Training of the communication experts of the Regional Farmer Organisations

Johnson Bungu (SACAU), Chris Addison (CTA), 

Mahamadou Ouedraogo (ROPPA), Michel Tchoungui (PROPAC)

4-5 March 2013. CTA Brussels. CTA organised a training to establish the portal of the Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO).

CTA is one of the key actors to facilitate EC partnerships with regional farmers' organisations offering training and expertise; consultations and communication.
Related:
Since CTA held its first Web2.0 training event in Nairobi, Kenya in 2009, demand has simply exploded. Between 2009 and 2012, 1,684 people from around the ACP regions were trained. In 2012 alone, 695 people from 32 countries took part in 31 learning events, branded as “Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunities”, two of which were offered online through a partnership with UNITAR and FAO.

Mame Saye Ndour Dembele (PAFO)

A recent study commissioned by CTA indicated that women displayed a higher rate of adoption than men for almost every Web2.0 application. The study found that women use tags and bookmarks, social networks and internet-based voice communication more readily than men.

Popularity of the learning opportunities continues to be strongest among civil society organisations and government organisations and extension services. Recent years have, however, seen a substantial increase in demand by farmers’ organisations and private enterprise. This demonstrates how Web2.0 and social media as communication and networking environments have permeated all levels of society in ACP countries and again mirrors the focus of CTA’s strategy.

Read more about CTA’s impact study including examples of how participants are applying their new skills.

Related PAEPARD Blog post:

8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During four days a PAEPARD communication workshop brought together representatives of the four regional farmer organisations -ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC and FANRPAN/SACAU and a private sector representative collaborating with ColeACP.

Etat d'avancement de la recherche guidée par les utilisateurs / Update on the users led research

Depuis la fin de 2011, les partenaires de PAEPARD ont changé la façon d’initier les partenariats en adoptant ce qu’ils ont qualifié de « Users Led Process » c'est-à-dire le processus guide par les utilisateurs (PGU) ou encore la recherche guidée par les utilisateurs (RGU), qui se décline en 6 étapes suivantes :

1- Définition du thème fédérateur par chaque Fédération des producteurs
2- Etude documentaire sur le thème
3- Formation des FIA nationaux
4- Séminaire multi-acteur sur la question de recherche développement
5- Développement d’une note conceptuelle
6- Atelier d’Ecriture

Ci-dessous est l'etat d'avancement de cette approche des organisations sous-regionales des producteurs (OPs) et du secteur prive (ColeACP).


PAEPARD: Atelier des Facilitateurs de l'Innovation Agricole
26-30 November 2012. Entebbe. Le but de cet atelier était de familiariser les participants avec leur rôle de facilitateurs du "Processus dirigé par les Utilisateurs " pour établir un partenariat multi-acteurs afro-européen au sein du projet PAEPARD.

PAEPARD: La plate forme régionale des FIA des ORPs
8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. Pendant quatre jours de cet atelier de communication, le PAEPARD a réuni des représentants des quatre organisations régionales de producteurs  - ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC et FANRPAN / SACAU et un représentant du secteur privé en collaboration avec le COLEACP.


EAST AFRICAN FARMER FORUM (EAFF)
Pastoralisme

Atelier multi-acteurs question recherches pour le développement sur l'élevage
10th - 12th Décembre 2012. EAFF avec ses partenaires du consortium dans le programme PAEPARD a organisé un atelier autour du thème fédérateur «chaîne de valeur étendue du bétail". Ce blog comprend une interview vidéo avec Dr Jean Ndikumana qui explique les objectifs de l'étude: EAFF - Chaînes de valeur du bétail en Afrique de l'Est avec un accent particulier sur le Kenya et l'Ouganda.

Appreciation du CIRAD du processus guidee par le utilisateurs du PAEPARD
11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During the PAEPARD communication workshop, Patrice Grimaud - Regional Director if CIRAD for Central Africa Yaounde, Cameroon - was interviewed about his participation to the PAEPARD workshop of 10th – 12th December 2012. Nairobi.

PLATEFORME RÉGIONALE PAYSANNE DE L’AFRIQUE CENTRALE (PROPAC)
La filiere maraichaire

Atelier de définition et de validation des questions de recherche relatives à la filière maraîchère en Afrique Centrale
23, 24 et 25 Janvier 2013. Brazzaville. Congo. Sylvie Mbog explique dans une interview video comment l'etude REVUE DOCUMENTAIRE SUR LA FILIERE MARAICHERE AU CAMEROUN, CONGO BRAZZAVILLE ET EN REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO se veut surtout une étude documentaire qui contribue à une meilleure connaissance de la filière maraichère dans les pays concernés.

