Kanayo Nwanze, IFAD President: “Investing in agriculture is the best way to prevent famines” (virtual press conference)
(Sept. 29, 2011) - Kanayo F. Nwanze, the President of the IFAD hosted a virtual press conference to discuss why he believes African can ensure its own food security, focussing particularly on West Africa. Please listen to the recordings of the videoconferencing: the journalists’ questions and the answers of the President of IFAD
Opening remarks (Cost effective technologies , agriculture as priority, etc.)
Opening
What is your own view in the immediate remedy to the food crisis in Somalia; this includes the entire East Africa region, since it is hit by recurrent droughts and famines?
Somalia
About south-south cooperation, how developing countries like Brazil and India can help to develop African agriculture?
South South Cooperation
What is your stand and the stand of IFAD concerning Land grabbing / Land lease what we see in Africa?
Langrab
How are you going to deal with the different weathers? How is IFAD working with small holder farmers to deal with the climate change challenges?
Climate change
The use of virtual conference by IFAD for this interactive briefing is an attestation to the importance of the new information and communication technologies - What is your view on investment in ICTs for sound policies to improve agricultural production?
ICT Use 01
I mean Policies such as Universal Service and Access Funds (USAF) and its administration to ensure access to broadband Internet by remote communities?
ICT Use 02
Why is Africa starving?
Is Africa starving
Are there any agricultural development models within Africa that you would point to as good examples to be followed? This applies to both smallholder and commercial. Also, how important is the role of the state in future agricultural development relative to private financing?
Models available
While some countries have achieved some degree of success due to farm subsidies to farmers, the issue of farm subsidies has remained the bone of contention in other countries. Would do advocate for an increase in agric subsidies particularly in sub saharan Africa?
Subsidies
We know the most aggravating citations to drought in Africa are the elements of weather, can Ifad not draw a list of private and public sector partnerships to supply green house /controlled farming small to media size farms?
Private Public Partnership
Should governments incorporate "green energy" into their agricultural investments? Given the high levels of poverty, health and education concerns is this feasible?
Greeen energy
Until when Africa will depend on international community to feed itself?
International assistance
Do you mean the governance in Ethiopian / East Africa so good that it can bring the country/region out of poverty? Since the region is highly agrarian, can the economic policies and the political situation allow the country to aleviate poverty and feed it self? What did IFAD do help the agriculture in East Africa?
Governance
What are IFAD’s effort to revamp agriculture and natural resource management in Post-conflict countries such as Liberia?
Post conflict policy
How important is commercial, large-scale agriculture?
Small and large scale
Closing remarks (Made agriculture an attractive business)
Closing
25 October 2011
