Addis Ababa — The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African Union (AU), World Agro-Forestry Centre (ICRAF) and other technical partners across Africa are meeting in Nairobi on 22-24 July 2015 on farming systems reforms in Africa.
The meeting is expected to produce a comprehensive, up-to-date forward-looking strategy on African farming systems for policy and decision makers, research organisations, development actors and investors.
The expert group will base their discussions on ECA's strategic report: 'Rethinking Africa's strategic agricultural commodities production systems in the new global context' and on the book "Farming Systems and Food Security in Africa" to be published by Earthscan/Routledge later in 2015.
Drawing from the ECA report and expert insights, the meeting will make recommendations and guidelines on how to turn emerging African production and food systems into a zero loss, zero waste, clean, closed loop economy towards 2063.
The meeting involving the participation of about 35 high-level thinkers including scientists, policy makers and development practitioners from the region itself, Europe, Australia and the USA will be held in ICRAF's headquarters.
Despite the promising economic growth in many countries across Africa, in some countries every second child is stunted; an indicator of poor food security. It is a fact that Africa lags behind other developing regions in food production, value addition and resilience building.
Farming systems, including crops, trees, livestock, and fishing, vary tremendously from the Sahelian pastoralism to the irrigation schemes of Somalia and to the dense settlements on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. In the context of constantly changing climate conditions, and high-paced technological progress to shape the global food market place, improved knowledge of these farming systems is an essential ingredient.
Knowledge of these systems will help develop strategies and action plans for improving food and nutrition security and transforming lives in rural Africa. It will also assist in feeding the growing cities of Africa where so many migrants are increasingly relocating.
The Routledge book highlights the priorities for science and policy in the agricultural systems of Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce poverty, improve food security and secured livelihoods. ECA's report proposes new ways of looking at producing food and adding value to produces of African origin and complements the book.
