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NEPAD calls for increased commitment to agriculture

NEPAD calls for increased commitment to agriculture
By Florence Bupe
Thu 19 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

THE New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has called for increased commitment by political players to the agriculture sector in developing economies.

NEPAD agricultural advisor Professor Richard Mkandawire observed that African countries needed to substantially increase their agricultural output for enhanced economic growth.

He indicated that NEPAD and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) had partnered to help African countries increase agricultural productivity.

“NEPAD and AGRA are poised to scale up successes in countries across sub-Saharan Africa as they join forces to boost agricultural productivity. The two African led initiatives both recognise that to achieve food security and spur economic development, African countries need to substantially raise the productivity, incomes and sustainability of millions of small holder farmers,” he said.

Prof Mkandawire disclosed that NEPAD had mobilised political support among African governments to prioritise and invest in agriculture.

He expressed contentment that African countries that had signed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) had made significant progress in improving their agriculture sectors.

He, however, noted that there was still much more that needed to be done to develop the sector.

“Critically, CAADP pledges African governments to devote at least 10 per cent of their national budgets to agriculture, in pursuit of six per cent annual agricultural growth. Progress has been meaningful, with 12 countries signing the CAADP compacts, but much more remains to be done as mounting pressures of population growth, climate change and global food price volatility continue to work against African food security,” he said.

Prof Mkandawire stressed that the greatest challenge facing most African countries was the transformation of the continent’s agriculture sector and its ultimate self reliance.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, FOOD, NEPAD, RICHARD MKANDAWIRE

posted by MrK @ 1:19 PM