In general, the draft AFW and CCS methodologies that were proposed to the participants for discussion were welcomed, and their concepts and overall approach were endorsed. In addition, the participants agreed that, in highlighting the need to consider and valuate the positive externalities of agriculture, the Project complements the SARD concept. Many of the socio-economic and environmental positive externalities of agriculture have already been contemplated by Chapter 14 and other chapters of Agenda 21, which provide the blueprint for the promotion of SARD policies. However, so far, the design and implementation of SARD policies and programmes have focussed mainly on minimising agriculture's negative externalities, rather than on enhancing its positive externalities. As a result, the timing of the ROA Project study was felt to be particularly appropriate because of the Rio plus Ten review of Agenda 21 that will take place in 2002.
In the views expressed by participants, the roles of agriculture debate may promote wider awareness in the donor community, and in developing countries themselves, of the strong positive roles that agriculture has played, plays and can play in shaping societies, guiding natural resource use and tackling social injustice. If brought to a successful and persuasive conclusion, the Project could help to rebalance the negative or depressed perception of agriculture that prevails in certain circles, and that has contributed to the decline of investment in the sector. The ROA Project could be a useful instrument for national policy-makers, for the donor community and for those shaping public opinion and mobilising political support, in helping to place agriculture and rural development higher on the agenda that addresses the pervasive problems of poverty, hunger and the environment.
The manifold roles of agriculture have existed ever since the activity existed. They are not new. What is new is the increased awareness of the importance of non-traditional roles and of the varied valuations attached to them by policy-makers and society. The diverse roles or functions of agriculture have become an issue for debate in international circles. Many free trade advocates suspect that this concept is used as an excuse for continuing trade-distorting protection measures. So far, the debate has taken place mostly among developed countries. The weak participation of most developing countries is, of course, the result of the priority that they grant to the economic and food security, market-driven roles of agriculture. It is also, in part, owing to the lack of documented, factual, quantified and comparable evidence concerning the many positive externalities of agriculture.
As stated in one of the lead papers at the expert meeting, the ROA Project can be perceived as part of a broad endeavour to carry out a benefit-cost analysis of agriculture that embraces both market and non-market values. As a result of the meeting, the Project's current phase will focus, as far as possible, on generating data concerning the benefits, while taking stock of some of the documented costs. It is assumed that, by adopting such a perspective, the Project can contribute to a better understanding of the diverse roles of the agriculture sector in developing countries on the part of policy advisers and policy-makers.
