High-Level Policy Dialogue between AGRA and West African farmers: 14 Day 3 Afternoon 1

Описание: Following presentations by AGRA scientists, participants asked for clarifications. Questions focused on how AGRA decides on its research priorities and on the role donors play in this process. How do AGRA’s programs align with national policies for agriculture and government plans for national ownership of policies? How are AGRA’s programs influenced and constrained by the funding priorities of its donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK Overseas Aid?

Given its capacity for policy influence, would it be possible for AGRA to encourage governments to include peasant organisations in the formulation of national policies for food and agriculture on the African continent? Could AGRA play a role in encouraging national legislation designed to protect small and family farmers from agri-business marketing pressures?

It was noted that AGRA scientists did not present any information on the allocation of funds between its main activities? How are AGRA’s funds allocated to its different programs, on the basis on what criteria, and who decides? What share of AGRA’s funding goes to supporting research and development of agroecological practices in Africa? Why so little work on indigenous farmer-seeds and their local place-based ecology?

Deep concerns were expressed about AGRA’s direction of travel because it is seen to be moving peasant farming into a privatised system in which supply chains are increasingly controlled and owned by agri-business corporations. Clarifications and answers to questions were given in plenary by AGRA scientists and this led to further discussions and reflections.

The video forms part of the record for this project:
https://www.excludedvoices.org/high-l...

All video recordings were done by M2R Films, which is a citizen production company created by Marie-Monique Robin.