REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP
OF THE
SUSTAINABLE TREE CROPS PROGRAMME

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES

The Sustainable Tree Crop Program (STCP) constitutes a coordinated effort made by industry, governments and research, development and conservation agencies to facilitate the improvement of smallholder agricultural systems based on tree crops in Africa. STCP addresses issues relevant to farmers, traders, manufacturers and policymakers. It is proactive, in that it brings together all of these stakeholders and enabling them to collaborate.

Program Overview

Fruit and nut tree crops offer significant opportunities for smallholders to generate income in Africa, and at present tree crop products account for a large proportion of the foreign exchange derived from agricultural trade. In addition, tree crop systems also play a critical role in increasing and sustaining biodiversity and the sound management of natural resources. Despite the actual and potential benefits derived from tree crop systems in Africa, inadequate attention has been given to their development. A comprehensive examination of the needs and options for a sustainable tree crop program was conducted over the past 18 months, including consultation with a broad range of stakeholders involved with tree crops. A consensus was reached that STCP should be implemented on a regional level with its goal being:

A common agenda for the development of sustainable cocoa, coffee and cashew tree crop systems in Africa was shaped at the Sustainable Tree Crop Development Forum in Washington D.C. in October 1999. Over 120 participants representing industry, farmer organizations, research institutions, trade organizations, commodity groups and organizations, governments, NGOs and international development agencies debated an extensive range of issues, encompassing potential technical, policy, institutional and financial constraints to the development of sustainable tree crop systems. It was agreed that co-operation and collaboration across the board was necessary, as the full range of issues that need attention is well beyond the manageable interests of a single organization or group, from either the public or private sector. The Forum increased awareness of: a) the range of ongoing efforts, b) the capacity that now exists, and is, or could be, focused on tree crop issues, and c) the commitment of various interest groups to concurrently improve the sustainable supply of quality tree crop products, improve the welfare of the smallholder farmers, and conserve biodiversity. It was agreed that the objectives of the STCP should be:

The Four Components of STCP

To address the Program objectives efficiently, a framework with four component areas has been adopted. These components are: a) Grower and Business Support Services, b) Research and Technology Transfer, c) Policy Change and Implementation, and d) Market and Information System Development. The general approach taken within each component is to build on the existing efforts and activities of relevant stakeholder groups, to add value to them, and to co-ordinate future collaborations. The goals and priority activities of the four components are listed below.

Grower and Business Support Services

Purpose: To provide smallholder farmers in the region with an integrated package of services which: increase their knowledge of crop production techniques and pest and disease control; improve their management of natural resources and the conservation of biodiversity; provide them with greater access to training, extension, finance, markets and information; and facilitate the formation of farmer-owned businesses.

Areas of Activity:
1. Farmer organization
2. Training and extension
3. Financing mechanisms

Research and Technology Transfer

Purpose: Through multi-institutional partnerships and in collaboration with farmers to provide farmers with the technology and skills required to:
1. Maintain increased productivity of high quality tree crop products, over the long term;
2. Make their product competitive in international markets;
3. Reduce risk through the diversification of tree crop systems; and
4. Sustainably use the natural resource base and conserve biodiversity while increasing productivity.

Areas of Activity:
1. Diagnosis of constraints and opportunities and impact of tree crop systems
2. Germplasm improvement and multiplication
3. Integrated pest and disease management
4. Rehabilitation of existing tree crop plantations
5. Establishment of tree crops on deforested land
6. Improved post-harvest management
7. Information and knowledge sharing
8. Technology dissemination and adoption

Policy Change and Implementation

Purpose: To improve access to and use of knowledge regarding approaches, tools, tradeoffs and payoffs for tree crop policy options and interventions, that help sector leaders and policy makers use resources efficiently, and guide development efforts.

Areas of Activity: (illustrative)
1. Regional public/private policy forum
2. Incentives for smallholder adoption of sustainable systems
3. Improving the economic efficiency of development resources.
4. Increasing smallholder economic benefits of environmental (carbon sequestration and biodiversity) elements of tree crop systems
5. Enhancing competition, promoting efficient trade and transparent rules and operating systems
6. Finance: Mechanisms and options to foster investment
7. Establish an environmental certification system to ensure environmental accountability

Market and Information System Development

Purpose: To develop with smallholder farmers strategies and activities that will:
1. Help farmers to make economic decisions about product quality;
2. Demonstrate the importance of and allow participation in the development of grades, standards and product certification;
3. Foster access to market, environmental and technical information; and
4. Allow farmers to learn how to develop and use tools to benefit from sustainable production and marketing strategies.

Areas of Activity:
1. Market segment development
2. Consensus building
3. Information technology use

Beneficiaries

The smallholder tree crop farmers are the primary beneficiaries of this program. They will experience a conducive production environment, have access to information and appropriate technologies, improve their management skills, participate in farmer businesses, and sustainably manage their natural resources and biodiversity. Extension agents will be trained in new approaches and technologies. Researchers and policymakers will become more efficient through regional collaboration, information exchange and capacity building. Traders will be dealing with organized farmer groups and be knowledgeable of industry quality requirements. The industry will benefit from direct access to organized farmer groups, researchers, and policy makers to ensure stable production and quality.

