Day One – Thursday November 8th, 2012
Opening Session
- Introduction
Xinshen Diao - Welcome and overview
Shashi Kolavalli - Vision and strategies
Hon. Ernest Debrah
Session 1: What does transformation mean?
Our first session began with this central question and theme of the conference, with two perspectives emerging from the debate. Firstly, understanding the nature of economic transformation is crucial in order to determine whether it is growth-inducing, or growth-reducing, especially with rapid urbanization in Ghana creating new challenges and opportunities for agriculture and the wider economy. Secondly, the key question is how to transform agriculture itself. Full Summary
Chair: Hon. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan Panel: Margaret McMillan, Xinshen Diao, Alejandro Nin Pratt, Ramatu Al-Hassan
Discussion Notes and Papers
- Economic Transformation in Africa by Margaret MacMillan and Dani Rodrik
Discussion Note | Full Paper - Economic Transformation in Ghana: Where Will the Path Lead? by Shashi Kolavalli, Elizabeth Robinson, Xinshen Diao, Vida Alpuerto, Renato Folledo, Mira Slavova, Guyslain Ngeleza, and Felix Asante
Discussion Note | Full Paper - Green Revolution in Ghana: Looking for the Key under the Lamp Post by Alejandro Nin-Pratt and Linden McBride
Discussion Note
Session 2: Are African governments serious about agriculture?
Our second session focused on emerging cooperation and collaboration between African governments and other actors in the agricultural sector. Following the creation of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP), many governments seem to be reenergized about the agricultural sector. While there is new enthusiasm around the prospects for an African green revolution, the process has not necessarily improved the level of public investment or investment plan development. Full Summary
Chair: David Atwood
Panel: Sam Benin, Regina Birner, Mawuli Gaddah, Janine Cocker
Discussion Notes and Papers
- Are African Governments Serious About Agriculture? by Samuel Benin
Discussion Note - The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme as a Collective Institution by Shashidhara Kolavalli and Regina Birner
Discussion Note - Understanding the Real Budget Process: The Case of Ghana by Michael Johnson
Discussion Note - Political Economy and Donor Responses to CAADP by David Atwood
Discussion Note
Session 3: Productivity challenges
Having determined that transformation within agriculture, through productivity growth, is a priority, we addressed issues surrounding the supply and adoption of key inputs which will increase yields or increase profits from agriculture. Discussion considered sector and crop level productivity growth, the successful case study of the Kpong Rice Irrigation System, and the effectiveness of Farmer-based Organizations. Full Summary
Chair: Olaf Kula
Panel: Alejandro Nin Pratt, Hiro Takeshima, Rebecca Funk, James Kombiok, Mathew Armah
Discussion Notes and Papers
- Curb Your Enthusiasm: Agricultural Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa by Alejandro Nin-Pratt, Michael Johnson and Bingxin Yu
Discussion Note | Full Paper - Performance of farmer-based organizations in Ghana by Adam Salifu, Rebecca Lee Funk, Meagan Keefe, and Shashi Kolavalli
Discussion Note | Full Paper - Dynamics of Transformation: Insights from Rice Farming in Kpong Irrigation System (KIS) by Hiroyuki Takeshima, Kipo Jimah, Shashidhara Kolavalli, and Xinshen Diao
Discussion Note
Session 4: Seeds, draft animals and machines
Continuing the discussion of increasing agricultural productivity, we turned our focus to the potential of mechanization and the impact of seed policy reform for sustained improvement in agricultural production. Full Summary
Chair: Ramatu Al-Hassan
Panel: Robert Tripp, Xinshen Diao, Nazaire Houssou, Ben Kemetse, Alabi Bortey
Discussion Notes and Papers
- Policy Priorities to Support Ghana’s Commercial Seed Sector Development by Robert Tripp and Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu
Discussion Note - Mechanization in Ghana: Seaching for Sustainable Service Supply Models by Xinshen Diao, Frances Cossar, Nazaire Houssou, Shashidhara Kolavalli, Kipo Jimah, and Patrick Aboagye
Discussion Note - Is Specialization in Agricultural Mechanization a Viable Business Model? The Case of Ghana by Nazaire Houssou, Xinshen Diao, Frances Cossar, Shashidhara Kolavalli, Kipo Jimah and Patrick Aboagye
Discussion Note - Animal Traction in Ghana by Nazaire Houssou and Shashidhara Kolavalli
Discussion Note
Session 5: Property rights and market institutions
For farmers to make investments in improving productivity through use of modern inputs, upgrading infrastructure or knowledge improvement, reducing risk and uncertainty of farm profits is critical. In this session, we discussed several market institutions which play a key role in reducing uncertainty for farm incomes as well as providing coping strategies for farming households when negative shocks occur. Full Summary
Chair: Derek Byerlee
Panel: Hosaena Hagos, Marcella Vigneri, Nick Minot, Philip Amara
- Land Policy and Governance Reforms and Agricultural Transformation by Hosaena G. Hagos
Discussion Note - New Developments in Financial Risk Management Tools for Farmers by Peter B. R. Hazell
Discussion Note | Full Paper - Price Setting in the Cocoa Sector by Shashi Kolavalli, Marcella Vigneri, Haruna Maamah, and John Poku
Discussion Note - Impact of food price increases on household welfare in Ghana by Nicholas Minot and Reno Dewina
Discussion Note