Looking Forward: Role of AKST in Meeting Development and Sustainability Goals | 147

  • by adequate investments and projects, and on using unconventional water resources. Measures for managing economic demand may help finance investments and incentives required to promote innovation and reduce risks related to the development of pertinent technologies and projects.
  • Developing or adapting and then enforcing policies related to water quality. This might require investments in monitoring infrastructure and capacity development.
  • Collaborating across boundaries to address common problems and appropriate strategies to reduce water shortages through improving the management of water resources. This might require amendments to judicial systems to deal with water disputes and conflicts.

5.2.4.3 Management of genetic resources and biodiversity

Principal policy instruments for conserving and managing biodiversity are land-use planning and zoning, such as establishing protected areas. Modern technologies such as GIS may greatly facilitate adequate land-use planning. Considering international incentives such as the Kyoto FlexMex mechanisms (e.g., the Clean Development Mechanism may encourage land-use planning that conserves biodiversity. Protection of biodiversity may be linked with adapted land-use opportunities to find solutions acceptable to various stakeholders. Practices in ecoagriculture such as agroforestry, compensation areas and biodiversity-enhancing landscape elements may considerably contribute to biodiversity conservation. Direct payments for functions to conserve and maintain the ecosystem such as biodiversity conservation may encourage farmers to adopt such practices; in some industrialized countries (e.g., Switzerland) direct payments are linked to ecologically friendly land use and management. However, adoption of practices conserving biodiversity is generally dependent on secure land tenure or use rights (e.g., for improved rangeland management. Implementing NBSAPs developed through CBD may facilitate biodiversity conservation as well as make use of this treasure in CWANA. With regard to aquatic resources, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries serves as an important tool for conserving aquatic biodiversity.

Invasive alien species are a considerable threat to biodiversity and can disturb both agricultural and natural systems devastatingly. Besides policies regulating the importation of living plants and plant material, legislation has to cover aspects such as responsible aquaculture, trafficking of unprocessed wood and use of ballast water.

Furthermore, appropriate biosafety regulations need to be included in country-led sustainable development strategies to face the potentials and challenges related to biotechnology. Policy analysis and development should consider risk assessment, capacity building in research and regulatory systems, and communication and public outreach. Policies should guide research for the poor (e.g., by protecting their intellectual property rights), protect against potential health risks, address possible ecological risks, and regulate the private sector (Pinstrup-Andersen, 1999).

5.2.4.4 Markets and trade

As the markets in which agricultural products compete are changing rapidly, measures to increase output must be

 

accompanied by measures that improve the ability to compete in these markets. The objective should be to add more value rather than produce more, by providing appropriate framework conditions for reorienting and improving production and processing. Only if market organization in CWANA countries is improved will stakeholders in agricultural value chains fully capitalize on increased agricultural production.

  • Adequate input and output pricing policies are key for enhancing agricultural production while conserving the natural environment. Price stability is extremely important so that farmers can invest and innovate rather than be defensively risk averse. Using targeted subsidies and direct payments (e.g., providing environmental services through agriculture) in the framework of coherent market policies may still be envisaged to promote innovation and more market-oriented production.
  • Producers, processors and traders need access to credits, markets (to close the gap between rural areas and urban centers) and reliable market information, particularly in view of more diversified and market-oriented production. This may enable them to identify and introduce a portfolio of agricultural products that corresponds to
    consumer demand in major domestic and export markets. Developed public market information services can strengthen the position of various stakeholders in the market chain by providing regular information daily or weekly by newsletter, radio, television or mobile phone on product prices in major regional markets. Adaptation to information policies may be required to let value-chain
    stakeholders capitalize on relevant information available.
  • Appropriate technologies and infrastructure are required for well-functioning value chains. Processing facilities at different levels may substantially reduce postharvest losses, and together with the development of agribusiness provide additional income along the value chain, particularly if diversified production (with more focus on nonstaples) targets newly emerging market opportunities (organic products, supermarkets, etc.). Abandoning state interference and policies encouraging investments by the private sector will encourage a shift toward market-oriented agriculture. Strengthened links between research, extension and farmers, possibly by including the private sector, may help implement the required technologies and infrastructure.
  • Introducing modern, low-cost farm management systems to improve yields and product quality requires adequate policies. Regulations and procedures associated with seed testing and certification may have to be modernized, and restrictions on the import and use of high-performing seed varieties from other countries relaxed. Vertical integration and professional value-chain management facilitate quality and safety management at the relevant levels and allow complying with newly emerging standards. Investments in infrastructure and pertinent legislation (e.g., appropriate food safety and biosafety procedures and regulation, revision and modernization of product standards) may be required to improve postharvest management and assure quality control to comply with international standards.
  • Import and export policies and trade arrangements have to provide an enabling framework for well-functioning