Communiqué: The African Union Commission and the NEPAD Agency call for support to address food security in Niger and in the Sahel countries

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The 2011-2012 agriculture season has been characterized by an erratic and a short rainfall in most Sahelian countries.  Millions of people in pastoral and agro pastoral region especially in Niger are threatened by food crisis.

Significant decline in cereal and grass production have been recorded in the region compared to last year. The deficit is even more pronounced in Niger, where more than the half of the country is affected. Millions of people are living in a critical vulnerability and are in need of relief assistance. The nutritional situation is as always a concern, especially for children under 5 years and pregnant or lactating women.

Due to this recurrent alarming situation, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), translated at country level into National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Program (NAFSIP) is an African mid and long term response to tackle the challenge of food security the continent is facing.

As an emergency action and to avoid a humanitarian crisis, which is likely to happen in Niger and in the Sahel region in general, the African Union Commission’s (AUC’s) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture and the NEPAD Agency’s CEO:

• Call upon the international community for an urgent support to Niger and the Sahelian countries;
• Call for the effective implementation of solidarity mechanisms provided for at regional level to support existing efforts;
• Encourage development partners to better coordinate their efforts on the basis of the needs identified at national levels in the Sahel region;
• Emphasize the availability of the AUC and the NEPAD Agency to undertake joint efforts with CILSS and ECOWAS to mobilize additional resources for national initiatives that aim to address food security in Niger and the Sahel region.