotiating process to arrive at a concept based on mutual agreement was the foundation for a successful partnership, predetermining whether a project would be successful or not.

Katarina Eriksson, Senior Analyst at Tetra Laval

The private sector is increasingly keen to take on its role in development cooperation but has difficulties being accepted as a partner since it is not a traditional development actor. Given its work in the agricultural sector and with its presence on rural markets however, the private sector can contribute valuable expertise and go beyond the usual provision of supplies. Sustainable business strategies can help develop sustainable development strategies. Donors should strive towards renewing the relationship with the private sector towards more cooperation in development projects and not leave this opportunity unused.

//  Organizers

Rwanda, Aquila Food IG, OECD, IFAD, WFP