26 January 2007
ECONET Wireless founder and chief executive officer Strive Masiyiwa has accepted an invitation to join the board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Agriculture (Agra), a new joint initiative between the Rockefeller Foundation and the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation, an Econet spokesman said.
Agra will fund projects aimed at bringing about an increase in the productive output of African agriculture.
"Mr Masiyiwa accepted to serve on the Agra board as a nominee of the Rockefeller Foundation, on whose board he has served as a trustee for several years," Sure Kamhunga told businessdigest this week, adding that this would "be in line with Masiyiwa's efforts to promote African economic development".
Agra has already set aside more than US$150 million to improve the availability and variety of seeds that can produce higher yields, in addition to funding research into better crop yields, training of agricultural scientists, development of seed companies, and also providing assistance to African farmers.
"In the longer-term, Agra intends to improve agricultural development in Africa by focusing on both farming and related economic issues, including such areas as soil fertility and irrigation, farmer management practices as well as the access by farmers to markets and financing," Kamhunga said.
The Rockefeller Foundation is an influential international organisation with several philanthropic activities around the world.
More than 40 years ago, the foundation pioneered an agro-based initiative in South East Asia and Latin America which many credit for having acted as a catalyst in bringing about a dramatic increase in the productive capacity of Asian agriculture.
It is hoped that this latest initiative would have the same impact on African agriculture.
The Rockefeller Foundation has already spent more than US$600 million on "Green Revolution" work around the world, of which US$150 million has been spent in Africa on projects that have reduced poverty by improving agricultural research and productivity.
"Although Mr Masiyiwa runs a telecommunication business with interests in Africa, Asia, and the United Kingdom, he is very active in development issues and is also one of the most sought-after African speakers on subjects of economic development as well as poverty alleviation," Kamhunga said.
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