The Regional Implementation Workshop

The Regional Implementation Workshop was held, May 22 to 26, in Accra, Ghana. The workshop sponsors were Mars, Inc.; USAID; IITA; and the Ghana COCOBOD. The theme of the workshop was: "Sustainable Smallholder Tree Crop Systems: Bringing Environmental Considerations, Producers, Traders, Industry and Consumers Closer Together." The workshop included over 150 participants, with over 80 individuals from five focal countries in West and Central Africa. Participants included policymakers, producer and community group representatives, researchers, trade, industry, donors and those involved in the provision of services, e.g., agricultural extension, finance, product certification, information systems.

The Regional Implementation Workshop is a follow up on the STCP Forum, held in October 1999 in Washington, D.C. During the Forum, participants arrived at a broad-based consensus to move ahead with the implementation of the Sustainable Tree Crops Program. The five-day Regional Implementation Workshop was strategic from two perspectives. It brought together and consolidated the efforts (and perspectives) of implementing agents in five countries in West Africa who are engaged in work at the community, district, national and regional level in support of smallholder-based sustainable tree crop development. Second, it played a key role in mobilizing interest and resources to support the implementation of an integrated program for sustainable tree crop development.

In addition, industry-related consultations on the International Sustainable Cocoa Program have helped mobilize interest among a broad cross section of groups. These consultations have also helped bring to the forefront key linkages between environmental and poverty-alleviation objectives. Consultations in Panama, Trinidad, Paris, London have helped establish linkages with groups that have typically not worked together. The Regional Workshop has helped to bring these consultations to West Africa, which is the center of production for these commodities.

The objective of the Regional Implementation Workshop was: To review and validate an integrated action plan for STCP, that will enable a series of activities in grower and business support services, research and technology transfer, policy, and market system development to be initiated in West and Central Africa. In support of this objective, the Regional Implementation Workshop also addressed the following:

• Broadening awareness and mobilizing support in the global community, (including industry, donor, research and NGO groups) for the ongoing efforts, opportunities and challenges in West Africa, for smallholder-based sustainable tree crop development.
• Broadening the awareness within West Africa of the ongoing efforts, and strengthening linkages among implementing agents across countries and across areas of interest.
• Providing an environment where potentially fruitful future partnerships may be created.
• Providing information on the process for establishing the long-term management and development of STCP, including next steps for coordination and establishing a competitive funding mechanism to allocate future resources.
  

The activities being proposed for STCP support were reviewed by a broad set of interest groups and experts in the subject matter being addressed in the activities. It is planned that the activities approved will be implemented over a 12-month time horizon, generally building on existing projects.

Workshop Outcome

Coming out of the workshop, there was clarity as to:

• Specific activities to be sponsored by the program in the first year;
• Funding and resources made available to implement the activities;
• Responsibilities for implementing the activities;
• Operating procedures, including financial and performance reports; and
• Next steps.
  
  

1. An Interim Steering Committee was established. Included in the Steering Committee are workgroup chairs, country network representatives and cocoa industry representatives. The Interim Steering Committee is challenged to: (1) establish a process to install the STCP steering committee, (2) provide guidelines for the operationalization of STCP, (3) provide oversight of programs and administration, and (4) solicit funds to support STCP programs.

   The Interim Steering Committee addressed four issues during its meeting at the workshop: (1) reviewed and approved of workgroup proposals; (2) approved of program budget; (3) reviewed of STCP program coordination and year one implementation plan.

   The Interim Steering Committee has three major tasks to complete in the coming months. The Steering Committee will: (1) formulate a competitive funding mechanism to allow workgroups to apply directly for funding, (2) establish and circulate guidelines for funding and (3) establish a process to install the STCP Steering Committee.

2. Workgroup proposals were approved. From among the 25 proposed activities submitted by the workgroups (request $1.35 million), 15 were approved for funding (totaling $730,000). Grower and Business Support Services are receiving 45 percent of the program funds (i.e., $325,000). Research and Technology Transfer, Market and Information Systems and Policy are receiving $200,000, $70,000 and $30,000, respectively.

   The committee developed general principles that guide the portfolio of projects approved. The principles include: (1) activities must improve welfare of the smallholder and (2) they must promote cross component linkages. In fact, many approved activities build on ongoing activities (quality and promotion), leverage participation and resources (policy forum) and are cross cutting (e.g., Tree Crops Supply Chain Information System) and applicable to all components of the program.

3. A Year One Work Plan was established. A regional coordination unit will be established at the Humid Forest Ecoregional Center of IITA over the coming months and staffed by a coordinator. The coordinator will begin service the first half of September 2000. The coordination unit will participate in regional consultations, strategic planning and bridging communications between the Steering Committee and national networks.

   After workgroup activity descriptions are finalized and principle institutions have signed contracts with IITA, disbursements of funds will start in July 2000. IITA will provide national networks with details for management, and performance and financial reporting. Interim Steering Committee country visits will begin in November.