10 – 16 June 2007
Sandton Convention Centre
Sandton City, Johannesburg
South Africa
Third Announcement
Theme
Promoting the productivity and competitiveness of
African agriculture in a global economy
Subthemes
1. Identifying and exploiting Africa's competitive advantages in agricultural production, agri-business and related industries;
2. Developing Africa's capacity for agricultural commerce and innovation
3. Learning from past success of research in influencing agricultural policies
4. The status of the 5 requirements for turning Africa's agriculture around
5. Positioning agricultural research institutions to be fully effective
6. Learning lessons from responding to risks and disasters
7. Africa's capacity to build human and institutional capacity for the agricultural industry
8. Mobilizing civil society for agricultural development
9. Peri-urban agriculture
10. Capturing indigenous knowledge for development while respecting intellectual property rights, ethical and moral integrity and biosafety
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs of South Africa will co-host the fourth (4th) General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and FARA. The General Assembly will draw together representatives of FARA's constituents from all African and non-African institutions involved in African agricultural research and development such as the Sub-Regional Organizations (SROs) (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, SADC/FANR and Northern Africa - AARINENA), the agricultural research institutions, universities, NGOs and private enterprises that comprise the national agricultural research systems (NARS) , non-African partner research institutions (PRIs), the international agricultural research centers (IARCs), international NGOs, policy makers, private sector, farmers’ organizations and Africa's development partners.
For more detailed information go to www.faraweek.org.
Objectives
• To hold the 4th African Agricultural Science Week and the 4th biennial FARA General Assembly.
• To provide a forum where FARA's constituents can meet to review progress since the 3rd biennial General Assembly in June 2005 and, based on lessons learnt since then, determine the African regional agenda for agricultural research for development for the next biennium.
• Within the African Agricultural Scientific Week, to hold a South Africa Agricultural Science day at which agricultural innovations will be exhibited to raise awareness amongst participants and the public about the relevance and impact of agricultural research in alleviating poverty, promoting food security and protecting the environment.
Expected Outputs
• Increased knowledge of the problems, opportunities and successes in African agricultural research and development
• Greater awareness of the roles and contributions of different stakeholders and enhanced networking and interaction between them
• Greater appreciation amongst the participants and the public of the important contributions of agricultural research for development in Africa, especially in South Africa
• Endorsement of FARA’s program for the next two years
• Election of new FARA Executive Committee members including Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
Date and Venue
The General Assembly will be held from the 10th – 16th June, 2007 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton city, Johannesburg, South Africa
Invitations
Participants requiring invitations to acquire visa or official mission orders from their institutions can be issued by the FARA Secretariat and the South African Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs. Interested Parties should contact:
FARA Secretariat
PMB CT 173, Accra, Ghana
Tel: 233-21-772823; Fax: 233-21-773676
Email:
Registration is ongoing at www.faraweek.org for;
o individual participants
o side-events
o exhibits
o field visits
Online registration is now open up to 25 May 2007.
All participants are required to confirm registration at the conference desk upon arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa. Registration fee should then be paid following the category below;
o African nationals based in Africa i.e. NARS = US$50
o International research institutions based in Africa i.e. CGIAR = US$100
o Advanced international institutions based outside Africa = US$120
Badges will then be issued that will allow entry to conference hall, exhibit area and other meeting rooms.
Visa
South African visas are issued at South African High Commissions and Embassies, located in most countries. Entry permits or visa upon arrival can only be issued to visitors from certain countries, as listed at http://www.safrica.info/public_services/foreigners/travel_requirements/921809.htm.
Hotel Accommodation
FARA together with the local organizing committee negotiated with several hotels close to the conference center. The rates are as shown below:
Intercontinental Sandton Sun & Towers / Rate in South African rands(Bed & Breakfast) / No of rooms Available
Single Superior Room per night per person / 1284.00 / 71
Double Superior Room / 1410.00
Single African Premium Room / 1530.00 / 76
Double African Premium Room / 1660.00
Sandton Towers / 103
Single Deluxe room / 1821.00
Double Duluxe room / 1971.00
Southern Sun (Crown Plaza)
Single Rooms / 995.00 / 100
Hilton Hotel
Single Rooms / 1280.00 / 150
Courtyard All Suite
Single Rooms / 825.00 / 35
Protea Balalaika Hotel / 40
Single Rooms / 875.00
Micheangelo Hotel
Single Rooms / 1850.00 / 30
Garden Court Sandton City (cnr West & Maude street)
Single rooms / 870.00 / 200
Twin Rooms / 1135.00 / 50
Note that all hotel rates quoted above are subject to change
Tentative program
Sub-Thematic side-events
Registration is ongoing. Acceptance depends on relevance to selected themes and availability of meeting rooms. (List of side-events will be posted as soon as the registration for side-events is closed on 01 May 2007).
