National Policy and Strategy for Agriculture, Forestry and

Fisheries

15 March, 2004

Overview

• Contribution to national development objectives

• Policy objective

• Guiding principles

• Strategies in the short and long term

• Options for preparing long-term strategic orientation

Contribution to development objectives

• Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors contribute by:– Reducing poverty in rural areas– Reducing food shortage problems– Providing nutritious food for a better health status– Stimulating economic growth– Providing employment for the majority of people– Managing an important part of the natural resources– Being the driving force of development in the rural

economy.

Policy statement

• Develop the agricultural, forests and fisheries with a view to reach good nutrition and reduction in poverty, by diversified production of agricultural and fisheries products and development of an industry of food transformation, based on sustainable utilization of the natural resources and an equitable distribution throughout society.

Guiding principles (1)

1. Efforts to increase production and improved of agricultural productivity are based on the development of existing subsistence farming systems, and its gradual diversification into commercial agriculture.

2. Natural resources (soil, water, forestry and marine resources) are managed in a sustainable manner with the participation of rural communities.

3. Program development is focused on communities.4. The institutional development is balanced between

district, regional and central levels, including the development of human resources.

Guiding principles (2)

5. Services are efficiently delivered to all farmers in a sustainable way.

6. Program investment costs are recovered.7. The role of women in agricultural development is fully

recognized. Women play an important role in education, extension and as direct development agents.

8. The private sector is recognized as an important development partner in the provision of services, mainly in commercialization, transport, storage and processing of agricultural and fisheries products.

9. The Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Policy is compatible with other sectoral policies that have an impact on rural development.

Role of the Ministry

• Now and immediate future:– Efficient service delivery – Implement sector investment program (SIP)

• In the medium and long term:– Facilitate program development through technical

expertise– Provide conducive environment for private sector,

NGOs and farmer associations– Policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation– Service delivery is increasingly handed over to private

sector and NGOs

Strategic directions – short term(SIP)

• Enhance food security: Improve subsistence farming systems especially for crops like corn, rice, legumes, roots and tubers

• Sustainable production and management of forestry and fisheries

• Development of livestock sector

• Commercial crop development

Strategic directions – short term (SIP) (2)

• Forestry and fisheries:– Put strategies for developing sustainable

production and management in place. – Inventory of stocks. – Development of the legal and regulatory

framework.– Elaboration of management plans in

partnership with local communities.– Commercial development of sectors, including

aquaculture.

Strategic directions – long term

• Enhanced human resource development and institutional capacity

• Improved legislative, regulatory and policy environment

• Sustainable management capacities and incentives

• Improved access to land, finance, information, technologies and other inputs

• Improved access to markets and infrastructure for rural population

Options for preparing long-term strategic orientation (1)

• Prioritization of activities under SIP– Which activities have the most impact on MAFF and

national objectives?

• Foster collaboration between MAFF divisions: SIP is a first step, but more has to be done

• Build intersectoral linkages with other ministries• Human resource development (training and

degrees for new qualifications)

Options for preparing long-term strategic orientation (2)

• Working towards integrated programs with other stakeholders – Food security– Rural agro-industry– Natural resource management– Land tenure– Agricultural education