Stakeholders audit the state of Africa’s Agriculture Progress

Nairobi recently hosted around 200 agricultural stakeholders from over 20 African countries to audit the progress of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program Partnership Platform (CAADP PP). Organized by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) the meeting themed “Accelerating CAADP implementation and impact” highlighted policy reforms and institutional development instituted at country level to aid agricultural growth.

In this 8th CAADP held from May 3rd to 4th , meeting stakeholders both in private and public agricultural institutions sought to evaluate if African countries are on track to deliver on annual 6 percent increase in annual agricultural productivity target set in previous meetings. The growth according to CAADP report will go a long way in enhancing continental food and nutritional security as well as creating jobs to counter poverty through agriculture.

During the meeting Her Excellency Rhoda Tumusiime the Commissioner of African Union emphasized on the need for African Governments to honor a CAADP target of allocating at least 10 percent of each country's budget to agriculture. She lauded African governments that have exceeding that target in Africa. So far in Africa, around 7 countries have exceeded the target being Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mali, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria according to a report published by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

Speaking on behalf of African farmers Elizabeth Atangana the President of Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO) said “Africa can develop itself through agriculture and farmers are key agents of development in Africa.” She spoke on the key role youth; women and marginalized groups can have if they opted to go into farming. She was optimistic this 8th meeting would catalyze countries not implementing CAADP processes to engage in it.

African Governments were also challenged to meet their funding commitments to agriculture and supervise the funds usage to ensure they achieve desired results at the grassroots. That way, interventions during food crisis according to Tumusiime food are minimized. She cited the East African Community where a population of 70 million is food insecure. Climate change was cited as a key factor in Africa being food insecure due to land degradation and dry weather.

Though Africa as discussed doesn't emit over 4 percent of the world greenhouse gases it the continent most affected by their effects. That is why one of the CAADP Pillars advocates for fighting against the effects of climate change through Climate Smart Agriculture. Here investment is put to multiply seeds tolerant to harsh weather conditions present. There was also a call to Africans to better manage their farmlands to ward off desertification and water stress.

Speaking on behalf of Dr Ibrahim Mayaki NEPAD's Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Estherine Fotabong the agency's Director of Programmes said Africa would need to match Asia's agricultural productivity if it hopes to address problems posed by rapid urbanisation, unemployment and massive population growth. According to her, Africa's agricultural production doubled in the last 50 years while Asia's output tripled in the same period. “But with the right policies and support for the agriculture sector, the Asian success story could be replicated in Africa,” she said.

Development partners, in an address delivered by USAID's Jeff Hill, commended African countries and regional economic communities for raising their agriculture and food security agendas through the CAADP process. He assured African countries of partners' collective political, technical and financial resources provided the CAADP initiative continues to impact positively on agricultural growth, poverty reduction and improved food and nutrition security.

The event also paid tribute to recently deceased Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika who emphasized played a role to ensure more funding is directed to the agricultural sector.