Ministers, experts and development partners who have been attending the Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture (CAMA) in Lilongwe, from 26-29 October 2010, have reaffirmed the vital role of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Programme (CAADP) in realizing the Africa Food Basket Initiative within five years.
The meeting highlighted that the progress so far in the implementation of CAADP is demonstrated by 22 countries signing compacts and out of which 18 countries have had their agriculture and investment plans developed and independently reviewed based on the vision and principles outlined in the compacts.
In this regard, the conference urged that African Union Commission (AUC), NEPAD Coordinating and Planning Agency (NPCA), Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States, should advocate for 10% budget allocation on agriculture in order to achieve 6% meaningful economic growth for effective poverty reduction. It further underscored that member states should continue strengthening the involvement of non-state actors in the implementation of CAADP.
Concerning the African Food Basket Initiative, the ministers recommended that AU member states should take immediate steps to review their agriculture and food security policies and mainstream quick-win interventions. In addition, the conference urged member states to strengthen and make use of the current institutional arrangements for the implementation of the African food basket initiative and CAADP post-compact national agriculture and food security investment plans and build adequate human, financial, and technical capacities to support the initiative.
In the area of Pastoral Policy Framework in Africa, the meeting acknowledged the contribution of a pan-African policy framework for pastoralism to effectively address the diverse and complex challenges confronting pastoral communities. It also appreciated the initiative taken by the Commission of the African Union and its, partners, in developing the policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa securing, protecting, and improving the lives, livelihoods and rights of pastoralist communities; and fully supported the adoption of the policy framework.
Meanwhile, the African Food and Nutrition Day was launched at the end of the Ministerial conference, on 29 October 2010. The launching took place in the presence of Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi and Chairperson of the African Union, and Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission (AUC).
Regarding to the African Food and Nutrition Day, it should be recalled that the 15th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted a decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.327 (XV) on the commemoration of an Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security to be commemorated annually on October 30, and the launch of the African Food Basket Initiative by President Mutharika, encapsulating complementary action plans that directly or tangentially support the core values of CAADP.
