CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117897
Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation
Primary CGIAR impact area: Nutrition, health and food security
https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/27-national-policies-and-strategies-for-food-land-and-water-systems-transformation/
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Item Maize yield responsiveness and profitability of fertilizer: New survey evidence from six African countries(Journal Article, 2025-05) Ragasa, Catherine; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Asante, Seth; Amare, Mulubrhan; Ma, Ning; Olanrewaju, Opeyemi; Duchoslav, JanEnhancing maize productivity growth is pivotal for revolutionizing the agrifood system in Africa, with inorganic fertilizer serving as a fundamental input for catalyzing this progress. However, concerns are mounting about the low and decreasing yield response and profitability of inorganic fertilizer use, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to refine yield response and profitability models by incorporating recent data from nationally representative and panel datasets spanning six countries. Most countries exhibited low nitrogen yield responsiveness (4–7 kg), while Ghana and Uganda showed higher responsiveness (15–20 kg) per additional 1 kg of nitrogen. Analysis of fertilizer-to-maize price ratios from 2010 to 2023 showed a downward trend, with spikes in 2022 in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Overall, except for those years, the data suggest a trend of increasingly favorable price incentives for fertilizer use. Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda experienced declines in the fertilizer-to-maize price ratio. Increasing inorganic fertilizer use would be profitable in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda at current market prices, but not in Malawi or Tanzania. Subsidies in Malawi and Tanzania have boosted profitability, but these may not be necessary in Ghana, Nigeria, or Uganda, which already have favorable price incentives; Malawi could benefit by substantially reducing its 80 percent subsidy while maintaining decent price incentives and farm profits. The paper proposes policy options based on factors influencing yield responsiveness and potential improvements drawn from new modeling and synthesis of the literature.Item Building coherence into food, land and water systems: tackling institutional complexity and policy choices in Egypt(Brief, 2024-12-30) Eldabbagh, Fayrouz; Nicol, Alan; Sanchez Ramirez, Juan Carlos; Brouziyne, YoussefItem Kenya tax model: Value added tax simulation analysis(Brief, 2024) Shibia, Adan; Omune, Lensa; Mbuthia, Juneweenex; Diao, Xinshen; Oguso, Alex; Omwenga, Walter; Kiptoo, Elvis; Ali, Jecinta; Laichena, JoshuaTaxation can be used as a policy tool to influence economic behaviour, promote equity and achieve developmental goals. However, taxation can result in undesired outcomes if not well designed and implemented. Distortionary tax may adversely affect consumption, private sector investment (Adam and Bevan, 2014) and household welfare (de la Feria and Swistak, 2024). Kenya faces a similar trade-off between generating sufficient tax revenue to finance government programmes such as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and mitigating potential adverse effects on domestic production and household welfare. The Value Added Tax (VAT) contributes about 30 per cent of Kenya’s total tax revenue (National Treasury, 2024). The average share of VAT to GDP for Kenya was 4.6 per cent between 2013/14 and 2023/24, comparable to that of East African Community (EAC) countries and Sub-Saharan African at 4.5 per cent (World Bank, 2024; East Africa Revenue Authorities Technical Committee, 2024), but lower than the 6.7 per cent for South Africa and the 5.2 per cent for lower-middle-income economies. VAT is a broad-based consumption tax, with tax incidence largely falling on the final consumers, and therefore any VAT policy changes have potential economy-wide implications. This is compounded by the fact that VAT is a regressive tax, meaning that low-income households spend a higher proportion of their income on vatable products compared to high income earners. The VAT in Kenya is currently imposed at a standard rate of 16 per cent, with certain essential goods, particularly primary agricultural produces, and services as VAT exempt or zero-rated.Item Nature-Positive Agriculture—A way forward towards resilient agrifood systems(Journal Article, 2025-01-31) Kaushal, Manoj; Atieno, Mary; Odjo, Sylvanus; Baijukya, Frederick; Gebrehawaryat, Yosef; Fadda, CarloCurrent food production systems rely heavily on resource-poor small-scale farmers in the global south. Concomitantly, the agrifood systems are exacerbated by various a/biotic challenges, including low-input agriculture and climate crisis. The recent global food crisis further escalates the production and consumption challenges in the global market. With these challenges, coordinated efforts to address the world’s agrifood systems challenges have never been more urgent than now. This includes the implementation of deeply interconnected activities of food, land, and water systems and relationships among producers and consumers that operate across political boundaries. Nature-positive agriculture represents interventions both at the farm and landscape level that