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Video Conference Briefing for Parliamentarians on the Key Findings for Africa of the WDR 08 Agriculture for Development - February 21, 2008
On February 21, the CGIAR and the World Bank Parliamentary Unit (EXTEU) in collaboration with the Parliamentarian Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) and the WDR 08 Team at the World Bank organized a Video Conference on the main findings of the WDR 08 with parliamentarians from North and South countries. Representatives from 7 countries were connected for the discussion: Ethiopia (5 MPs), France (1), Germany (2), Nigeria (1), South Africa (3), Uganda (3), USA (1).
The Chairperson of the PNoWB, Ms Betty McCollum, US Congresswoman chaired the
session, Ren Wang (CGIAR Director) gave introductory remarks on the CGIAR, and Derek Byerlee (World Bank)
presented the key findings on the WDR 08. Jean-Christophe Bas from PNoWB in
Paris moderated the discussion.
The 16 Parliamentarians, which are mainly part of national agricultural
committees, showed great interest in the issue of agriculture development and
research. The main issues raised were on :
- trade, subsidies and access to world markets;
- public investment and subsidies;
- balancing use and exploitation of natural resources with conservation agendas;
- why Africa's agriculture sector is not more developed;
- how to align donor and country research priorities;
- state control over liberalization policies;
- rural development;
- GMOs;
- biofuels;
- population growth; and
- high value export crops.
Parliamentarians were very engaged in the discussion, and their input highlighted those issues that are central in their countries and need answers to. This VC is among the different steps the CGIAR and PNoWB are following in order to build an Agricultural Chapter within the PNoWB to advocate the importance of agriculture and agricultural research among parliamentarians.
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