Visite de terrain PROPAC / atelier de Brazzaville
24 janvier 2013. Brazaville. Visite de terrain Marche Halle Agri Congo et Marche Total + 25 janvier 2013. Une deuxième visite de terrain a été effectuée dans la ceinture maraîchère de Mayanga auprès des producteurs maraîchers organisés et appuyés par AGRICONGO.

Temoignage du CNOP Congo Atelier de définition et de validation des questions de recherche
24 January 2013. Kikondila Hortense de la Confederation Nationale des Organisations des Producteurs (CNOP) du Congo explique quelles sont ses attentes envers l'atelier du PAEPARD

Comment fabriquer des bio-pesticides?
24 janvier 2013. OLOMBA, Experte horticole R/D, FAO Kinshasa a rendu compte de son experience de formation des animateurs agricoles sur les approches-champs-écoles-paysans.

RÉSEAU DES ORGANISATIONS PAYSANNES ET DES PRODUCTEURS AGRICOLES DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST  (ROPPA)
Technologies d'adaptation aux changements climatiques sur la production du riz

Rapport de la reunion des facilitateurs en innovation agricole
12 décembre 2012. Niamey (Niger). Première réunion de formation des facilitateurs d’Innovation Agricole (FIA) dans le cadre du projet PAEPARD. Organisé par le ROPPA, la rencontre a vu la participation des FIA du Mali, du Benin et Burkina Faso ; des représentants du secrétariat du ROPPA, d’AfricaRice et du Réseau de Recherches pour l’appui au développement en Afrique (REPAD). Interview video avec Andre Tiorro (ROPPA)

Technologies d'adaptation aux changements climatiques sur la production du riz au Niger en Guinée Conakry et au Burkina Faso
La réunion régionale ROPPA: Ouagadougou 16-20 April, 2013.

Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Network /Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (FANRPAN/SACAU)
La chaîne de valeur de l'arachide en Zambie et au Malawi

Réunion  régionale : Pretoria April 2-6, 2013

Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique pour la promotion des exportations horticoles (ColeACP)
Sous-produits de la mangue, Sénégal, B. Faso, Côte-d'Ivoire

La réunion régionale du COLEACP est prévue du 11-14 Mars 2013 à Dakar


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PAEPARD partners shifted to a new user led process (ULP) or users led research (ULR) end of 2011 which is giving the lead to the “research users” partners (especially Farmer Organisations (FOs) but also the private sector) in the organization of brokerage activities in particular the organization of “brokerage workshops” around a federating theme that they have themselves chosen.

The users led research (ULR) comprises the following steps:
1- The Definition of the federating theme;
2- The Desk Review of the federating theme;
3- The National Consultations on the federating theme (if possible);
4- The Multi-Stakeholder Research Question Workshop;
5- The Concept Note by a Core Group of Experts;
6- The Proposal development and submission to potential donors

PAEPARD: Agricultural Innovation Facilitators’ Workshop
26-30 November 2012. Entebbe. The purpose of this workshop was to familiarise participants with their role as facilitators of the “User-led Process” for establishing balanced African-European a multi-stakeholder partnerships within the PAEPARD project.

PAEPARD: The regional platform of the AIF of the RFO
8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During four days this PAEPARD communication workshop brought together representatives of the four regional farmer organisations - ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC and FANRPAN/SACAU and a private sector representative collaborating with ColeACP.

EAST AFRICAN FARMER FORUM (EAFF)
Pastoralism

 Extensive Livestock Research Multi-Stakeholder Research Question Development Workshop
10th – 12th December 2012. EAFF together with its consortium partners in the PAEPARD program organized a continental multi stakeholder research question development workshop around the federating theme “Extensive livestock value chain”. this blog post includes a video interview with Dr. Jean Ndikumana who explains the objectives of the study: EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda.

Appreciation of CIRAD on the PAEPARD users led process
11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During the PAEPARD communication workshop, Patrice Grimaud - Regional Director if CIRAD for Central Africa Yaounde, Cameroon - was interviewed about his participation to the PAEPARD workshop of 10th – 12th December 2012. Nairobi.

