African Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Development Initiative

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African Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Development Initiative (3ADI) is a project to increase agribusiness development and to increase processed foods in Africa. "The major objective of the 3ADI is to increase private sector investment flows into the agriculture sector in Africa by mobilizing resources for agribusiness and agro-industrial development from domestic and international financial systems... It will also support an investment programme that will significantly increase the proportion of Africa’s agricultural produce that is transformed into differentiated high-value products, such that by 2020 more than 50 percent of the continent’s food products sold in local and national markets will be in processed form."[1]

The stated objective of 3ADI is "The overall objective is to contribute to sustainable reduction of poverty and food security through the promotion of agribusinesses and agro-industries in Africa and least developed countries (LDCs)."[2] 3ADI was launched in March 2010 during the High-Level Conference on the Development of Agribusiness and Agro-Industries in Africa (HLCD-3A) by:

According to the 3ADI website, the reason for promoting agribusiness is that:

"Majority of the poor live in rural areas, and their main source of income is agriculture. Transformation from growth in agricultural output to value addition in agribusiness which:
  • is seen as modern employment vs subsistence occupation
  • creates jobs and raises incomes
  • triggers growth in other sectors
  • expands domestic markets
  • improves food security ( -> impact beyond MDG1)
  • reduces rural-urban migrations"[4]

History

The African Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Development Initiative was a result of three events and their resulting plans. They are:

Planning for 3ADI

"In April 2008 the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), theFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) organized the Global Agro-Industries Forum (GAIF) in partnership with the Government of India...
"In the joint declaration of the GAIF, the UN co-organizing agencies agreed to hold regional forums to deliberate on concrete actions to promote agribusiness and agro-industries development at the regional and sub-regional level. As a follow-up to this commitment, UNIDO, FAO and IFAD, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, plan to organize a High Level Conference on Development of Agribusiness and Agro-Industries in Africa (HLCD-3A) in Abuja, Nigeria in November 2009...
"As a preparatory step to the HLCD-3A, an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) was held in Vienna, Austria from 27-29 April 2009. The EGM brought together experts in agribusiness and agro-industries development from 19 countries of Africa, as well as resource persons from development agencies, research and academic institutions, bi- and multi-lateral agencies and finance institutions working on agribusiness and agro-industries development in African countries. The EGM’s objectives were to discuss the key constraints impeding the development of agribusiness and agro-industries in Africa and to deliberate upon a programme framework for agribusiness and agro-industries development in Africa."[7]

The Expert Group Meeting included:[7]

Project Stages

According to the 3ADI website, "the project will take place in 3 consecutive steps:

  • "Assess key constraints faced by agro-industries that limit their ability to add value to agricultural production through agro-processing, post-harvest handling, supply chain management and trade promotion;
  • "Develop and validate concrete interventions that promote agro-industry development in close collaboration with stakeholders and external resources;
  • "Assist beneficiaries and countries in resource mobilization from international finance institutions and a range of private partners, research institutions and non-governmental organizations. Target resources include finance (public and private), investment, technology, expertise and scientific knowledge for agribusiness development."[8]

The 3ADI Country Programmes

During the initial phase of 3ADI, 10 countries were targeted:[9]

  • Comoros
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Ghana
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Sierra Leone
  • Republic of the Sudan
  • Republic of South-Sudan
  • Tanzania

Burkina Faso was added after the fact.

Ghana

In Ghana, 3ADI first visited in August 2010. The visit led to a focus on cotton in Ghana:

"During a first mission in August 2010, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) indicated a clear priority on the cotton sector, key to the socio-economic progress of the rural North. A few weeks later, the Government launched the national cotton revival strategy and embarked on a decisive re-organization of the industry by inviting private partners with international credentials to invest in cotton production. In January 2011, the Ministry of Trade and Industry further called on the World Bank, [the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank] and UNIDO to support the national efforts."[10]

UNIDO's role is introducing Bt Cotton to Ghana - specifically, helping the government set up a regulatory structure to handle the genetically engineered crops.

For more information, see the article on Cotton in Ghana.

Contact Information

Articles and Resources

Related SourceWatch Articles

References

  1. "African agribusiness and agro-industries development initiative (3ADI)", 2010.
  2. Objective, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  3. High-level Conference on the Development of Agribusiness & Agro-industries in Africa (HLCD-3A), Abuja, Nigeria, 8-10 March 2010, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  4. Why agribusinesses and agro-industries?, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 3ADI About, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  6. CAMI 18, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Final Report of the UNIDO/FAO Expert Group Meeting on the preparation of the High-Level Conference on Development of Agribusiness and Agro-Industries in Africa (HLCD-3A), held at the Vienna International Centre, UNIDO, Vienna, Austria from 27 to 29 April 2009.
  8. How Does It Work?, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  9. The 3ADI Country Programmes, Accessed October 28, 2011.
  10. Ghana, Accessed October 30, 2011.

External Resources

External Articles