This document summarizes rice policies and their impact on the right to food in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides context on the human right to adequate food and recognition of this right in international agreements signed by most sub-Saharan African countries. The 2003 Maputo Declaration and CAADP Pillar III principle 1 establish strategies for national food security including devoting 10% of national budgets to agriculture. Rice policies along the value chain, from production to consumption to trade, can impact the right to food through issues like land access, investments, price volatility, and safety nets. Case studies from Benin and Madagascar show strategies smallholder farmers use to sustainably participate in markets and ensure food availability and dignity. The conclusion calls
Th4_Rice Policies and the Right to Food for Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa
1. Rice Policies and the Right to Food
for Food and Nutrition Security in
Sub-Saharan Africa
Julia Roberts
October 21, 2013 - Yaoundé, Cameroon
2. Context of Food Security & Right to
Adequate Food
Right to
adequate food
Food
Acknowledgment of human rights
Source: Various
Rule of law
utilization
Empowerment
Human Dignity
Stability
Transparency
NonDiscrimination
Access
to food
Accountability
Participation
Availability
of food
3. Recognition of the Right to Adequate
Food
Article 25 of Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)
Article 11 of International Covenant of
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 43 SSA countries
Articles 24 and 27 of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC)
48 SSA countries
4. Strategy Response for Food Security
10% National
budget to
agriculture
Protect RtF for
Africa’s citizens
National
Compacts
• 2003 Maputo
Declaration
• CAADP Pillar III:
Principle 1
• Agric. & Rural Dev
Strategies
• Rice Sector Dev Plans
5. Rice Policies Impacting the RtF along
Rice Value Chain
Production
• Land – Access, Land grabs
• Investments – Inputs, Infrastructure
Consumption
• Processing & Nutrition, Regulations
• Safety Nets
Trade
• Restrictions and bans
• Price Volatility & Marketing, Imports
7. Strategies used to enter Market
o Keeping costs low
o Access to technology
o Cultivating different varieties for different
consumers
o Targeting consumer markets – NERICA 2
9. Strategies for Sustainable Food
Availability
o Learning and knowledge sharing
o Access to inputs
o System of rice intensification (SRI)
o Rice-based aquaculture
o Seed producer
o Social safety-net
10. Conclusion
o Incorporate RtF into national policies, legislation, food
security strategies
o Seek participation of the vulnerable for effective rice
policies
o Target the vulnerable ensuring equity in assigning
resources
o Merge interests of agribusiness sector and resourcepoor smallholder farmers
International law recognizes that everyone has the unalienable and fundamental right to be free from hunger. As such national governments must do everything possible to ensure people have the physical and economic access to safe, nutritious food in enough quantities to lead healthy and active lives.43 countries have ratified the ICESCR except Botswana, Comoros, Mozambique, Sao Tome &Principe and South Sudan.All 48 countries have ratified the CRC.With ratification is the legally binding commitment to incorporate provisions for the right to food into its own national laws.
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)CAADP is a strategic framework to guide country development efforts and partnerships in the agricultural sector in the bidto stimulate agriculture-led development that eliminates hunger and reduces poverty and food insecurity. It embodies principles, which when adequately followed and applied, will encourage and broaden the adoption of best practices, facilitate mutual learning and so raise the quality and reliability of country policies and strategies in the agricultural sector.CAADP’s four mutually supporting and interlinked pillars are:Pillar I: Extending the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systemsPillar II: Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for market accessPillar III: Increasing food supply, reducing hunger and improving responses to food emergency crisesPillar IV: Improving agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption.Remember - Strategy is a chosen path for the future to deliver change. Whereas policies are the guiding rules or principles to influence decisions and actions for the same. For a single strategy, there can be multiple policies.Move to an evidence based policy under CAADP is crucial