Ten African countries and their G8 New Alliance commitments
Some of the 200-plus commitments made after agribusinesses were granted unprecedented access to decision-makers
Claire Provost theguardian.com, Tuesday 18 February 2014 05.01 EST
A worker tends to a paddy field on the Saudi Star rice farm in Gambella, Ethiopia. Photograph: Jenny Vaughan/AFP/Getty Images
The pledges made by 10 African countries in their New Alliance co-operation frameworks include changes to laws and regulations that make it easier for companies to do business by easing export controls and tax regimes, and by ringfencing huge chunks of land for investment.
Benin
Benin promised to change tax, legal and regulatory provisions to encourage and favour investment in agriculture by December 2014. It said it would also revise its investment code to create a more favourable environment for investors. Unlike many other countries involved in the New Alliance, Benin included explicit, albeit vague, commitments to gender equality in its co-operation framework.
Benin promised to change tax, legal and regulatory provisions to encourage and favour investment in agriculture by December 2014. It said it would also revise its investment code to create a more favourable environment for investors. Unlike many other countries involved in the New Alliance, Benin included explicit, albeit vague, commitments to gender equality in its co-operation framework.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso committed to helping private sector companies invest in fertiliser. It also said it would improve customs procedures and review its seed law. The government further promised to adopt and implement a national food security policy.
Burkina Faso committed to helping private sector companies invest in fertiliser. It also said it would improve customs procedures and review its seed law. The government further promised to adopt and implement a national food security policy.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia said it would refine its policies on agrochemical imports and revisit its land law to encourage long-term land leasing. It also pledged to ratify a new seed law and implement policies to secure ownership and trade rights for commercial farms. The government said it would encourage international seed companies to operate in the country and revisit regulations to "stimulate private sector engagement in livestock production".
Ethiopia said it would refine its policies on agrochemical imports and revisit its land law to encourage long-term land leasing. It also pledged to ratify a new seed law and implement policies to secure ownership and trade rights for commercial farms. The government said it would encourage international seed companies to operate in the country and revisit regulations to "stimulate private sector engagement in livestock production".
Ghana
Ghana promised to appoint representatives of private sector investors in key grains to a ministry of food and agriculture committee. It also said it would change its seed law and, by the end of 2015, identify 10,000 hectares of land for private investors.
Ghana promised to appoint representatives of private sector investors in key grains to a ministry of food and agriculture committee. It also said it would change its seed law and, by the end of 2015, identify 10,000 hectares of land for private investors.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast said it would strengthen services to assist and support investors and develop an action plan to combat products and trademark fraud which threatens the agropharmaceutical industry. It also pledged to change its seed law by the end of 2014. Unlike many other countries involved in the New Alliance, Ivory Coast's co-operation framework includes a few explicit commitments on nutrition. It says it will strengthen regulations and laws on biofortification and food hygiene, and draft laws on the marketing of breast milk substitutes.
Ivory Coast said it would strengthen services to assist and support investors and develop an action plan to combat products and trademark fraud which threatens the agropharmaceutical industry. It also pledged to change its seed law by the end of 2014. Unlike many other countries involved in the New Alliance, Ivory Coast's co-operation framework includes a few explicit commitments on nutrition. It says it will strengthen regulations and laws on biofortification and food hygiene, and draft laws on the marketing of breast milk substitutes.
Malawi
Malawi said it would set aside 200,000 hectares of land for large scale commercial agriculture by 2015. It also pledged to end export bans on crops other than maize and set up a one-stop shop to promote and attract investment and assist investors. The government said it would fast-track new agriculture, irrigation, industry and trade policies by January 2014, and review tax regimes to "maximise incentives to investment" in areas identified by its national export strategy by the end of 2016.
Malawi said it would set aside 200,000 hectares of land for large scale commercial agriculture by 2015. It also pledged to end export bans on crops other than maize and set up a one-stop shop to promote and attract investment and assist investors. The government said it would fast-track new agriculture, irrigation, industry and trade policies by January 2014, and review tax regimes to "maximise incentives to investment" in areas identified by its national export strategy by the end of 2016.
Mozambique
Mozambique said it would revise its seed law and stop the distribution of free and "unimproved" seeds except in emergencies. It pledged to implement new regulations to promote private sector investment in seed production and adopt procedures so that land rights could be obtained faster and at lower costs.
Mozambique said it would revise its seed law and stop the distribution of free and "unimproved" seeds except in emergencies. It pledged to implement new regulations to promote private sector investment in seed production and adopt procedures so that land rights could be obtained faster and at lower costs.
Nigeria
Nigeria pledged to complete the privatisation of power companies and pass a new seed law that reflects the role of the private sector in the development, multiplication and marketing of seeds. The government also promised to liberalise the country's agricultural insurance market by the end of 2014 to allow private sector companies to participate. On nutrition, it said it would develop a fully costed plan and update its national policy. Nigeria said it would provide funding to expand school feeding programmes, with 25% of produce purchased from local farmers.
Nigeria pledged to complete the privatisation of power companies and pass a new seed law that reflects the role of the private sector in the development, multiplication and marketing of seeds. The government also promised to liberalise the country's agricultural insurance market by the end of 2014 to allow private sector companies to participate. On nutrition, it said it would develop a fully costed plan and update its national policy. Nigeria said it would provide funding to expand school feeding programmes, with 25% of produce purchased from local farmers.
Senegal
Senegal's commitments are particularly broad and open to interpretation. It said that it would "implement tax incentives for agricultural investment" by late 2013 but did not specify what the incentives would be. It also said it would "update and implement" its policies on nutrition and the feeding of infants and young children in 2016.
Senegal's commitments are particularly broad and open to interpretation. It said that it would "implement tax incentives for agricultural investment" by late 2013 but did not specify what the incentives would be. It also said it would "update and implement" its policies on nutrition and the feeding of infants and young children in 2016.
Tanzania
The Tanzanian government pledged to reduce or lift taxes on farm machinery and equipment, crops, seeds and seed packaging. It also made commitments to facilitate imports of seeds and agrochemicals from outside the region.
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/18/10-african-countries-g8-new-alliance-commitments
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/18/10-african-countries-g8-new-alliance-commitments
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