AATF Inaugural Report - African Agricultural Technology Foundation

A New Bridge to Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa
Launching AATF
The formal launch of AATF took place at the
Foundation’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on
16th June 2004. The following are a selection of
quotes from presentations made that day.
Sir Gordon Conway
Former President
(Rockefeller
Foundation)
“AATF is an acknowledgement
that improvements
in African agricultural
productivity are not likely to be made in American
or European labs – nor should they be – but in
applied settings, most likely by African scientists
drawing upon the best of the world’s expertise in
real world situations.
There is no magic solution that will solve
Africa’s complex agricultural challenges, but
the problem is so big that Africans should have
the right to consider every possible tool at their
disposal.
[But]…we must examine the current system
and ask ourselves, ‘How can those who care
about the fate of the small-scale farmer make
technological options more available?’ The rise of
a sophisticated global intellectual property system
covering many building block technologies has
meant public researchers [in Africa] have little
access to new ideas and tools in their field. Left
to its own devices, the gap is likely to grow – with
wealthy nations’ farmers using techniques that are
ever more sophisticated and poor farmers left with
the same tools they have used for centuries.”
Hon. Kipruto arap Kirwa
MP (Minister for
Agriculture, Kenya)
“The role of agriculture
in the overall economic
development of Kenya
and indeed sub-Saharan
Africa cannot be over-emphasised. Reforms
in agricultural practices to boost production
are, therefore, central to economic progress in
many of our countries. The poverty situation
in sub-Saharan Africa and the dependence on
agriculture by the majority of our people is
reason enough to give this sector all the support
necessary.
My ministry is charged with the responsibility
of ensuring that we have the necessary
mechanisms to encourage the application of
new approaches in science and technology;
either developed here or acquired from elsewhere.
AATF is a well thought out initiative
whose aims and goals address the African farmers’
problems from an African perspective.
I am encouraged by the fact that AATF
recognises the various players in agriculture,
both public and private, respecting their
contributions and good practices. I note that
the Foundation will seek to engage these
sectors in partnerships and collaboration that
will ensure delivery of products to farmers at
affordable costs and in the most effective manner.
This kind of cooperative effort in development…motivates
further support of donors and
partners.”
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