12 June 2007 (Tuesday)South Africa Day
South African agricultural exhibits and field visits
13 June 2007 (Wednesday)Opening Ceremony (09:00-12:00)
Chairman: H.E. Thabo Mbeki
Cultural presentationWelcome address by SADC Executive Secretary, Tomaz Augusto Salomao
Introduction of FARA by FARA Chairperson
African Development Bank initiatives on agricultural research, Zeinab El Bakri
Introduction of the South African President by the Minister of Agriculture
Presidential address from South Africa
Tea break and Official photo with Heads of States and Delegates
Keynote address: Rosebud Kurwijila, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and agriculture
FARA Update: from Entebbe to Johannesburg (13:00-16:00)
FARA Secretariat progress reportSRO progress report (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD, SADC-FANR, North Africa)
The civil society group (NGO, Private sector, Farmer’s organization)
Scientific partners
Investors
GFAR and Regional fora sharing of experiences and inter-regional collaboration
14 June 2007 (Thursday)
Thematic plenary meeting
Theme 1: Identifying and exploiting Africa's competitive advantages in agricultural production, agri-business and related industries
Chairman: John Lynam, Kilimo Trust, Uganda
Facilitator: Jocye Cacho, AVU
Keynote speaker: Ms Bongiwe Njobe, Corporate Affairs Director: SAB Miller
Respondents: Peter Dzvimbo AVU [Yet to confirm]; Oumar Niangado, Syngenta Foundation, Mali
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Theme 2: Developing Africa's capacity for agricultural commerce and innovation
Chairman: Uzo Mokwunye
Facilitator: Seyfu Ketema, ASARECA
Keynote speaker: Banji Oyeyinka, UNU-Intech
Respondents: Chuks Ogbonnaya, Abia State University, Nigeria; Prof Mandi Rukuni, W.K. Kellogs Foundation
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Theme 3: Learning from past success of research in influencing agricultural policies
Chairman: Dr Phil Mjwara, Director General: Department of Science and Technology
Facilitator: Michael Waithaka, ECAPAPA
Keynote speaker: Lindiwe Majele Sibanda FANRPAN
Respondents: Steve Staal, ILRI ; Isaac Minde, ICRISAT; Wilfred Mwangi, CIMMYT
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Theme 4: The status of the 5 requirements for turning Africa's agriculture around
Chairman/Facilitator: Njabulo Nduli , FARA/DoA
Keynote speaker: Monty Jones, FARA
Respondents: Edson Mpyisi, AU; Papa Abdoulaye Seck, WARDA
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
15 June 2007 (Friday)
Thematic plenary meeting
Subtheme 5: Positioning agricultural research institutions to be fully effective
Chairman: Francis Asiedu, CARDI
Facilitator: Paco Sereme, CORAF
Keynote speaker: Prof Frans Swanpoel, University of the Free State, South Africa
Respondents: Emannuel Owusu-Bennoah, CSIR, Ghana; Jean Daniel Ngou Ngoupayou, IRAD, Cameroon; Hamid Narjisse, North Africa Rep
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Subtheme 6: Learning lessons from responding to risks and disasters
Chairman: Simeon Ehui, World Bank
Facilitator: Margaret Nyirenda, SADC
Keynote speaker: Modibo Traoré, Director AU-IBAR on HPAI and other zoonotic threats
Respondents: Ousmane Badiane, IFPRI-NEPAD; Dr Linda Makuleni, The Managing Director: Onderstepoort Biological Products
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Subtheme 7: Africa's capacity to build human and institutional capacity for the agricultural industry
Chairman: Onesmo Ole MoiYoi, JKUAT
Facilitator: Adipala Ekwamu, RUFORUM
Keynote speaker: Prof. Anthony Youdeowei
Respondents: August Temu, ANAFE; Calestus Juma, Harvard [yet to be confirmed]
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Subtheme 8: Mobilizing civil society for agricultural development
Chairman: Cyril Enweze, Vice President of IFAD
Facilitator: Dr Mukhwana, SSA NGO Corsortium
Keynote speaker: Ms Monica Kapiriri, Kampala
Respondents: Thomas Eponou; Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Gender & Civil Society Org; Adnan Gibriel, North Africa
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Subtheme 9: Peri-urban agriculture
Chairman: Hubert Ouedraogo. LandNet
Facilitator: Esther Mwangi, IFPRI
Keynote speaker: John Pender, IFPRI
Respondents: Patricia Kameri-Mbote, University of Nairobi; Adama, Traore, Mali
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
Subtheme 10: Capturing indigenous knowledge for development while respecting intellectual property rights, ethical and moral integrity and biosafety
Chairman: Glyvyns Chinkhuntha, Malawi smallholder farmer organization
Facilitator: Malose Kekana, Umsobomvu Youth Fund CEO
Keynote speaker: Prof. Ruth Oniang’o
Respondents: Kazhila Chinsembu, University of Namibia; Chris Reij, Freij University
Amsterdam; Maikut Chebet
Report from side-events
Summary of discussions by the Facilitator
16 June 2007 (Saturday)
Business meeting (09:00 – 14:00)
Chairperson: Ms. Njabulo Nduli
Facilitator: Dr. Denis Kyetere
Presentation of Plenary recommendationsReview & Endorsement of recommendation from JEE and EPMR
Review and endorsement of FARA;
o Strategy
o Five-year Implementation Framework
o 3 year rolling work program & business plan
Nominations and Election of new Executive committee members i.e. Chairperson, vice-Chairperson, etc.
Statements from the Development partners; SROs; RECs; AU/NEPAD
Closing remarks, FARA Chairperson (2007-2009)