Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Why they matter in Africa now, & what researchers

can do to help

Karen BrooksDirector, CGIAR Research Program on

Policies, Institutions and Markets

Value of Agricultural Exports and Imports, SSA, 1970-2009

Worldbank and FAOSTATSouth Africa excluded

Losch, Fréguin-Gresh and White, 2012

Yearly Cohorts Entering Rural and Urban Labor Markets and Rural Population Share in SSA, 1955-2050

Region

Estimated number of

variety releases, 1965-1998

Share area

to modern varieties,

1998

Total genetic improvement

contribution to yield growth,

1965-1998 (%/year)

Share area to modern varieties,

2010

LAC 3146 0.51 0.66Asia 2229 0.83 0.88MENA 715 0.56 0.69SS Africa 1157 0.23 0.28 0.35All 7246 0.65 0.72

Development of Improved Varieties Lags in Africa, but Adoption Lags Even More

Renkow and Byerlee, 2010; Tom Walker, Communication from author

Policies, Institutions, and Markets That MatterPIM with African Partners

Foresight to inform the African Science Agenda Incentive regimes friendly to production and trade Identifying priorities for public spendingFacilitating wider adoption of better technologiesSocial protection for building & protecting assets of

the poorTools for good management of common property Improving governance of rural servicesFreeing up the productive potential of womenCreating attractive opportunities for young peopleValue chains accessible to smallholdersWorking with partners and building capacity