Crafting smallholder-driven agricultural research systems in Southern Africa

Abstract

The National Agricultural Research Systems (NARSs) in sub-Saharan Africa have made enormous progress over the past four decades in replacing European with African scientists, increasing the number of scientists and shifting priorities from export to food crops. Nevertheless, most NARSs are having difficulty in producing a steady stream of new technologies for small-scale farms and in generating adequate financial support from their government. Zimbabwe and Malawi are among the first countries in Africa to mount indigenousled reforms of their NARSs. This paper documents the steps taken by the Agricultural Research Council of Zimbabwe to generate a consensus among scientists, farmers and policy makers to reform the National Agricultural Research System by increasing the voice of smallholders and other stakeholders in setting research priorities, making scientists more accountable to smallholders and generating new sources of financial support from user fees and taxes on commodities. Malawi is pursuing a commodity approach to revitalizing its NARSs. The experience of both Zimbabwe and Malawi has shown that there is no blueprint for reforming NARSs in Africa. Donors can assist the reform process by supporting local initiatives to craft smallholder-driven research systems that are staffed with accountable scientists who are adequately financed from local sources.