PAEPARD users' led process: Eastern Africa Livestock Strategy
In May 2012, the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) contracted the Agency for Inter-regional Development (AFID) to carry out a consultancy study to develop a Livestock Strategy for Eastern Africa. Dr. Jean Ndikumana explains the objectives of the study: EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda. He was interviewed during the EAC-Europe Food Security Thematic Policy Dialogue Workshop, 25th to 26th, October, 2012, Arusha, Tanzania.

PLATEFORME RÉGIONALE PAYSANNE DE L’AFRIQUE CENTRALE (PROPAC)
Vegetable sector

Workshop: definition and validation of research questions relating to the vegetable sector in Central Africa
23, 24 and 25 January 2013. Brazzaville. Congo. Sylvie Mbog explains in a video interview how the study LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE VEGETABLE SECTOR IN CAMEROON, CONGO BRAZZAVILLE AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO is primarily a desk study that contributes to a better understanding of the vegetables and fruit market in the countries concerned.

PROPAC: Field visit PROPAC / Brazzaville workshop
24-25 January, 2013. Brazzaville. A first field trip was conducted at the Halle market and Total market + a second site visit was conducted in the Mayanga vegetable belt with vegetable growers organized and supported by Agricongo.

Testimony of CNOP Congo during the workshop on the definition and validation of research questions
24 January, 2013. Hortense Kikondila of the National Confederation of Farmers Organizations (CNOP) of Congo explains her expectations for the PAEPARD workshop

How to make bio-pesticides?
24 January, 2013. Eugenie OLOMBA, horticultural expert R/D Kinshasa FAO reported on her experience with training facilitators of farmer-field schools.

RÉSEAU DES ORGANISATIONS PAYSANNES ET DES PRODUCTEURS AGRICOLES DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST (ROPPA)
Climate change adaptation technologies on rice production

Rapport de la reunion des facilitateurs en innovation agricole
December 12, 2012. Niamey (Niger). First meeting of the Agricultural Innovation Facilitators(AIF) of ROPPA. Organized by ROPPA, the meeting was attended by the AIF of ​​Mali, Benin and Burkina Faso, representatives of the Secretariat of ROPPA, AfricaRice and the Research Network to support development in Africa (REPAD). This blog post includes a video Interview with Andre Tiorro (ROPPA)

Climate change adaptation technologies on rice production in Niger Guinea Conakry and Burkina Faso
The ROPPA regional meeting is scheduled as follows: Ouagadougou 16-20 April, 2013

Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Network/Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions  (FANRPAN/SACAU)
Ground nut value chain in Zambia and Malawi
The regional meeting  is scheduled as follows: Pretoria April 2-6, 2013

Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique pour la promotion des exportations horticoles (ColeACP)
Mango byproducts; Senegal, B. Faso, Ivory Coast
The regional meeting is scheduled for 11-14 March 2013 in Dakar

Global Forum for Food and Agriculture - GFFA 2013

17 - 19 January 2013. Berlin. At the 5th Agriculture Ministers' Summit in Berlin, ministers from 80 countries worldwide committed themselves to a resolute fight against hunger and called for investments in the agri-food sector to be significantly increased, particularly in developing countries.  The GFFA is an international event that focuses on central issues regarding the future of the global agri-food industry. Since 2009, it has been held annually in Berlin during International Green Week (IGW).

For the first time, the BMELV invited the World Food Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to hold public working meetings whose outcome was incorporated into the subsequent 5th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Summit, the International GFFA Panel Discussion and the International Business Panel. the conference was also attended by FARA: Dr. Emmanuel Tambi (Director of Advocacy and Policy); Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo (in-coming FARA ED).

Apart from the summit itself, numerous other events gave representatives from politics, industry, the scientific community and civil society a forum for interaction, discussion and political agreement.

Panels of experts arranged by various organisers publicly discussed the current state of progress and compared specific experiences.

Fasil Tsegaye

Steve Bawa

The expert panel around "Development partnerships between state and industry – an engine for sustainable agricultural investments" presented a.o.the G8 Africa initiative. The African panelists were Fasil Tsegaye, CEO; Oral Agro Industry Plc, Ethiopia and Steve Bawa Director, Fruits & Veggies Global Ltd., Nigeria.

The panelists discussed the experiences and lessons learned from the initiatives that they manage. The initiatives include (i) the German Initiative for agribusiness and food security in emerging and developing economies (GIAF) which aims at fostering cooperation between German private sector and public sector institutions such as GIZ to promote sustainable growth in agricultural and food production in emerging and developing countries; (ii) the BMZ Minds for Change – Enhancing Opportunities, an initiative that supports projects in Kenya, Burkina Faso and Afghanistan; (iii) the Fruits and Vegetables production in Nigeria; and (iv) the animal feeds production company in Ethiopia.

