Nairobi — Rwanda has joined Malawi as the next successful example of a green revolution in Africa.

Besides Tanzania, it is the only other East African country that has committed at least 10 per cent of its budgetary allocations to agriculture as part of its ambitious green revolution programme that has increased farmers' access to quality seed and fertilisers.

This is being cited as the most possible reason why its food production has grown by 15 per cent in 2007 and 16 per cent in 2008.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa says Rwanda is following in the footsteps of Malawi's President Mbingu wa Mutharika and will soon supply food to its partners, who are battling hunger.

Agra mid-wived the southern African country's agricultural policy that transformed it from a net importer of food to an exporter and revolutionised its economic growth.

Encouraged by the success in Malawi and now Rwanda, Agra has since signed an memorandum of understanding with the New Partnership for Africa's Development that will help governments craft policies to accelerate food production.

"Government policies, including seed and fertiliser vouchers for poor farmers, have helped transform Malawi from a net importer to a net exporter of maize over the past four years and fuelled a national economic growth rate of seven per cent," Agra said in a statement.

The partnership seeks government commitment to agricultural development, with concrete programmes in seed supply, soil health and markets.

"This partnership will enable African countries to close the gap between intention and action on behalf of smallholder farmers," said former United Nations secretary-general Kofi A Annan, chairman of Agra. "Nepad has mobilised public support among African governments to prioritise and invest in agriculture. Our combined efforts will be a strong force for change across Africa."

The two organisations will work directly with national governments and partners across the agricultural value chain to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers growing Africa's staple food crops.

They will focus on high potential breadbasket areas of African countries.

Crucial to reaching goal

Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, chief executive officer of Nepad, who signed the MoU, said: "An African strategy that increases the productivity of smallholder farmers is crucial to reaching our goal of six per cent annual agricultural growth."

And Dr Namanga Ngongi, president of Agra, added: "African leaders have unified behind the CAADP vision and have taken bold steps to put agriculture at the centre of the development agenda. This vision has galvanised partners around the world to support agriculture."

Malawi, Mali, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria are other countries that have honoured their CAADP commitments.

The new partners will work together through CAADP's national Roundtable processes, which will direct investments toward implementing policies and programmes that strengthen smallholder farmers' access to better soil management techniques and improved seeds and fertilisers, increase their access to markets and build the capacity of African institutions to advance agricultural research and to develop home-grown, evidence-based agricultural policies.

Since CAADP's establishment in 2003, some African countries have moved to honour their CAADP commitments by providing at least 10 per cent of their budgetary allocations towards agriculture. These countries include Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mali, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Countries that have met their CAADP commitments are also showing signs of greater food security and stronger economic growth, said Akinwumi Adesina, vice-president of Policy and Partnerships at Agra.