Cameroon Hosts 7th CAADP Forum

By Zachary Ochieng

YAOUNDE----The 7th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform meeting kicked off in Yaounde today under the auspices of the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA) and the African Union Commission.

The delegates are expected to place strong emphasis on the issue of mutual accountability, capacity development and involvement of non-state actors in the formulation and implementation of country CAADP investment plans.

According to African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, the meeting takes place at a time when international and global dialogue is currently focused on agricultural performance, food security and climate change.

“This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss accountability in policy design and the ways to improve agriculture in Africa and the lives of farmers and farming communities”, said Ms Rhoda Peace.

Her sentiments were echoed by Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NPCA’s Chief Executive Officer who underscored the need to improve the continent’s food security.

“If we are going to make poverty history in Africa, we have to improve food security, nutrition and incomes in Africa’s largely agrarian economies”, said Dr Mayake. “These are the interlinked goals of CAADP through which African governments are committed to an annual increase in agricultural productivity of 6 per cent by investing at least 10 per cent of national budgets in agriculture.”

The meeting—a partnership between the African Union institutions, member states and development partners—has brought together government ministers, representatives from the African Union Commission, the NEPAD agency, farmers’ organizations, regional economic communities and development partners.

The forum will review progress and country-level experiences in implementation since the previous meeting in April 2010.

Endorsed by the African Union and NEPAD in 2003, CAADP is an Africa-owned and led initiative and framework to rationalize and revitalize African agriculture for economic growth and lasting poverty reduction results. The CAADP Platform Partnership meeting has evolved into a key instrument for peer interaction and sharing among the core institutions and partners involved in CAADP implementation.

“CAADP’s agenda reflects a fundamental shift in the way Africa’s leadership looks at agriculture and its potential contribution to ending poverty and hunger. The African Union has placed agriculture, food and nutrition security high on the agenda and the development partners have pledged to step up their financial and technical support”, added Ms Rhoda Peace.