In the panel on Food Security – How does research contribute, Dr. Cornel Adler, of the Julius Kuhn Institute looked at new approaches in stored products protection to reduce post-harvest losses. Dr. Cornel Adler is the European partner of the PAEPARD supported consortium in Ghana:  Improving food security and income for smallholder farmers through improved post harvest technology

In the panel on Environment for investment in rural farming in Africa four panel members discussed the pre-requisites and frame conditions for investments in agriculture in Africa and how to make investments sustainable.

1. Hon. Ally Malima, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Tanzania shared the experience of Tanzania and invited potential investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in the country. 
2. Ms Esther Mururi of Equity Bank, Kenya shared the Kenyan experience of private sector delivery of financial services to smallholder farmers while 
3. Mr. Daniel Gad, General Manager of Omega Farms, Ethiopia shared his experience with private sector investments in the Ethiopian grain and horticulture sector. He shared information on investment opportunities in these sectors and called on potential investors to invest in Ethiopia. 
4. Mr. Jervis Zimba, President ‘Zambia National Farmers Union’ and Vice President, 'World Farmers Organisation’ (WFO) shared the experience of smallholder farmers in Zambia.

The panel on The role of farmers organizations for inclusive business

Small and medium-sized enterprises as well as international corporations in the agriculture and food industries are increasingly committed to doing business with smallholder farmers in African countries – as consumers of agricultural inputs and machinery, users of services (e.g. financial or advisory services) or as suppliers of agricultural commodities. This creates new business opportunities but also new challenges for all participants along the value chain.

Jervis Zimba

The panelists were Mr. Carter Coleman, Founder and CEO of Agrica Limited: Presentation of an example of cooperation with smallholder farmers in Tanzania; Mr. Adam Ally Malima, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Tanzania; Ms. Jane Karuku, President, ‘Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa’ (AGRA); and Mr. Jervis Zimba, President ‘Zambia National Farmers Union’, and Vice President, 'World Farmers Organisation’ (WFO).
 

La plate forme régionale des AIF / AIF regional platform

8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During four days this PAEPARD communication workshop brought together representatives of the four regional farmer organisations - ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC and FANRPAN/SACAU and a private sector representative collaborating with ColeACP.
They were trained in the use of communication tools and especially to build five regional platforms whose objective is to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of User-Led-Process in the regions.

The analysis of the communications needs of regional Agricultural Innovation Facilitators from the Regional Farmer Organisations (AIFs of the RFOs) revealed four major communication functions:

1. Feed the regional and national actors with relative information to federated themes (web articles, publications, studies, websites, news) discussed by the group 
2. Inform the progress of steps performed within the User-led process by the group 
3. Having a set of tools and a space for group works, prepares and performs the steps of User-Led Process. 
4. Having the possibility to re-use the approach, tools and IT structures in place for the group after the end of the project

The goal of the workshop was therefore:

• to define together what might be the future shape of the regional platform. 
• Why and how this platform can help User-Led-Process players to work better together and display the results? 

Once the platform was described in a consensusal way, Work Package 3 of the PAEPARD project (led by CIRAD) translated those needs into functional tools.

• The use of these tools was tried out by the participants of the workshop
• They used those new skill to build their regional platform as described in the previous step. 

IT platform
The "platform" of the users led process for the respective sub regional farmer organisations takes the form of a website including three parts (three menus):

1. A section devoted to the presentation of the regional group and to display news 
2. A section gathering some progress on the steps of user-led process and offering the consultation of information or documents produced during these stages 
3. An intranet dedicated to collaborative work for the user-led process’ actors using for the preparation and the implementation stages of this process.

A platform for what audience?