include a systems approach for the management of diverse issues across the land-water-food nexus. In the present article, we focus on the history of traditional farming and how it evolved into today’s nature-positive agriculture, including its limitations and opportunities. The review also explains the most impactful indicators for successful nature-positive agriculture, including sustainable management of soil, crops, seeds, pests, and mixed farming systems, including forages and livestock. Finally, the review explains the dynamics of nature-positive agriculture in the context of small-scale farming systems and how multilateral organizations like the CGIAR are converting this into transformative actions and impact. To address the climate crisis, CGIAR established the paradigm of nature-positive solutions as part of its research and development efforts aimed at transforming food, land, and water systems into more resilient and sustainable pathways.Item The contribution of potato to food security, income generation, employment, and the national economy of Ethiopia(Report, 2025-01) Tadesse, B.; Gebeyehu, S.; Kirui, L.; Maru, J.Item Integrated agro-industrial parks in Ethiopia: Status, success and challenges with a focus on Yirgalem IAIP(Working Paper, 2025-01-31) Alemnew, Teklebirhan; Taffesse, Alemayehu SeyoumThis study aims to assess the current state, successes, and challenges of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIPs) in Ethiopia, with a specific focus on the Yirgalem Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (YIAIP). The analysis is based on an extensive literature review and semi-structured interviews with key informants (KIIs). By examining the current state of Ethiopia's IAIPs, the research provides valuable insights into their successes and shortcomings, offering critical lessons to enhance the sustainability of IAIPs in Ethiopia and guide the development of similar initiatives in other Sub-Saharan African countries.Item Why livestock matter for PSTA5 goals(Presentation, 2024-12-04) Karugia, Joseph T.; Chan, Derek; Bahta, Sirak; Aragie, Emerta A.; Enahoro, Dolapo; Thurlow, James; Warner, James; Maruta, Admasu Asfaw; Jean-Pierre, R.P.; Rich, K.M.; Enahoro, D.K.Presented at Policy Seminar in Musanze, Rwanda on December 4, 2024.Item Food Systems Diversification through Nutri-Cereals and Pulses - Lessons Learnt from Asia and Africa(Video, 2024-11-22) Afari-Sefa, VictorItem Food Systems Diversification through Nutri-cereals and Pulses: Lessons Learnt from Asia and Africa(Presentation, 2024-11-22) Afari-Sefa, VictorItem Leveraging empowerment data to inform equitable livelihoods reconstruction through livestock: a case of Ethiopia(Brief, 2024-12) Omondi, Immaculate A.; Terfa, Zelalem; Kariuki, Eunice; Galiè, Alessandra; Karugia, Joseph T.Item Livestock Dynamics and Economic Resilience: A Comprehensive Modelling Framework(Presentation, 2024-08-04) Bahta, Sirak T.Item Report on the Livestock Dynamics and Economic Resilience: A Comprehensive Modelling Framework Symposium at the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE)(Report, 2024-08-03) Bahta, Sirak T.The International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) 2024 Symposium hosted a dedicated session on "Livestock Dynamics and Economic Resilience: A Comprehensive Modelling Framework." This session focused on recent innovations in livestock sector modeling, highlighting their role in evaluating threats to livestock populations, market access, livelihoods, and economic growth. The session presented findings from seven studies across different countries, employing diverse modeling approaches to improve livestock sector policies and investments. The session addressed some of the recent innovations made in livestock sector modeling. It highlighted how they can better evaluate the threats confronting livestock populations, market access, livelihoods, and economic growth. The session drew from and synthesized research from seven studies conducted across various countries using a range of complementary modeling approaches. The studies highlighted obstacles in livestock production, ranging from vulnerabilities to animal diseases to climate-induced shocks such as droughts and fluctuations in feed availability. These models aimed to improve the policy planning process, helping policymakers identify relevant investment options, animal health interventions (vaccination, quarantine, surveillance), and enabling policies and giving guidance to stakeholders in the various livestock chains on appropriate management and marketing that raise resilience.Item Food systems Diversification through Nutri-Cereals and Pulses – Lessons Learnt from Asia and Africa(Brief, 2024-12-31) Afari-Sefa, Victor; Deevi, Kumara Charyulu; Bose, Disha; Guvvalavenkata, AnupamaThe policy brief highlights diversification experiences in Asia and Africa, diversification towards nutri-cereals and pulses in the last two decades, and the relationship between the income levels of major countries and their food systems diversification across regions. Further, the brief also synthesizes the major drivers and challenges for agricultural transformation across regions. Finally, it concludes with key lessons learnt under food systems diversification in Asia and Africa regions.Item Advocating for effective policy coherence: reflections for CGIAR and beyond(Brief, 2024-12-30) Ramirez, Juan Carlos