Shenggen Fan, Director of IFPRI GFPR 2013

Editor's Notes

• #6: Algeria:Algeria’s Policy for Agricultural and Rural Renewal (PARR) has begun to show impressive results. The cornerstone of PARR is the Land Concession Law. The solid agricultural growth for 2009–2013, estimated by the government to have averaged 13.8 percent annually, was perhaps stimulated by this law.Egypt: Prospects rose for better-informed policymaking with the May launch of the open data initiative by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. In another move toward increased data transparency, in January 2014, IFPRI, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and CGIAR’s Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets launched a revised version of the Arab Spatial Development and Food Security Atlas, the first interactive mapping tool for the region.Yemen: The Yemen government reemphasized its commitment to implementing the National Food Security Strategy at a September workshop hosted by the prime minister in Sanaa. In an important step toward financing the implementation of the food strategy, Yemen secured a US$36 million grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program. Kazakhstan: The Kazakhstan government adopted a multiyear agricultural development program targeting long-term efficiency and productivity improvements by stimulating adoption of efficient technologies and inputs, increasing investment in market and production infrastructure, and promoting land improvement. Kyrgyzstan: Government has been vigorously debating approaches to land consolidation, with discussions centering on measures to facilitate farmer cooperatives. Russia: Current priorities are to expand production and further develop agribusiness. The government adopted a long-term State Programme for Development of Agriculture, which seeks both to increase agricultural productivity and to achieve food self-sufficiency targets. government of Tajikistan continued implementing a comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme, finalized in late 2012. Tajikistan: Tajikistan’s major domestic food-security challenge—farm productivity—by reducing government interference in farmers’ decisionmaking; increasing private incentives; and supporting access to rural finance, inputs, and advisory (extension) services. Uzbekistan: The government of Uzbekistan advanced its policy on land consolidation International trade: After 18 years of negotiation, Russia acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in August 2012, and in 2013, it enacted measures to fulfill its liberalization commitments. In March 2013, Tajikistan also acceded to the WTO, and Kazakhstan entered into advanced stages of negotiation. This trend—together with a smaller, regional customs union among Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, which promotes regional trade and may soon include some other countries—may have important implications for more efficient trade in agricultural products and inputs in the region. Bangladesh:Launched a National Agricultural Policy. Designed to make the country’s agriculture more resilient and sustainable, this policy gives priority to increasing production of more nutritious food crops, including cereals. Bangladesh: Released a genetically modified (GM) eggplant.Bhutan: Bhutan approved the implementation of an initiative to transform the country’s agriculture into an organic system. The National Organic Program aims to (1) develop and promote organic farming as a way of life among Bhutanese farmers; (2) enhance nutrition, health, and farm household income; and (3) turn the country into a net exporter of organic products. India: Launched National Food Security Act.India: Launched the Kisaan SMS (short message services) Portal for Knowledge Dissemination, a program designed both to accelerate the dissemination of agricultural technology and to make the best use of information and communication technology.India: Passed the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013. This legislation provides fair compensation, be it resettlement or other alternative opportunities, to those affected and also ensures adequate safeguards for complete transparency in the process of land acquisition. Nepal: The government of Nepal proffered a seed-sector development strategy known as National Seed Vision. This policy is designed to achieve multiple goals, such as ensuring food security, reducing poverty, generating employment opportunities, contributing toward biodiversity conservation, helping the country adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and contributing to gender equality and social inclusion. Pakistan: To help meet the challenge of climate change, the Pakistan government launched its first ever National Climate Change Policy.China: Chinese government released a document recognizing the need for a new approach to China’s agricultural development in the face of industrialization and urbanization. China: China began implementing plans to spend more than 320 billion yuan (US$52 billion) over the next few years on improving land productivity through improved land leveling and irrigation. Philippines: Similarly, the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines plans to implement several public infrastructure development projects in 2014 for a total allotment of 399 billion pesos ($9.1 billion), which is about 35 percent higher than the funds allocated for 2013. Myanmar: By undertaking a new wave of political reforms in 2013, Myanmar has a chance to set itself on the same road to economic expansion that has brought prosperity to its regional neighbors. Latin America and Caribbean: Several countries in the region have either enacted or discussed the enactment of new legislation. Chile’s new law, Nutritional Composition of Nutrients and Their Advertising, for instance, is one of the first in the world to require warning labels on foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Peru has also recently passed a law to combat childhood obesity and to prevent increases in diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Mexico is considering the imposition of a tax on sugar in beverages and on other unhealthy food.
• #7: Senegal: Average annual growth rate of agricultural value added = 2.5% (2000 – 2012)
• #8: Costly—reduces global GDP by 2-3%. The cost is more than 10% of GDP in Ethiopia. High returns—$1 spent on nutrition interventions = India: new estimate - $34 Ethiopia: old estimate - $30; new estimate - $12Nigeria and Kenya: new estimates - $27 and $19.
• #11: Photo information: "Brown, plant hopper" insects being studied at agriculture research center in Indonesia (April 2011)