Four categories of users that may come on the flat platform:

1. Family n° 1: All those involved in collaborative work (intranet) and will produce information: regional AIF, AIF national and regional referral FO 
2. Family n°. 2: User-Led-Process players who do not have access to the collaborative workspace (WP2, WP1, project members involved PAEARD deans ULP, invited experts, comanagers) 
3. Family n° 3: PAEPARD's project members 
4. Family n° 4: PAEPARD's Community (Dgroups) 
5. Family n° 5: Everyone involved in the User-Led-Process (donors, regional organizations research, OP ...) 
6. Family n° 6: The global public

The “User-Led Process progress

The first part of the website gives general information on the User-Led-Process. The second part is dedicated to visitors who wish to learn more about the User-Led-Process and its progession in the region. These pages are visible to all Internet users, their goal is to provide access to the results produced by the regional group and national groups in steps of User-Led-Process. According to the outputs, the User-Led-process can be summarized by the following 5 chronological stages:

1. Desk review 
2. National workshops 
3. Regional Workshop 
4. The concept note 
5. The Research project

"Intranet" or "Collaborative work space" part

These pages are only accessible by authorized persons who must have a password to access this space, it is not public. There is a workspace where User-Led-Process players will be able to prepare the different stages of this process.

Each country that organizes a workshop has an entry point and its own workspace. This space is used in the preparation of the workshop. The workshop and the results will be published in the "User-Led Process progress stage follow up"

A - The preparation phase of the workshop: 

• The development of the list of participants and its validation 
• The development of the workshop program and its validation 
• The implementation of the workshop logistics (location, dates, recipients, trips ....) 

B - The facilitation of the workshop with: 

• Access to communication and animation tools available and to their user guide The development and validation of the presentation materials and animation 
• A library of useful documents to prepare the presentation materials Sample letters of invitation, cover pages, logos 

C - The conclusions of the workshop: 

• The development and validation of synthesis, 
• summaries and records of decisions

Research project Each step of this process has a dedicated workspace: 

A - Identification of Reasearch centers involved 

B - The establishment of the research team 

C - Identification of donor 

D - Project formulation

PARTICIPANTS

André Tioro (ROPPA)

Bernard Likalimba (SACAU)

Edit Kabre (ColeACP)

Gustave Ewole (PROPAC)

Kenneth Katungisa (EAFF)

Lamine COULIBALY (ROPPA)

Macaire NGWASI (PROPAC)

Sylvie Mbog (PROPAC)

Thierry Helmer (CIRAD)

Francois Labastie (Outils Reseaux)

Agnes Carbon (CIRAD)

Michel Tchoungui (PROPAC)

Francois Stepman (Agrinatura)

 

Daphne MUCHAI  (KENFAP/EAFF)  

Serge Fegue (PROPAC) 

Josephine Atangana (PROPAC)

2012 CAADP Africa Forum

12 to 16 November 2012, Tunis, Tunisian Republic. 2012 CAADP Africa Forum. Farmer Organisations as the Vital Link to Equitable and Sustainable Agriculture Growth in Africa.

This 2012 Africa Forum was under the coordination of UMAGRI, as the  Regional Farmer Organisation (RFO) in charge of the Northern African region. For the 2012 forum, RFOs decided upon the following theme: 

The forum has the following objectives: 

1. Create awareness on the critical role of FOs in the development of agriculture in Africa; 
2. Identify how to strengthen linkages between Regional and National Farmer Organisations and from Farmer Organisations to farmers and other relevant actors (decision makers, traders, consumers);
3. Identify ways to ensure a representative inclusion of women at all levels of farm organisation and representation; 
4. Advance countries’ agricultural agendas in support of strengthening FO capacity and role in efficiently linking farmers to the wider network of relevant actors in the sector.

Sub-themes:

• Farmer Organisation Dynamics: Structure, membership, objectives
• Governance in Farmer Organisations and its impact on performance
• Women participation in Farmer Organisations
• Farmer Organisations and the CAADP process
• Sustainability of Farmer Organisations
• FO engagement in Value Chains

RFOs brought together their members (National Farmer Unions, Farmer Organisations and others) in a
workshop that has five main objectives:

1. Raise awareness on the CAADP process and the CAADP Africa Forum; 
2. Identify the critical issues from FOs and farmers in the region in relation to implementation of the action plans developed at the previous continental forum;
3. Assess what kind of support is needed and available to help FOs and farmers implement action planned at the previous continental forum; 
4. Ascertain what FOs and farmers in the region expect from the upcoming continental forum; 
5. Discuss a strategy for FOs to identify potential contributions from their country to be shared at the forum, in line with the continental forum’s theme and objectives

Backgound

The CAADP Africa Forum is part of the CAADP framework, and is coordinated by the Regional Farmer Organisations together with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA). The forum is an important platform for harnessing the voice and the influence of non-state actors in CAADP processes at country level. The platform is meant mostly for farmers and farmer representatives, but also for policy makers, manufacturers, traders, retailers, financiers, development workers and others who work in, with or for African agriculture.

