A gas flare in Nigeria:The effects of gas flaring impacts on global warming in Africa. (Photo Courtesy Peter Roderick/Friends of the Earth)

A groundbreaking partnership that will link African governments' commitment to agricultural development with concrete programs in seeds, soil health, policy, and markets was launched in Abuja on Monday between The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)

"This partnership will enable African countries to close the gap between intentions and actions on behalf of smallholder farmers," said Mr Kofi A Annan, Chairman of AGRA and former Secretary-General of the United Nations.

"NEPAD has mobilised public support among African governments to prioritise and invest in agriculture. AGRA develops and disseminates the technologies farmers need; bolsters policy reform; builds markets and involves the private sector. Our combined efforts will be a strong force for change across Africa." he stated

Based on the Memorandum of Understanding, the two organisations will join forces to work directly with national governments and partners across the agricultural value chain in a comprehensive effort to increase the productivity of small holder farmers growing Africa's staple food crops. They will focus particularly on plans to develop high potential breadbasket areas of African countries.

"An African strategy that increases the productivity of smallholder farmers is crucial to reaching our goal of 6 per cent annual agricultural growth," said Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD, who signed the Memorandum with AGRA.

NEPAD works closely with African governments to implement the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), a framework to accelerate economic growth and boost food security through greater investments in agriculture. Endorsed by African leaders, CAADP calls on African governments to allocate 10 per cent of their national budgets to agriculture, in order to achieve 6 per cent annual agricultural growth. AGRA is a partnership-based organisation whose integrated programs in seeds, soil health, market access and policy work to increase productivity.