Sanchez; Nicol, Alan; Eldabbagh, FayrouzItem Effect of mineral fertilizer on soil organic matter in sub-Saharan Africa(Presentation, 2024-03-27) Corbeels, M.Item Farmer learning exchange visit on agroecological farming practices in Xiengkhouang, Lao PDR(Report, 2024-12-30) Inphonephong, Souphalack; Chounlamountry, T.; Xaydala, Viengxay; Douangsavanh, SomphasithThe report documents a farmer learning exchange visit on agroecological farming practices in Xiengkhouang, Lao’s People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), from 20–22 November 2024. It was organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), under the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology and the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies. The visit was arranged in cooperation with the agroecology and safe food system transitions project’s implementing and commissioning team from the Department of Planning and Cooperation, the Department of Agricultural Land Management, the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office in Xiengkhouang, and CIRAD, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development.Item Real exchange rate misalignment and economic growth: An empirical analysis for Ethiopia(Working Paper, 2024-12-31) Alemnew, Teklebirhan; Taffesse, Alemayehu SeyoumIn both developing and developed economies, academic and policy discussions have consistently emphasized that achieving stable economic growth and maintaining internal and external balance require an exchange rate aligned with its long-term equilibrium value. This paper examines the impact of real exchange rate misalignment on Ethiopia's economic growth from 1980 to 2022. The study begins by estimating the equilibrium real exchange rate using the Behavioral Equilibrium Exchange Rate (BEER) approach to calculate the misalignments. It then analyzes the effects of these misalignments on economic growth using Vector Autoregressive (VAR) and Hansen's (2000) threshold regression model. The VAR and Impulse Response Function (IRF) analyses reveal that real exchange rate misalignments have an immediate positive impact on economic growth, which diminishes between the eighth and sixteenth years and stabilizes as a permanent long-term effect. The threshold regression results indicate that undervaluation of the Ethiopian Birr enhances economic growth up to a 13.95% deviation from the equilibrium real exchange rate, while overvaluation supports growth up to a 7.15% threshold. Beyond these limits, misalignments hinder growth. The study underscores the importance of avoiding excessive deviations from the equilibrium exchange rate to sustain economic growth. Furthermore, it highlights the need for consistent macroeconomic policies to minimize the gap between the actual and equilibrium real exchange rates. These findings emphasize the critical role of exchange rate policy in promoting sustainable economic development in Ethiopia.Item Markets, food systems transformation, and development in a changing landscape: Broad considerations – Agricultural markets and transformation in the context of changing landscapes(Presentation, 2024-08-08) Taffesse, Alemayehu SeyoumItem The Food Security Simulator Ethiopia (FSSE): An innovative household food security assessment tool(Video, 2024-12-11) International Food Policy Research InstituteFirst presentation of the Food Security Simulator Ethiopia (FSSE) at the Hybrid Research & Policy Conference for Livestock, Gender, and Agency Amid Conflict in Ethiopia, December 11th, 2024.Item Baseline analysis for an impact evaluation of a home-grown school feeding program in Osun State, Nigeria to support smallholder farmers(Report, 2024-12-31) Andam, Kwaw; Amare, Mulubrhan; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Gelli, Aulo; Kosec, Katrina; Abay, Kibrom; Fasoranti, AdetunjiHome-Grown School Feeding Programs (HGSFPs) are becoming important policy instruments to improve food security, nutrition, education, agricultural production, and local economic growth (Adeyanju et al., 2024; Abay et al., 2021; Sitali, 2021; Takeshima et al., 2018; Fernandes et al., 2016; Karisa and Ordho, 2014; WFP, 2013). While the potential of HGFSPs to tackle undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies is well documented (Alderman, Bundy, Gelli, 2024), their role in supporting local value chains and smallholder farmers remains an area of active inquiry. Following international trends and lessons, Nigeria started delivering HGSFP which includes utilizing locally sourced foods instead of imports (Dennis et al., 2021). These programs provide school meals using locally sourced food from smallholder farmers within the same community (Sumberg & Sabates-Wheeler, 2011). In 2004, Nigeria’s National HGSFP was piloted in 12 states, covering all six geopolitical zones. However, the national government abruptly halted the program, with Osun relaunching the program in 2012 using state-level funds. Osun State is currently the only Nigerian state that implements the program—and considered one of the more successful states for implementing it. Despite stoppages of the program, lessons learned from the pilot phase offered valuable operational and policy insights for implementing the National HGSFP in 2016, with the aim of using farm produce locally grown by smallholder farmers to provide children with nutritious mid-day meals on every school day (Adeyanju et al., 2024).