Tina A. Hassan
10 November 2009
The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEOAD) are partnering to boost agricultural development in Africa.
The organisations sign a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) yesterday in Abuja on how to move agriculture forward.
Head of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Professor Richard Mkandewire said the partnership would define areas of cooperation in addressing the challenges of agriculture in Africa and how to better enhance agricultural growth and food security.
He said CAADP is working towards a green revolution in Africa through improving the productivity of smallholder farmers and also by working closely with African governments to implement CAADP.
The representative of AGRA Dr. Namanga Ngongi said to achieve food security and economic development in Africa, the production level of small scale farmers must be raised.
"AGRA is ready to join hands with NEPAD and its partners in designing a strategy for agricultural development and for strengthening the role of NEPAD in poverty reduction in Africa", he said. He said that AGRA aims at achieving security for food production which would in turn leads to better performing economy through strengthening the capacity of the private sector in agriculture to boost the implementation of CAADP by integrating its program into AGRA.
Vice President, Policy and Partnership of AGRA Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said Africa has waited too long address the problem of food shortage. He said over too million people are affected by hunger in the region with over a third of its children malnourished.
According to him, bold leadership steps, vision and commitment are also needed from African leaders in addressing the problems of food and also in the implementation of the CAADP program.
He said that by September 2010 NEPAD and AGRA alongside other partners would convene an African Green Revolution Forum to analyze the investments needed to scale up success and ensure sustainability and commercial activities for reducing poverty.
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