New Hope for Sustainable Agriculture in Africa

by Ajala Olayinka, 2 June 2009

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) organized a reception for the IDS students currently on a study trip to China. Attendees included Adrian Davies, head of DFID north and East Asia, Prof. Monty Jones, Executive Director of forum for Agricultural research in Africa (2004 World food prize Laureate), David Dollar ( Country Director and Chief of mission, World bank), Prof. Richard Mkandawire (Head of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme, NEPAD), Dr Wu Zhong (Director General- International poverty reduction center in China), directors from the ministry of Agriculture China, the Ambassadors of Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, representatives from the Embassy of the United States of America as well as head of NGOs and top Chinese Scholars.

DFID, in conjunction with the British Government, the Chinese government as well as leaders of the Africa, are currently holding consultations in China on the need for agricultural development in Africa. The meetings, which started on Monday 1 June, will run for a week. Focusing on the decline in Agricultural productivity in Africa and suggesting ways to tackle the problems, the experts from Africa will be proposing new strategies to tackle the challenges faced by agriculture in Africa and hope to get the full support of the British and Chinese governments. The reception was really interesting and presented an opportunity for IDS students to learn from various development leaders and academic scholars.

Earlier in the day we were at Peking University where IDS students met with students and lecturers of the School of Government. Peking University is one of the best universities in China and the School of Government was created in 2001. Students from IDS and Peking University had a heated debate on approaches to development as well as on issues relating to China in Nigeria. After the session Prof. Song Lei, a leading scholar at the university, said he was delighted to have the IDS team around. He stated that it would have been better if it was a week long exchange programme and suggested that IDS and the University should work towards this. It was really a splendid time at the university as the students treated IDS students to a lunch and then took us round the university which is full of traditional Chinese architecture and indigenous designs.

The road networks are really amazing, all the buildings are really huge and beautifully constructed and I was told that most of them were constructed in the last five years; nobody can really predict how Beijing will look like in the next five years as there are still lots of structures under construction. Although the Chinese contractors and workers pay little attention to safety standards with no protective boots, helmet or reflector jackets worn, they are really determined to make Beijing the most beautiful place in the world.

With Lisa counting us every 10 minutes in order to make sure that none of us is lost or stolen and with every meal coming as buffet, it appears that we are in for a really memorable time in China.

Image: IDS students with staff and students from Peking University, IDS students with David Dollar, IDS students with students from Peking University