PAFO’s second General Assembly elects new president

23rd to 25th of August 2012. PAFO’s second General Assembly was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The elections The new President is Mr. Bagna Djibo of Niger was elected to the position of Vice President of the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO). He represents the Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organisations of West Africa (ROPPA) and took over from Mrs Elizabeth Atangana of Cameroon representing Central African Regional Farmers’ Organization (PROPAC).

The following is the full PAFO executive board for the next two years:

1. President: Mr. Bagna Djibo (ROPPA)
2. Vice President: Mr. Felix E. Jumbe (President of SACAU)
3. Treasurer: Mr. Phillip Kiriro (EAFF)
4. Women Representative: Mrs. Elizabeth Atangana (PROPAC)
5. Youth Representative: Mr. Ahmed Jarallah (UMAGRI)

Among other items, the assembly discussed the PAFO Constitution and Strategic Plan.

Related:

More and Better at the PAFO congress

PAFO had invited the closest cooperating partners to attend the congress as guests. Because of the short notice – and vacation time in many European countries, only the More and Better Network was present. The good and important cooperation between PAFO and More and Better was also underlined in the report of PAFO’s work since the founding congress. Here is their story.

The congress was called on a very short notice, less than three weeks. The reason was that the PAFO board had not been aware of one condition on the main funding: the money had to be spent before the end of August – or be returned to the donor. The small staff of PROPAC and the national farmers organization in Cameroun, CNOP-Cameroun, had done an amazing job to organize the congress. They got the government to make exceptions for visa rules so visa could be issued on the border for all delegates, background paper were prepared, banners, bags, pens etc. for the congress had been made, translation and technical equipment functioned perfectly, and all delegates stayed in a nice hotel where the meeting also took place.

The last evening, after the congress had finished, became a wonderful and memorable evening at a training center where the outgoing president, Elisabeth Atangana, started for farmers more than 15 years ago. The center, located in the Mfou village in the outskirt of Yaounde, runs an agricultural school of two years for 70 student, runs other short time courses, organizes conferences. The center has also farming activities with plant nursery, raising chicken and pigs. When the delegates and guests arrived at the center, we were met by African music and dance , and the entrance and outdoor area had been turned into a beautifully decorated restaurant where we were served wonderful locally produced food.

The day after the congress a national seminar for leaders of cooperatives and initiatives for new cooperatives took place at the center – with Elisabeth Atangana as the facilitator! She had been working day and night the last three weeks to organize the congress, and the first morning and the full day she headed the work of about 40 farmers from Cameroun. “We had planned this meeting before we planned the congress,” told Elisabeth, “I could not turn these people down and cancel the meeting because I had worked hard for the congress.”

Connecting Farmers to the Agricultural Value Chains in southern Africa

On May 28-30, 2012, SACAU hosted its Annual Conference and AGM in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The theme of the two-day conference was “Connecting Farmers to the Agricultural Value Chains in southern Africa” and aimed at fostering more structured relations between farmers and agribusinesses in southern Africa. 

CEOs and Presidents of national farmers’ unions from 16 countries in southern Africa attended. Key agribusinesses with a regional scope, such as SENWES, AFGRI, RUSELLSTONE, Massmart/Wal-mart, SAB Miller, Agribusiness Chamber and ABSA were invited to participate as well as regional institutions including SADC’s Trade, Investment, Finance and Industry (TIFI), COMESA and NEPAD. 

Presentations were made by some of the leading agricultural procurement agri-businesses and discussions focused on sharing some of key developments and issues related to value chains in Southern Africa Region.


The conference was aligned to SACAU’s aim to strengthen its relationship with agribusinesses and create an environment that allows farmers to be well informed about value chain issues with respect to trading/marketing, retailing, direct production, storage, financing, processing, input supply and others. Increased agribusiness activity can be a key driver towards the deepening and broadening of the commercialisation of primary production, and especially of the smallholder sector.


Core areas of agreement between farmers and agribusiness from the conference will be used by SACAU to develop its positions on the sustainability of agriculture, especially from the perspective of agriculture primary producers in the region.

New board … Vice - President Dr Theo de Jager (AgriSA), 
President Mr Felix Jumbe (Farmers Union of Malawi), 
SACAU CEO Mr Ishmael Sunga, Mr Salum Shamte (
Agricultural Council of Tanzania) and Mr Hajasoanirina 
Rakotomandimby (Coalition Paysanne de Madagascar) 
make up the team representing farmers in the region.