Regional Parliamentarians Dialogue on Agriculture Commences in Abuja

A three-day regional parliamentary dialogue on investments in agricultural value chains in Africa commenced in Abuja, Nigeria, today with participants urging legislators in the continent to support the enactment of relevant legislation. Delegates further reiterated the need for articulation of issues concerning agriculture, increased competitiveness in value chains, food production and food security in the parliaments to enable the continent reach economic growth and realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The meeting, dubbed 2011 “Regional Parliamentary Dialogue: Enhancing Competitiveness through increased investments in Agriculture Value Chains in Africa” is being  attended by legislators from the regional parliaments and national assemblies, government officials, researchers and agricultural scientists.  The landmark dialogue organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is a first of its kind in the continent bringing together agricultural technocrats and legislators to a roundtable. It follows the first Annual Dialogue of Ministers of Agriculture, Science and Technology held in April 2011 in Accra, Ghana.

EALA is represented at the dialogue by Hon Jacqueline Muhongayire, Hon Clarkson Otieno Karan, Hon Kate Kamba, Hon Bernard Mulengani and Hon Manasseh Nzobonimpa and EALA staff. Members of Parliaments from the respective National Assemblies in the Partner States of the EAC are also in attendance.

The dialogue takes place at a time when the East African, Great Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions are going through the worst forms of drought in decades.

In the official address, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noted the need for closer co-operation between parliamentarians and technocrats in the agricultural sector to spur innovation, development and stability of agricultural growth in the Africa.

“We can sit and formulate policies, but the main drivers of the policies are parliamentarians.  It is thus highly important to dialogue with parliamentarians so that implementation of what is agreed upon becomes easy”, the Minister noted, in a speech read on his behalf by Prof. Yusuf Abubarkar, a member of the Board of FARA.

The Minister appreciated the gains realized in enhancing competitiveness of agricultural value chains. “Food security and agricultural development is necessary with the developed countries today creating partnerships with Africa for the betterment of agricultural economies. At the same time, stronger strategic alliances with emerging powerful economies such as China, Japan and Brazil should be encouraged”, Dr. Adesina noted.  

The Executive Director of FARA, Prof Monty Jones maintained that his organisation would continue to enhance value addition in policy, information knowledge and technology and encourage strategic alliances to benefit the continent and the attainment of economies of scale in economic production.
 
The private sector was urged to work closely with other stakeholders to enhance agriculture and boost the investments. At the moment, investment in the agriculture sector is barely 2% according to the FARA Executive Director as compared to 60% in the developed countries. Other important factors noted as vital for food production to reach the optimum level in the continent to reduce hunger include access to land, infrastructure, and improved variety of seeds.

The dialogue shall see various presentations from the various parliamentarians and the sharing of country experiences in agricultural value chains in the regions, strategy for agricultural and rural finance in Africa and options for private sector investments in agricultural value chains.
 
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FARA is a continent wide umbrella organization  bringing together and forming coalitions of major stakeholders in agricultural research and development in Africa. The vision of FARA is for African agriculture to become vibrant and competitive in the international market, growing at a rate of at least 6% per annum by the year 2020.

FARA is the technical arm of the African Union Commission on rural economy and agricultural development and the lead agency of AU’s new partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to implement the fourth pillar of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) involving agricultural research, technology dissemination and uptake.

CONTACTS
For More Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org  Web: https://www.eala.org   Arusha, Tanzania.