AAAE Inaugural Symposium 6-8 December 2004, Nairobi, Kenya

Background and Goals of the Symposium

 The African Association of Agricultural Economists was initiated in Durban, South Africa, during the 25th International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) conference. During a special African session, a draft constitution for the Association prepared by an ad-hoc committee formed during the 24th IAAE Berlin 2000 conference was presented. Participants re-affirmed the need for a continent-wide association and approved the association’s name. An interim committee was formed to develop the constitution further and organize the official launch of the association. The committee made a call for papers during the third quarter of 2004. The response was overwhelming, with the over 120 abstract submissions received. This enabled the committee to organize this three-day inaugural symposium for its potential members and other social scientists during 6-8 December 2004, in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting brings together over 80 representatives from African universities, research and development institutions, business and the public sector. Participants have been invited from 24 countries both in Europe and Africa.

The objective of the symposium is to mobilize agricultural economists and other social scientists throughout the continent by increasing their knowledge of other nations' challenges, promote mutual understanding and goodwill. Several scientists will make presentations on six themes of interest to the association. The meeting will also facilitate the launching of an African-wide network of Agricultural Economists and others concerned with agricultural economic problems. The theme of the symposium is “Shaping the Future of African Agriculture for Development: The Role of Social Scientists”. The presentations and discussions will cover the following six sub-themes:

1. Advancing technical change in African agriculture: Public policy issues and strategic choices

2. Improved markets for African farmers

3. Meeting Africa’s food and nutrition challenges

4. Agriculture, environment and sustainable development

5. The role of agriculture in the development process: Recent experiences from Africa

6. Expanding the frontiers of agricultural economics to meet the future challenges of agricultural development

 The committee would like to thank all those who have expressed interest in the new association, submitted abstracts and will be making presentations or undertake varied roles during the meeting. All submitted abstracts were rigorously reviewed and ranked by an international panel of distinguished scientists. The top ranked four abstracts from each theme were automatically selected. The rest of the abstracts were selected taking into consideration the balance in regional, country and gender distribution. The symposium will be conducted through plenary presentations and panel discussions, and a field tour of the biotechnology facilities of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute is planned. Several participants were invited to present exhibits and posters in order to enhance interaction and exchange of information. A symposium CD and proceedings will be prepared and distributed to participants and various research and development institutions. This meeting will set the stage for realization of the objectives of the association that include:

1. To improve liaison between agricultural economists with an interest in African issues at the regional and international levels;

2. To promote training, research, policy dialogue and interest in Agricultural Economics on the continent of Africa.

3. To contribute to broad based rural development, poverty reduction, food security and sustainable use of natural resources in the continent of Africa. The founding members will ratify the constitution of the association, elect office bearers and determine the location of the secretariat. The launching of the association will lay the ground for more effective and coordinated research, training and reform programs in African agriculture.

This booklet covers invited presentations in the first day, followed by contributed papers in the following two days. The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of 8 December. This booklet also covers abstracts from various contributed papers and contact details of all participants at the meeting. We welcome you all to the Inaugural Symposium of the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).

Symposium Organizing Committee and AAAE Interim Committee